Davao City fire incidents up 30.5% this year; Agdao blaze caused ₱280M damage
The Davao City Fire District logged 778 fires from January to October, and says the count may rise further after a massive fire in Barangay Leon Garcia Sr. displaced over 1,000 families.
Fire incidents in Davao City rose by 30.5 percent from January to October, and the total could still climb once a recent large fire in Agdao District is counted, the Davao City Fire District (DCFD) said, according to Mindanao Times.
DCFD spokesperson FSInsp. Frances Marie Sendrijas said the city has recorded 778 fire incidents so far this year, up from 596 in the same period last year. She noted the increase covers both structural and residential fires. Sendrijas spoke at the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
"Possibly it will shoot up after the recent fire incidents," Sendrijas said, referring to the blaze in Barangay Leon Garcia Sr. That fire alone caused an estimated ₱280 million in property damage and displaced more than 1,000 families, according to the fire district.
The Bureau of Fire Protection-Davao City Fire District said the fire broke out at 5:06 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15, in Purok Coreas, Sitio Bakal, Carpenter, in Barangay Leon Garcia Sr. Strong coastal winds and light building materials helped the flames spread quickly through the densely populated residential area.
Fire officials raised the alarm level in rapid succession: second alarm at 5:13 p.m., third alarm at 5:25 p.m., and fifth alarm by 5:34 p.m. At 8:16 p.m., the response was escalated to Task Force Alpha, with at least 15 fire trucks from 14 fire stations across the city deployed alongside volunteer fire brigades.
Firefighters had the blaze under control by 8:49 p.m. and declared fire out at 1:20 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 16. No casualties or injuries were reported.
Sendrijas urged residents to strictly follow fire safety precautions and said she hopes the city's fire count will stabilise before the year ends.
Why it matters for Davao
Fires in Davao City are up sharply this year, and densely built communities like the one in Agdao are especially vulnerable to fast-spreading blazes. Fire authorities are asking households to take precautions to keep the count from rising further.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Mindanao Times. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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