Bacolod fire incidents drop 31.5% in 2025

By Glazyl M. Jopson

BACOLOD CITY — The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)–Bacolod reported a 31.5-percent decrease in fire incidents in 2025, recording 202 cases compared with 295 incidents in 2024.

Despite the decline in fire incidents, fire-related fatalities increased to six in 2025 from one in 2024, the BFP said.

The fatalities included four children who died in two separate candle-related fires in May and an elderly couple who perished in a fire incident in June.

The BFP also recorded 16 fire-related injuries in 2025, up from 14 injuries in 2024.

Deputy City Fire Marshal Fire Inspector Jemarie Tapiru said the BFP has intensified its information campaign on the proper use of candles and other open-flame sources to prevent similar tragedies.

Data showed August had the highest number of fire incidents at 27, followed by October with 24 and July with 22.

April recorded 20 incidents, December had 19, November had 17, February and May had 14 each, March had 13, January and June had 11 each, and September recorded the lowest with 10 incidents.

Total fire damage in 2025 was estimated at PHP 33,462,230, down from PHP 57.3 million in 2024.

The leading causes of the 147 structural fires were electrical ignition, candles and other sources such as lighted mosquito coils and heat from generator sets.

For the 35 non-structural fires, the BFP cited electrical ignition, open flames from burning and agricultural land clearing as the primary causes.

A total of 20 vehicular fires were also recorded, caused by flooded carburetors, electrical ignition and battery short circuits.

Tapiru said the BFP is strengthening fire safety interventions at the purok level under its Red Zone Program.

The city government has identified 119 red zones or critical areas that are difficult to access during fire incidents.

The BFP also attributed the decline in fire incidents to the absence of an El Niño declaration in 2025, unlike in 2024.