Fewer pole fires in 2020, BFP says

By Francis Allan L. Angelo

 

The Bureau of Fire Protection in Iloilo City said fewer pole fires were recorded since the new distribution utility took over in February 2020.

Acting Iloilo City Fire Marshall Jesus Valenzuela said pole fires decreased when MORE Power focused on eliminating illegal or jumper connections and cleaning up wayward distribution lines along streets and barangays.

“In 2019, we recorded 218 pole fires and by 2020, it decreased to 151. It’s a big difference since MORE Power took over,” Fire Senior Insp. Valenzuela said.

The BFP noted that it used to respond to 10 to 15 pole fires per week before MORE Power began its operations.

The major causes of pole fires are loose and illegal connections and overloading of transformers.

Valenzuela said the reduction in pole fires also reduced power outages, which affect the livelihood of residents, and fire hazards to communities, especially during summer.

“Nami gid nagnubo gid ang responding naton sa post fire naton, kag daku gid ang nabulig sa aton mga pumuluyo kay te mag post fire, brownout ang isa ka barangay, te maka hamper sa pangabuhian sang mga tawo eh. Kag mainit especially kun March pa gid, so daku gid ang pagbulig,” Valenzuela added.

According to data from MORE Power, it was able to install 276 new transformers in 2020 or 23 units in a month. It also replaced 492 old poles with concrete ones or 41 poles a month last year.

The BFP official said MORE Power’s i-Konek program helped households secure their meters and correct the electrical connections which also reduced fires caused by faulty or substandard connections.

The BFP said having legitimate connections goes a long way in preventing fires in heavily-populated areas.

“We conduct house-to-house inspection on houses, especially dangling electrical wirings or spaghetti wires in barangays. The lines were elevated and correctly installed. With the sincere effort of the utility firms, we can see the improvement,” Valenzuela said.

The clearing of spaghetti wires not just by MORE Power but other utility firms also resulted in faster response by firefighters as their fire trucks can easily reach the barangays.

The BFP is now observing Fire Prevention Month in partnership with MORE Power and other utilities to educate the public about fire safety.