BFP on red alert until January 2, 2024

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) will be on red alert or full alert status until January 2, 2025.

“Code Red po meaning red alert status po ang buong pwersa ng BFP. Wala po munang naka leave at lahat po ay naka antabay sa kung ano man pong responde ang kailangan natin,” BFP-Public Information Service chief Annalee Atienza said on Balitanghali.

(Code Red means the full force of the BFP is on red alert status. No one is on leave and everyone is on call for whatever we need to do.)

Atienza said the BFP recorded 800 fire incidents this December, lower than the 1,204 fire incidents recorded in December 2023.

She said most of these were in residential areas.

“Bagamat mababa ay meron pa rin po tayong mga insidente. Kaya patuloy pa rin po ang ating pag hikayat sa community, lalo na ilang araw na lang po ay celebration na ng ating New Year,” she said.

(It may be lower, but we still had incidents. We encourage communities to remain vigilant as we still have a few days left before the New Year.)

Atienza also advised the public against using fireworks, especially those in residential areas.

“‘Yan po ang standing order ng DILG. Hinihikayat ang ating local government units na mag-pasa ng ordinansa po na ipagbawal totally ang pag gamit ng firecrackers within residential areas,” she said.

(That’s the standing order of the DILG. It is encouraging local government units to issue an ordinance that totally prohibits firecrackers within residential areas.)

“Instead, mag-join na lang po sa designated fireworks display areas kung saan nandoon po, may mga concerns, may mga festivities, at may mga countdown,” she added. 

(Instead, you can join designated firework display areas where there are concerns, festivities, and a countdown.)

She also encouraged the use of noise makers such as torotot and videokes.

“At kung sakali nga po muli tayo ay kailanganin, i-dial po nila ang 911 bago po mag vlog o mag video,” she said.

(And if the BFP is needed, please dial 911 before vlogging or taking a video.)

—Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News