A 30-minute fire razed a residential house in Dasmariñas City last Monday, the first day of Fire Prevention Month. Cavite is the host of the month-long observance in Region 4-A which covers Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon.

The fire prevention campaign in the region kicked off at 7 a.m. Monday with simple ceremonies and a motorcade from the SM Pala-Pala mall in Dasmariñas to the Cavite Provincial Capitol in Trece Martires City.

The ceremonies were led by Fire Chief Supt. Ariel Barayuga, Region 4-A fire department chief; Fire Senior Supt. Armando Custodio, Cavite Provincial Fire Headquarters chief; and the fire provincial marshals of Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The theme for the month-long activities is "Sustaining Fire Prevention Thru Active Community Participation.”

Officials said the first fire in Cavite occurred Monday afternoon in the house of the Adane family of Block 21, Lot 17, Dexterville Royale Subdivision, San Nicolas II, Dasmariñas. The fire of still unknown origin destroyed the two-storey house.

Senior Fire Officer 2 Alexander Lara of the Provincial Fire Safety and Enforcement Division cited the importance of citizenry involvement in fire prevention. He identified at least four populous towns and one city in Cavite as “fire-prone areas.”

“We can prevent fire by being alert and putting the fire prevention measures in place. Prevention and safety are concerns of everyone, not only firemen. The anti-fire measures should be implemented at homes, offices and elsewhere,” said Lara in the vernacular.