The Program aims to promote awareness of fire safety and the importance of prevention and preparedness among school officials, personnel and staff, and pupils/students nationwide.
The most common violations of schools as reported by the BFP are as follows:
- Hazardous electrical wirings due to overusage, deterioration, and substandard installations;
- Lack of markings for emergency exits, and the blockage of these exits with unused furniture, among others;
- Absence of fire sprinklers, lack of fire fighting equipment/fire extinguishers, irregular servicing or non-maintenance of existing fire extinguishers that do not comply with ISO 9001-2008 series certified as preferably required to ensure the use of quality and non-ozone depleting products;
- Inadequate provisions of outlets, which cause overload, particularly due to excessive connection of equipment/appliances via octopus outlet and other inappropriate extension; and
- Non-organization of fire brigades and lack of preparedness for fire emergencies.
Schools are directed to adopt/observe the fire safety and prevention measures contained in the enclosure. They shall coordinate closely with the LGUs and the BFP in the implementation of the FSAP.
The School Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) may be utilized in the implementation of this Program.
FIRE SAFETY PREVENTION MEASURES UNDER THE CONTINUING FIRE SAFETY AND AWARENESS PROGRAM IN SCHOOLS
The risk of fatalities in case of fire in schools is being magnified by the (1) violations of the provisions of the Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 (RA No. 9514); (2) the number of young children who spend most of their time in schools; (3) mentors who are mostly unprepared to manage the emergency situation; and (4) vulnerabilities from bad elements including the risk brought about by the El Nino phenomenon. In this connection, the following measures should be adopted/observed in coordination with the Local Government Units (LGUs) through the BFP in their respective localities for the implementation of the above-stated continuing fire safety programs and the correction of all Fire-Code violations as stated:
- Conduct of seminars and/or orientations on fire drills, trainings on fire prevention and civilian response in fire emergencies, first aid and related topics;
- Forging into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), local government units (LGUs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other stakeholders in the conduct of building/structural integrity assessment to determine the existence of hazardous electrical wirings, lack of fire exits to existing school buildings, the installation of fire exits in schools without such exits and strict adherence to DepEd-Physical Facilities Schools and Engineering Division (PFSED) building standards for all future school building constructions.
- Purchase of fire fighting equipment or fire extinguishers compliant with ISO 9001-2008 series as certified, to be preferably required to ensure the use of quality and non-ozone depleting products. Conduct of educational campaigns, by incorporating appropriate fire safety and prevention topics in school subjects, focusing on practical applications at home, school and in the community.
- Integration of fire safety and prevention topics in different subjects designed to enable the pupils and students as well as teachers, to have an outreached effect on the safety awareness levels and practices in their own homes and communities.
- Activation/Organization of the School Fire Brigade, Kiddie/Junior Marshall who will help in the removal of blockage of exits such as unused furnitures, steel railings in doors and windows and other fire hazards in schools, check Fire Code violations in the school premises and act as fire safety officers and first alders during emergency situations. The girl/boy scouts, cadets, marshalls shall be the first choice to handle these responsibilities.
