By Rachel Magday

 

NUEVA VIZCAYA, Philippines — Fire incidents in the province rose sharply from February to April 2026, causing an estimated ₱12.58 million in damage, according to Fire Supt. Aristotle V. Atal, provincial fire marshal of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Nueva Vizcaya.

Presenting the BFP’s “Fire Suppression Data: February–April CY 2026” at the second-quarter joint meeting of the Provincial Peace and Order Council (PPOC), Provincial Anti-Drug Abuse Council (PADAC), and Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) at Ammungan Hall, Provincial Capitol, Atal said the BFP responded to 31 fire calls over the three-month period: 17 structural, 12 non-structural and two vehicular incidents.

Year-on-year comparisons showed steep increases across categories. Structural fire responses more than doubled, from eight in February–April 2025 to 17 in the same period this year (about 112.5%). Non-structural incidents jumped from one to 11 while total fire responses climbed from nine to 31 (about 244%). Reported property damage ballooned from ₱677,000 in 2025 to ₱12,581,000 in 2026—an increase of roughly 1,758%. One civilian fatality was recorded this year; no firefighter deaths were reported in either period.

Dupax del Norte accounted for the largest share of losses at approximately ₱8.659 million. Other municipalities with significant damage included Bayombong (about ₱734,000), Ambaguio (about ₱351,500) and Solano (about ₱346,000). One incident in Santa Fe remains under investigation, Atal said.

The BFP report was part of the second‑quarter joint PPOC–PADAC–PTF‑ELCAC meeting, chaired by Gov. Atty. Jose V. Gambito and presided over by Board Member Flodemonte S. Gerdan, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s committee on peace and order, emphasized coordinated measures to boost fire prevention and public safety across the province.