Bacolod City Designates 300 High-Risk Fire Zones Amid Summer Season Concerns
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bacolod City has officially identified a total of 300 designated "red zones," which are areas particularly prone to fire incidents. These vulnerable locations span multiple barangays, including Barangays 1, 2, 3, 6, 10, 14, 27, 39, Banago, and Singcang-Airport, highlighting widespread risk across the urban landscape.
Summer Season Escalates Grass Fire Threats
City Fire Marshal Superintendent Jenny Mae Masip emphasized that grass fires see a significant surge during the summer months, directly linked to excessively dry environmental conditions. "At this time of the year, vegetation and open lands become extremely dry, making them highly vulnerable to ignition," she stated. According to BFP records, 35 fire incidents were documented from January to February 2026 alone, underscoring the urgency of the situation.
Many of these incidents originate from improperly discarded cigarette butts, while others arise from unattended controlled burning activities in subdivisions. Some fires spread rapidly due to sudden strong winds, exacerbating the danger in these red zone areas.
Fire Response Summit and Strategic Partnerships
On March 31, 2026, the City Government of Bacolod, in collaboration with the BFP and key stakeholders, conducted a Fire Response Summit and Adopt-a-Red Zone Area Program at the Bacolod City Government Center. This initiative reinforces the city's commitment to proactive fire prevention and efficient emergency response, aligning with the Fire Prevention Month theme: "Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi Ka Nag-iisa!" (In Preventing Fires, You Are Not Alone!).
The event gathered representatives from government agencies, barangays, volunteer fire brigades, private sector partners, and community groups, fostering a unified approach to community safety.
Memoranda of Understanding Formalize Safety Efforts
Led by Mayor Greg Gasataya, the City of Bacolod signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with the BFP to formalize partnerships aimed at boosting community safety efforts. The first MOU, under the Adopt-a-Red Zone Program, unites the BFP, barangays, fire-prone communities, and private sector partners to address risks in over 300 designated red zone areas.
The second MOU establishes standardized inter-agency coordination and communication protocols for fire emergencies, ensuring a unified and efficient response across all units. Gasataya highlighted the critical role of robust emergency systems, noting, "We have prioritized emergency preparedness through multiple initiatives. Just one week ago, personnel completed training for the 911 hotline system."
Enhanced Emergency Response and Community Involvement
In emergency response, Gasataya stressed that every second counts. "The faster we act, the greater the impact we can make. We began these preparations last year, making Bacolod among the first cities to do so. We anticipate receiving approval to operationalize the 911 system within this quarter," he added.
As part of strengthened communication protocols, the BFP has established direct coordination with selected barangays that have fire response capabilities, including the Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAGs) of Taculing, Handumanan, and Estefania. Under this system, CFAGs are empowered to launch immediate responses to fire incidents within their respective areas.
For manageable situations such as grass fires and other low-risk cases, these units can conduct initial firefighting operations to enable faster containment, with BFP units remaining on standby to provide support if incidents escalate. Even barangays without dedicated CFAGs have received training to address small, controllable fires using available equipment like fire extinguishers.
