MANILA, 1 March 2022 — In observance of the Fire Prevention Month, the Climate Change Commission (CCC) reminds the public to take preventive measures to make our communities and the environment safe from fires.
 
The month of March is declared as the Fire Prevention Month by the virtue of Presidential Proclamation No. 115-A. 
 
March is one of the hottest months of the year and the beginning of summer season. During this period, a lot of fire incidents are happening across the Philippines. Although our country is well-known for devastating typhoons, we also record fire incidents not only in urban areas, but also in mountains and forests.


Wildfires are caused by a lot of factors, such as temperature, terrain, soil moisture, forest fuels, wind speed and direction, and frequent lightning strikes. These conditions are worsened by climate change. The changes in climate causes increase in average annual temperature, drier conditions, and drought, which elevates the risk and severity of wildfires. Burning forests release greenhouse gas thereby contributing to global warming.
 
This year’s theme, “Sa Pag-iwas sa Sunog, Hindi ka Nag-iisa,” encourages every individual to take preventive measures to avoid fire incidents. The Commission reminds the public to practice fire safety measures at home, community, forests and mountains. These include following safety protocols for handling fire when camping and storing fuel, proper disposal of cigarette butts, and local implementation of wildfire preparedness measures.