FIRES that occurred across the nation caused more casualties in the past three years compared to those from 2005 to 2009, according to a discussion paper released by the Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS). In a study, titled Epidemiological Assessment of Fires in the Philippines 2010-2012, Gloria Nenita V. Velasco, policy, planning, research and legislative fellow of the Health Policy Fellowship Program of the Department of Health (DOH), said this findings were based on the Health Emergency Alert Reporting System (HEARS). The HEARS reports said fires became a greater problem between 2010 and 2012, according to the study. Velasco said a total of 883 fires and 824 fire-related casualties were reported, the majority of which occurred in Metro Manila. Data also showed that the average number of fires reported each year from 2010 to 2012—at 294—was greater than the 178 average from 2005 to 2009.
