Through March and Beyond: Championing Fire Safety at King Properties 

What takes years to build, a fire destroys in minutes. 

This March, in support of Fire Prevention Month, King Properties is committed to championing fire safety through the power of information. 

The Anatomy of a Fire 

A fire needs all three of the following to burn: fuel, heat, and oxygen—known as the Triangle of Fire. Fuel is what is burned, heat is what ignites the flames, and oxygen is what keeps a fire going. 

The good news is, a triangle is no longer a triangle when one point is missing. Take any one of them out—be it fuel, heat, or oxygen—and your fire dies. 
 

How to Use a Fire Extinguisher 

Keeping a fire extinguisher handy is one thing, but knowing how to use it is another. The moment a fire starts, waste no time and put it out before it grows bigger, using the PASS method: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep. 

Pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the lever, and sweep side to side.

Fire Safety in the Home and Office 

1. Do not leave open flames unattended. This includes but is not limited to: stoves and candles. Keep an eye on these at all times, and if you must leave the area, ensure they are turned off or put out. 
2. Clean your kitchen regularly. Grease and oil buildup in the kitchen can easily ignite when left uncleaned, especially when frying food often. Wipe down your stovetop and backsplash with dish soap after cooking, and regularly clean your exhaust to avoid accidental ignition. 
3. Use your electrical appliances responsibly. Habits like not letting your electric fan run for too long, avoiding octopus wiring (plugging too many appliances and/or extension cords into a single outlet), and unplugging chargers when not in use can go a long way in preventing fires.
4. Ensure your smoke alarms are working. Make it a habit to test your smoke alarms monthly, on top of replacing the batteries regularly and replacing the entire unit every ten years. 

Know Who to Call 

When a fire breaks out, call for help immediately. Save and remember the following contact details in case of emergency: 

• Emergency Hotline: 911 

• Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade: (032) 254-0200 or (032) 254-0300 

• BFP Region 7 (Headquarters): (032) 254-0541/2 or 09427907907 

Fire prevention in the home and/or office is a collective effort. Share this information with your family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues to help build a community that upholds fire safety—not just for the month of March, but all year round.