Beware of defective Christmas lights.
This warning came from Makati City officials who suspect that defective Christmas light and illegal power connection triggered the fire that killed four members of a family, three of them children, and injured three others in Barangay Palanan last Sunday.
Killed were Annie Duran, 44; her daughters Britney May, 14 years old, and Nicole, eight, and her two-month old grandson Rodrigo Nathaniel. Three other members of the family—Rodrigo, 44, their children Rodney, 11 and Ann Teacia, 16 were rushed to the Philippine General Hospital due to third-degree burns.
The blaze also rendered about 50 families homeless.
Arson investigators initially blamed illegal power connection as the cause of the fire which broke out in an apartment unit along Araro Sreet.
But acting Mayor Romulo Peña Jr. said substandard Christmas lights and other electronic decorations may have started the house fire. He refused to elaborate but he ordered the Makati Fire Department to dig deeper into the matter.
“We are deeply saddened by this tragedy that has claimed the lives of a mother, her two young children and baby grandson who were living in the unit where the fire reportedly originated. We appeal to our residents to take extra precautions in keeping their homes safe and fire-proof, especially this coming holiday season,” he said.
Peña cautioned residents to check carefully Christmas lights and other electronic decors for the appropriate Department of Trade and Industry seal of quality before purchasing them to avoid fires.
He also warned them against using illegal power connections and improper use of outlets and extensions, since these pose grave danger to their homes and families.
Authorities said substandard lighting, mostly coming in bulk from China, have caused countless damage to properties to Filipino homes so the Customs bureau is very strict in checking if imported products adhere to Philippine Safety Standards imposed by the Bureau of Product Standards.
Philippine standard requires the use of seven stranded wires in Christmas lights. These are thicker and safer as they help prevent overheating, especially during extended use.
“It is important to ensure that these products go through the processes not only because of government losses but also to protect the public from unsafe products that do not adhere to safety standards. That is why we are being proactive and are profiling these shipments before they reach Philippine shores,” said Customs intelligence officer Alvin Enciso.
“We assure you that we are prepared to stop these substandard products from reaching the market and we are committed to protect the welfare of the Filipinos this Christmas season and all seasons thereafter,” he said.