- Grass fires trigger upsurge in cases from January to August 2026
FIRE INCIDENTS in Davao City flared up by 47.8% from January to August 2026 compared to the same period last year, driven largely by an alarming increase in grass fires due to the prolonged hot weather.
Speaking during the Davao Peace and Security Press Corps media briefing at The Royal Mandaya Hotel on Wednesday, Sept. 16, Davao City Fire District FSInsp Frances Mae Sendrijas reported that they recorded 688 fire incidents during the first eight months of the year, a substantial jump from the 462 cases in 2025.
“As for the casualties, we had 41 casualties—37 of whom were injured and four fatalities, including the recent fire in Obrero in which there was a PWD killed,” Sendrijas said.
According to the fire official, grass fires accounted for the highest volume of responses.
She explained that the city has experienced intense heat and prolonged dry spells over the past few weeks, keeping fire stations busy responding to grass fires left and right.
“Based on what I’ve mentioned, grass fires—if you observe, for the first quarter this year it is so hot, there are many grass fires, and the past few weeks we experienced hot days, rarely is the rain—so the response of our fire station is left and right in terms of responding to grass fires,” Sendrijas noted.
Authorities continue to urge residents to remain vigilant and practice fire safety, particularly during periods of extreme heat when outdoor and grass fires are most prevalent.
