The Bureau of Fire Protection in Tagbilaran City urged the public to avoid using refilled butane canisters following an explosion of a truck loaded with butane canisters that rammed a school bus in Cebu.
Tagbilaran fire marshal Chief Insp. Raul Bustalino said that once butane canisters are refilled, particularly with liquid petroleum gas (LPG), they become dangerous and prone to explosion.
If the use of butane canisters cannot be avoided, he urged the public to make sure that these still have their original contents and not filled with LPG.
According to Bustalino, there are many refilled butane canisters sold in Tagbilaran City as these are cheaper than regular LPG tanks and easy to use.
He noted that butane canisters filled with LPG are popular especially among students living in rented rooms and apartments.
Although there have been no reported cases of fire caused by butane canisters in the city so far, the fire marshal reminded the public to be vigilant in preventing fire disasters.
On Wednesday, August 10, a delivery truck carrying butane canisters exploded after it collided with a school bus along South Coastal Road in Talisay City, Cebu. The bus driver and two students were reportedly injured.
The incident had prompted the Talisay City government to mull a ban on refilling butane canisters. (Allen Doydora)