ROLE AND IMPACT OF COMMUNITY FIRE AUXILIARY GROUP IN LA TRINIDAD, BENGUET

The Community Fire Auxiliary Group (CFAG) played a vital role in enhancing fire safety within La Trinidad by fostering community involvement, facilitating early detection of fires, and promoting education on fire prevention measures. The research aimed to assess residents' perceptions of the CFAG's effectiveness in three key areas: fire prevention, fire response, and community engagement, as well as its overall impact on their knowledge and practices regarding fire safety. Using a descriptive survey method, the study involved 380 respondents from Barangay Balili, Barangay Betag, Barangay Pico, Barangay Poblacion, Barangay Puguis, and Barangay Lubas- barangays that had established CFAGs. Data was gathered through surveys, personal interviews, and literature reviews. The findings revealed that La Trinidad residents generally viewed the CFAG positively, recognizing its effectiveness in preventing fires and improving response times during incidents. The CFAG successfully fostered a sense of collective responsibility among residents and effectively engaged them in fire safety initiatives. Additionally, residents reported feeling informed about fire safety protocols and confident in their ability to respond to emergencies due to CFAG training sessions. However, while there was strong agreement on the importance of these initiatives, the study highlighted a need for improved participation rates in training sessions and better information sharing within the community. To enhance the CFAG's effectiveness, it was recommended that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) implement continuous training for CFAG members, increase accessibility to training sessions, collaborate with local organizations for outreach, conduct regular fire drills, distribute educational materials, engage community leaders for advocacy, and undertake longitudinal studies to assess the impact of these initiatives. These strategies were deemed essential for fostering a proactive and resilient community prepared for fire emergencies. KEYWORDS: Community Fire Auxiliary Group, fire safety, fire prevention, fire response, community engagement