Comar: City fire stations rated fair

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Fire Marshal Aderson Comar has conducted a random Operation Readiness Site Inspection in nine fire substations in the city to check their readiness to respond to fire alarms especially this yuletide season.

All substations were rated fair in the assessment except for the length of time in the preparation to respond to fire alarm.

The inspection started Wednesday for the first trial and was repeated yesterday for the second trial.

Comar said that during the first trial, firefighters were able to prepare and leave the station in one minute and 48 seconds which was reduced to one minute and five seconds during the second trial.

The preparation includes the tapping of the alarm, the wearing of gears before getting in to the fire truck to depart to the fire scene.

“Maayo kay nakita nato nga nagkaubos man. Pero unta sunod, less than one minute na lang,” he said.

The Bureau of Fire Protection also checked if substations have enough fire fighting equipment and if there is complete attendance of fire fighters.

“So far, satisfied mi sa attendance, sa gears and in the way they respond. Complete atong mga stations sa fire fighting apparels or the personal protective equipments like helmet, coat and fire fighting boots. 70 percent of the fire stations have also complied with the delta uniform,” Comar said.

The nine fire substations are located in Barangays Labangon, Pahina Central, Pari-an, Pardo, Guadalupe, Lahug, Mabolo, Talamban and San Nicolas.

Comar said that the ideal number of fire stations is one in every barangay especially in a big city like Cebu.

Each substation has one fire truck and the BFP has an extra truck that may be used for roving during Christmas Eve to Christmas day and during the New Years Eve to New Year.

BFP has asked P20 million from the city government to purchase fire trucks. Comar said that P20 million can buy two brand new fire trucks including accessories.

Comar said they also plan to increase the number of fire fighters to get the ideal seven men in one truck. Right now, they have 160 fire fighters divided into two shifts.

He assured that BFP will be on heightened alert until Sinulog next year.

Effective last December 15 to January 15, BFP has suspended the filing of Leave of Absence. (FREEMAN)