‘Fire trap’ dorms warned

Several public and private schools and dormitories in Caloocan City have been identified as virtual "fire traps," prompting the local fire department to warn them of possible closure unless they comply with the requirements of the fire safety code.

Caloocan City Fire Marshal Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario said he would not hesitate to recommend the closure of negligent schools and also student lodging houses.

Among those identified in a fire safety report were the University of the East (UE) Caloocan campus on Samson Road and the Manila Central University (MCU) along EDSA near the Bonifacio Monument.

The warning was made after the local fire department completed the regular fire safety check it started in April in all public and private schools and dormitories as part of its "Balik-Eskwela Program" aimed at ensuring the general safety of students, teachers, employees and boarders.

"It has been our duty and responsibility to see to it that the schools are safe from any form of hazard, especially fire," Nacario said.

Aside from the schools, Nacario’s fire safety composite team, whose members also included representatives of the division office of the Department of Education (DepEd), local engineering and electrical departments, also inspected several dormitories. Most of them were found violating the fire safety code.

Warned of possible closure were the Electro Dormitory on 12th Avenue, Le Amor Inn on Samson Road and the Family Ladies Dormitory on Asuncion Street.

Nacario said these establishments were variously found to have defective first-aid and firefighting devices, blocked emergency fire exits, no installation of luminous directional and exit signs and lack of emergency lighting and alarm systems.

"Those found not to have complied with the basic requirements as stipulated under the fire safety code are apparently doing it intentionally in an attempt to cut costs. This is understandable but safety should not be sacrificed for profit," the fire marshal said.

Nacario, however, said he is extra confident that these "fire traps" would be able to comply as soon as possible in time for the resumption of classes.

Nacario said that his fire inspectors will return to these establishments to make sure that administrators and owners have responded to his warning.

He said he obliged them to secure a fire safety inspection certificate (FSIC) upon compliance.

Other schools inspected included St. Matthew’s School in Barangay Talipapa, Mother of Grace School in Kingstown Subdivision, St. Benedict School in Bagumbong, St. Therese of Rose School in Congress Subdivision, Divine Mercy College in J.P. Bautista Street and ABE School along EDSA.