Guns for firefighters?

Wanting to prevent a repeat of a recent fire that not only raged for some 10 hours but put the lives of firefighters in unnecessary danger and resulted in the loss of government property in the hands of an unruly mob, the chief of the Caloocan Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has formally proposed the creation of a unit to secure firefighters and equipment during actual fires.

Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario, city fire marshal, called for the creation of an Organized Intervention Unit (OIU) to protect firefighters from unruly local residents especially in depressed communities.

Nacario said that the OIU will be composed of selected and trained firemen, appropriately armed with guns, and would be ready and "on call at all times to protect firemen and safeguard firetrucks and equipment from the mob."

It was also stated in the letter addressed to Mamerto Manahan, Caloocan City administrator, that while the imperative of the law enforcers is to maintain peace and order and enforce the majesty of the law, "this is but often neglected during fire incidents."

Nacario further argued that the unit can also assist in the follow-up and apprehension of dangerous arsonists and serve as back-up force in emergency situations.

The call to arming firemen was prompted by the a P10-million fire over two weeks ago in Bagong Barrio, where two firefighters of the Caloocan City fire station and two unidentified Fil-Chinese fire volunteers were ganged upon by local residents and two sets of 50-foot hoses and two nozzles forcibly taken away from them as they battled the blaze. The case is still being investigated.