Firemen deny sloppy response

CEBU, Philippines – An early morning Sunday conflagration leveled to the ground an elementary school in Tanjay City, which was just a stone’s throw away from the fire station.

The fire of still undetermined origin hit the two-storey Plaza Central Elementary School at the city’s poblacion, razing its 13 classrooms, the computer rooms, guidance counselor room, a classroom for the Alternative Learning System, and the stock room.

Inspector Noel Transmonte, the city fire chief, said the fire was tapped at 12:59 a.m Monday and, in a few minutes, quickly engulfed and spread to nearby classrooms made of wood and concrete.

Transmonte belied observations and insinuations that the City Fire Station was unable to respond immediately allegedly due to lack of a driver of one of the two fire trucks.

Transmonte said the station had a replacement driver who was on standby in case of fire alarms, but he later admitted that this driver lacked the necessary skill in handling the firetruck.

The fire chief also denied allegations the fire trucks conked out, resulting in delayed response, and that the water pressure from these were observed to be very low.

Transmonte said the alert was relayed a “little bit late” and that, upon responding to the scene, the firefighters had to withdraw a little because the fire trucks, which have a capacity of 1,000 gallons of water only, thus in less than 10 minutes had to be refilled.

The estimated cost of damage was still being assessed although, this early, Transmonte estimated it to be about P3 million. (FREEMAN)