Lacking in fire hydrants, firemen turn to Pasig River to fight Sta. Mesa blaze

The fire that broke out along Road 12 in Sta. Mesa, Manila on Monday afternoon quickly rose to the fourth alarm despite the proximity of a fire station due to a lack of hydrants, firemen said Tuesday.

According to Mark Salazar’s report on “24 Oras,” firefighters were forced to take water from the Pasig River to combat the blaze that grew bigger by the minute.

“Malayo ang hydrant… ‘yun naman talaga ang naging hindrance,” Sta. Mesa fire station commander Inspector Ernesto Wanawan said.

“Nag-exert na lang kami ng effort para makakuha ng tubig. Masikip ‘yung daan, masikip lahat no’n so walang hydrant. Kumuha kami ng suction from effort ng ilang truck na kombinasyon of four each para makakuha ng tubig sa ilog,” he added.

If the Pasig River had not been nearby, it would have taken authorities more than five hours to put out the fire.

“Ang napagkunan lang nila ng tubig, dito sa may Road 1. ‘Yung fire hydrant… Kaya iisa na lang ang pinagkukunan ng tubig. ‘Yun po ang nangyari, naubos po halos lahat doon sa Road 12,” Barangay 628 captain Raul Marasigan said.

Over 1,000 families lost their homes to the blaze.

“Medyo malayo pa ‘yung apoy, kaming mag-asawa pati anak ko, nagtulong-tulong na lang po kami para masalba ‘yung kaunting gamit. Wala, ‘yung nakuha namin, ‘yun na ‘yun,” Carmen Yamat said.

The victims were spread out among evacuation centers in nearby barangays. -Julia Mari Ornedo/MDM, GMA News