Sun.Star: Oslob firemen, residents had to push truck to fire scene

CEBU CITY - The fire that gutted an old church in the southern town of Oslob, Cebu yesterday once again highlighted the poor state of firefighting equipment of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). Firefighters, assisted by 10 residents, had to push one of Oslob’s firetrucks to the scene of the fire, 50 meters away, so that it could pump water to put out the blaze. March has been declared Fire Prevention Month, a celebration that opened on March 1 with an exhibition to showcase the skills and preparedness of firefighters in responding to alarms. For the firefighters of Oslob town under the command of SFO2 Jaime Suycano, yesterday’s emergency also tested their strength. The town’s sole firetruck with a functioning pump did not have a clutch repair kit and the firemen had no choice but to push the truck to the Immaculate Conception Parish Church in Poblacion, Oslob early morning yesterday. They did not use the second firetruck because it has a defective pump. Fr. Valentino Gemelo, the town’s parish priest, said the incident served as an “eye-opener" to the government who appeared to have taken for granted the importance of keeping the firetrucks in good condition. “Maybe that is one thing that was overlooked because of the distance of the towns and the fact that fires seldom occur here. They just took it for granted. They did not prepare the equipment. This is indeed an eye-opener that we have to prepare," Gemelo said. The parish priest, who was still in Cebu City for a medical check-up when the tragedy occurred, said he was not able to save any of his personal belongings except for the clothes he was wearing and the service vehicle he used in going to the city. SFO2 Suycano, Oslob fire marshal, supported Gemelo’s observation in a separate interview. “Tinuod gyud na (That’s true)," Suycano said. “Gitulod namo ang firetruck aron makaduol sa simbahan aron makabomba mi (We had to push the truck to the fire scene)," he added. He said the Oslob Fire Station, which started operating in the last quarter of 2006, has two firetrucks. One was donated by the Provincial Capitol and the other came from the local government of Oslob. The bureau did not issue them a firetruck. Suycano said they only have three hoses but one is already defective. Ideally, he said, a fire station should have at least 10 hoses. The fire station is manned by four firefighters, including Suycano. The team reports in two shifts for 24 hours. Suycano said he already submitted a report to the Provincial Bureau of Fire Protection last March 3 about the status of the firetrucks. A copy of the report was also submitted to Oslob local officials. Suycano said Oslob officials, under Mayor Ronald Guaren, already set aside funds to buy the needed parts for the firetrucks. He said he was just waiting for these parts to be purchased until the fire hit the church yesterday. Inquiry Oslob Vice Mayor Pacifica Letigio, in an interview with reporters yesterday, confirmed Suycano’s statement about the funds. In fact, Letigio said, they already bought one clutch repair kit but it did not fit the firetruck. The one in-charge of purchasing the spare parts was scheduled to go back to Cebu City today to have it replaced, Letigio said. Earlier this month, Letigio said she also met with Suycano to discuss the status of the firetrucks so that appropriate actions could be taken. Meanwhile, the Office of the Ombudsman-Visayas wants to know why BFP officials allowed their trucks to become so run-down that these had to be pushed to the fire scene. Assistant Ombudsman Virginia Palanca-Santiago said they will open a fact-finding inquiry using as basis the statement of the Oslob fire chief that the condition of the town’s trucks had already been reported to the regional office months prior to yesterday’s blaze. The ombudsman will review the agency’s procurement process. A clutch repair kit, said Santiago, is neither expensive nor difficult to obtain. - Sun.Star