After every major deadly fire, the government takes stock of the country’s fire-fighting capability, and always comes up with the same conclusion: there is an acute lack of fire-fighting equipment, starting with fire trucks.
In the latest deadly blaze, which left 16 people dead, the fire marshal of Tuguegarao has been suspended, city fire inspectors have been relieved and other local government personnel are under investigation amid reports that it took an hour for firefighters to reach the nearby Bed and Breakfast Pension House, and four hours to put out the blaze. Among those killed were the hotel owners and nine nursing graduates who were in Tuguegarao to take their board examination.
Maybe the firefighters lacked water. It wouldn’t be unusual in this country, where firemen have been seen trying to put out a conflagration with buckets of water. Maybe it took an hour for the fire trucks to be put in running condition. This wouldn’t be unusual either. Fire stations rarely get budget allocations for regular maintenance of fire trucks. The vehicles are simply utilized as long as they keep running, and then left to deteriorate once they break down. In Metro Manila, fire trucks that are no longer running can be seen parked in fire stations that look as ancient as the vehicles.
In this country, the common question isn’t “Where’s the fire?” but “Where’s the fire truck?” Looking into the Tuguegarao fire, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, which has jurisdiction over the Bureau of Fire Protection, has learned that 600 municipalities still have no fire trucks.
The lack of fire-fighting equipment, from trucks to ladders and fireproof clothing, is felt even in Metro Manila, where the Chinese-Filipino community has found it useful to put together its own fleet of fire trucks manned by volunteers. They are often the first to arrive at a fire scene. Yesterday DILG officials said the department would procure 200 new fire trucks. Firefighters have heard such promises before. Perhaps this time they will finally see the promise fulfilled
