ZAMBOANGA CITY–The Zamboanga City Fire District of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) has been ordered to review the readiness of all its sub-stations to better respond to fire calls.
Mayor Maria Isabelle Climaco-Salazar issued the order following the incident in Barangay Curuan, in which the fire sub-station in the area failed to respond.
Fifteen houses and 50 market stalls were razed following a fire that broke out on June 2 at the commercial center of Barangay Curuan.
Supt. Jufel Brañanola, city fire marshal, said the estimated cost of the damage was PHP3 million.
Brañanola said the firemen assigned with the Curuan sub-station failed to respond because their fire truck was out of order.
The fire that reached the fourth alarm level was put off by responding firemen from nearby fire stations.
“I told him to immediately review all of the fire stations, conduct an evaluation, and ensure that all of the fire trucks are in good running condition,” Salazar said.
Salazar lamented that the lack of readiness will become a perennial problem unless the BFP regularly ensure the upkeep of its fire trucks.
“It is a mandate of the BFP to really have fire trucks ready and available because they have their own separate budget,” she said, adding that the local government will assist with the Bureau’s needs. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
