BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Bureau of Fire Protection-Mountain Province recommends strengthening the trainings of employees on emergency response to enhance their preparedness and skills.
Deputy Provincial Fire Marshal Insp. Cesar Badang Jr. discussed this in the recent 3rd quarter Provincial Peace and Oder Council meeting in efforts to beef up the response system during fire incidents and the increasing emergency cases that happened in the province lately.
The province recorded six structural and non-structural fire incidents during the third quarter compared to the three cases during the same period last year. Most incidents were due to unattended cooking.
Sagada recorded two structural fires while Bauko and Besao had one case each. Bontoc recorded one structural and one non-structural fire for the period.
For emergencies, the BFP responded to 20 incidents mostly involving motorcycle and vehicular accidents. Besao listed eight cases and two each for Tadian, Sabangan, and Sagada. Bauko and Barlig had one emergency situation each.
The BFP is continuously conducting community fire drill and simulations and training of community fire auxiliary groups. However, the BFP reiterated the need for the conduct of training courses on fire arson investigation and operation, fire investigation, fire safety inspection, emergency medical technician course, and basic rope rescue technique for personnel of law enforcement agencies and government employees and volunteers for better emergency response, they being usually the first responders.
The BFP also recommends strengthened fire safety inspection of all business establishments and government buildings in the province. – Clinteast Totanes
