by Redjie Cawis

The Baguio City Fire Department has started training barangay folks in the city on basic fire fighting to augment the current lack of firefighters and resources in the city. The constant awareness of volunteers in the event of a fire will minimize the spread of fire.

Baguio City fire marshall senior Supt Richard Villanueva said that villagers are the first group to respond during fires so the city’s fire department opted to train barangay volunteer groups. The fire chief added that they have already conducted trainings among volunteers in the area.

Villanueva also bared that the city currently lacks substations to address fires immediately as only one fire substation in Irisan Barangay has been constructed. There are still 18 fire substations needed to be constructed in the city to immediately respond during fire incidents. There are also only four working fire trucks in the city.

Villanueva said awareness on fire safety measures and enforcing the fire safety designs in buildings are vital to prevent fires; awareness can also arrest fires once it has started..*(JDP/RC-PIA CAR)