Fire and earthquake drills at SM Marilao

21 MAY 2013- A series of rescue operation was carried out by SM City Marilao’s Emergency Response Group as actual fire, earthquake and evacuation drill was staged during regular mall hours.

“We take this exercise seriously that is why we wanted it to be realistic as possible” on the statement made by Customer Relations Services Manager Jose Berong during the briefing done before the drill.

Weeks before the drill, shoppers, employees and tenants were advised of the simulation to ensure the welfare of each participant. Guaranteeing each and everyone’s safety, BFP along with Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Marilao and mall’s building administrators checked the first aid and safety equipment, fire exit doors, fire hydrants location and evacuation route as well as the evacuation area.  Seminars on earthquake as well as fire safety and prevention were likewise taken by the ERG as a refresher course prior to the drill.

The actual fire, earthquake and evacuation drill simulation targets to increase and strengthen mall’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) preparedness, evaluate response capabilities and improve coordination among the tasked units during emergency situations.

Challenging mock-up situations such as traumatized customers covered and injured by falling debris, tenant employees suffering from burn and head traumas as well as severely injured victim with fractures were put up to enhance the mall’s Emergency Response Group (ERG) skills in mobilization, communication and response, as well as the ability to account for all the people within the affected premises.

A mock-up fire scenario also transpired at the entrance of the mall to demonstrate the different types of fire stream while performing the actual simulation of suppressing the fire.

After the drill, Bulacan Provincial BFP, Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council of Marilao, Marilao BFP and Barangay Ibayo Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council lauded SM City Marilao for its preparedness and capability in handling disaster situations. This exercise is observed yearly by the mall to illustrate and practice the proper response before, during and after these hazards happen.

BFP tags school kids in Guiguinto fire

MALOLOS CITY—Young students who played with fire on school grounds caused a fire that razed three classrooms in Guiguinto Central School 10 days ago.

In a belated report, Fire Chief Inspector Christopher Lumiwes, fire marshal of Guiguinto,  said their investigation points to school children.

He said that the still unidentified school children of Guiguinto Central School played with fire at the back of the building after school hours on February 9.

The fire later gutter a Marcos-type building in the said school compound and razed classrooms for first and second grade classes.

“Initially, we thought it was another case of faulty wiring, but investigation showed there were no problem with the electrical wires,” Lumiwes said.

He said that some students saw another group of students setting on fire dried leaves and flammable garbage at the back of the school building before the incident.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said the fire that reached first alarm left at least P300,000 in damages. No one was injured.

After the fire, the BFP-Guiguinto drew stinging comments on social media after a video of the said incident was posted on Youtube.com.

Some of the comments focused on the late response, waterless fire truck and the inability of the local firemen to put out the fire.

Lumiwes explained that their fire truck had water in its tank, but the water pump failed during the incident, thus the waterless fire truck.

He also called on the local government unit to support the local firemen through procurement of additional equipment and regular repair of their existing fire truck and equipment.

Lumiwes admitted that it was their duty to prevent and put out fire, but they don’t have enough tools and their equipment needed regular repairs.

He also appealed to bickering local politicians to avoid blaming each other, and instead help improve the local BFP. Dino Balabo & Rommel Ramos