City Fire Stn requests 2 firetrucks, Medic kits, TCEMROT reactivation

TAGBILARAN CITY, January 25 (PIA)— Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Tagbilaran City request for the possible purchase of at least two units, 1000 gallons capacity fire truck. 

City Fire Marshal Fire Senior Inspector Raul Bustalino pleaded for this and eyes the Local Disaster Risk Reduction Management Funds as source, noting that their disaster response capability is hampered due to logistics problems. 

Moreover, Inspector Bustalino added thatthey also need help in the re-establishment of now defunct Tagbilaran City Emergency Medical and Rescue Operation Team (TCEMROT) as well as the procurement of basic rescue and first aid (medical kits).

As one of the member of the CDRRMC, Tagbilaran City Fire Station is the agency task to lead on the response and rescue and engineering activities in times of national disaster and other related emergencies such as evacuation, search and rescue, provide first aid and medical services, he reasoned out. 

At the joint City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council Meeting with the City Peace and Order Council (CPOC), Fire Senior Inspector Raul Bustalino stressed that firefighter to population ratio in Tagbilaran is already is 1:2687 against an ideal 1:2000, their logistics is similarly wanting. 

Bustalino said that at the hint of fire emergency, they only have the six serviceable firetrucks to use.

“Tagbilaran City Fire Station fire trucks were purchased on 1950s, thus majority of them now are in poor condition,” he said. 

“In fact, only three (3) fire trucks are serviceable at present. Being one of the response team in terms of emergency, it is necessary to have a well-equipped and in good working condition firefighting equipment,” the city fire chief added. 

Of the six fire assets they are using for disaster response, only five of them have water tanks; the other one is a boom truck that allows firemen to scale buildings in high rise fire responses. 

One more fire truck, Engine Number 2, Isuzu RA 61 is serviceable but is already set for repair, according to the city fire marshal. 

Two city fire trucks, Engine 5 Mitsubishi tanker and Engine 11 Nissan Condor are now under repair, the later unregistered due to a mix up data at the LTO. 

Engine 10 Land Cruiser, Engine 4 Anos Mini Fire truck, Engine 7 Isuzu VS, and Mazda Ambulance are all unserviceable and are beyond economic repair, Bustalino said. (rac/PIA-7/Bohol)