By CESAR JOLITO III
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Bacolod City has underscored the urgent need for additional fire trucks and a new fire substation following the massive blaze that gutted more than 230 homes in Barangay 27 on Friday, September 12.
BFP-Bacolod Fire Marshal Supt. Jenny Mae Masip admitted that the city’s current resources are stretched too thin, with only 15 fire trucks spread across nine substations.
“If we had more fire trucks, the alarm level might not have escalated to Level 3,” Masip said, noting that fire trucks from neighboring towns had to be tapped for reinforcement.
She explained that during the recent blaze in Barangay 27, the nearest fire truck stationed at the Lopez Jaena substation was already responding to another residential fire in Barangay Granada.
The equipment shortage forced BFP to declare a higher alarm level to summon more support.
Masip added that the BFP has been pushing for the establishment of a substation in Barangay Banago, identified as a “red zone” due to its vulnerability to fire incidents.
“Hopefully, the substation in Banago will be established because that is part of our red zone prevention program,” she added.
Meanwhile, the BFP and volunteer fire brigades issued clarifications over allegations that Megaworld Corporation barred fire trucks from accessing its property during the firefighting efforts.
In separate statements, both the BFP and the Chamber Fire Volunteer Brigade denied the claims, stressing that Megaworld had been cooperative.
“We wish to clarify that Megaworld did not prevent our fire trucks from entering their property. On the contrary, they allowed our units to preposition inside, which enabled more effective operations,” the BFP said.
Safety standards
Bacolod City Lone District Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has called on the officials of Barangay 27 to strictly enforce safety standards in fire-prone areas.
Benitez, who met with barangay leaders on Saturday, September 13, stressed that if residents insist on rebuilding their homes in the area, safety must no longer be compromised.
“If they want to build their houses again, we must ensure that they will conform with the minimum safety standards, like having an accessible road for fire trucks and, if possible, firewalls between houses,” Benitez said.
He also urged the council to install fire hydrants for quicker response in future emergencies.
The lawmaker added that the property owner of the affected area has long failed to pay taxes, which prompted closure proceedings from the city government during his mayoral term.
Clarifying land ownership, he said, is critical to deciding whether residents can legally rebuild or be relocated.
The fire in Barangay 27 gutted at least 180 houses and damaged 36 others, leaving an estimated P4.5 million worth of damages.
At least 963 individuals lost their homes in the three-hour fire, according to the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office./CJ, WDJ