Pedicab drivers and bystanders taking videos and photos of the fire incident in Barangay 76-A Bucana, Davao City on Tuesday are seen blocking the narrow road where fire trucks need to pass. (Ace R. Morandante/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY – Too many pedicab drivers and bystanders blocking an already narrow path caused the delay in the response of firefighters who were putting out the fire that razed at least 60 houses in Barangay 76-A Bucana on Tuesday, March 8.
Senior Fire Officer 4 Dioscoro M. Baja, Jr of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) said they received the call regarding the incident at around 3:55 in the afternoon, but encountered problems as pedicab drivers and residents blocked the road.
“We were delayed twice. First was when turning towards Sitio Kasilak gym, a multicab was blocking the corner and it took us around 3 minutes to pass,” said Baja told a press conference on Wednesday, March 9.
Public told: don’t block the fire fighters
Fire fighters need to respond as soon as they can as fire develops within 1.5 seconds, he explained. So during the three-minute delay, three houses were already burning.
Baja said he was able to talk to barangay chief Captain Rolando Trajera who agreed that motorists should be educated on the proper behavior during emergencies, especially when fire trucks need to pass the roads.
“We cannot discount the possibility that traffic will build up. The place is overpopulated plus there are a lot of trisikad who refuse to get out of the way when you pass. We have to remind them over and over again,” he said.
Baja said they have not yet established the cause of fire “because we lack credible witness.”
However, he said, they were able to interview a certain resident Willie Loquero who told them that prior to the fire, he saw two children running outside the house where the fire started.
“We haven’t yet determined the age of those children. Our investigation revolves around that as of now,” he said.
Assistance
Meanwhile, the City Social Services and Development Office (CSSDO) said they have assisted 70 families affected by fire with.
CSSDO Chief Liwayway Caligdong said the damages reached up to P8,043,000.
“Initially we gave out food assistance that is for community cooking and this morning we gave out materials including beddings and kitchen utensils,” she said.
Caligdong added that they will hand over P10,000 financial assistance for those family whose houses were totally damaged, P5,000 for the partially damaged and P3,000 for renters and boarders. She said they are still validating the list of victims to prepare the payroll.
There are 234 dependents out of the affected families, she said.
At least two casualties were recorded, including two elderlies Nicanora Isdang, 86 years old and Doctolero Hermisa, 78 who were trapped inside their houses. Meanwhile, two children are still missing.
Caligdong said the bodies of the two senior citizens are now at Angel Funeral Homes. (davaotoday.com)
