Treñas to probe BFP's 'tardiness'

By Maricar M. Calubiran

Mayor Jerry Treñas has ordered an investigation on the alleged delayed response of the Bureau of Fire Protection in Friday's midnight fire at Barangay Concepcion, City Proper which claimed two lives and razed 17 houses.

City Hall's Crisis Management will be leading the investigation, Treñas said.

The mayor's order is in response to the allegations by residents that it took government firefighters quite some time to respond to the three-hour blaze.

The investigation will focus on whether the fire bureau indeed failed to promptly respond to the fire incident.

Residents claimed that it took the fire fighters more than half an hour to respond to the fire call. Fire Officer 3 Norman Valenzuela, BFP arson investigator, said Saturday that they received the fire call at 12:05 am.

The probe will also check on the present status of the fire equipment and the vehicle used by the bureau.

The result of the investigation will give the residents a true picture of what really happened during the fire incident, the mayor said.

Treñas said he received information that some of residents threatened the fire fighters and even grabbed the fire hose. Residents wanted to decide on which houses should be sprayed with water first.

The investigators will also look into allegations that a police officer, whose name is still withheld, refused to allow firefighters to pass his house.

“This will all come out during the investigation,” said Treñas.

One problem that affected the firetruck's speedy response, Treñas pointed out, is the narrow alleys leading to the fire scene. Even the mayor himself had difficulty reaching the house of Councilor Armand Parcon, who lives nearby, because of the falling debris and thick smoke.

The bureau is hounded by the problem on unserviceable fire truck. Firefighters had to jump start their fire engine. The mayor has already ordered for an emergency purchase of the fire truck's battery.

Financial assistance

Meanwhile, the City Social Welfare and Development Office and the mayor himself have already extended financial assistance to the family of Audie Dela Cruz. His wife Lerma and son Ramon perished in the fire. Lerma went back to their house after they found out that Ramon is left inside the house. Unluckily both were trapped in the second level of their house. The two other siblings' of De la Cruz were brought to the hospital for treatment after they suffered burns. The fire emanated from a lighted candle left on the sala of Dela Cruz.

The fire victims also availed food assistance from the city government. Business establishment and other companies have already donated household things and food stuff to the victims.