Fire and Frankie Frangipani

Frankie Frangipani saw how a bush fire scorched the faces of his fellow “kalachuchis” the other week. It was a sad incident that happened in summer in Barangay Plumeria wherein wildfires are common because of hotter days and drier grounds.

Some relatives suffered second-degree burns. They are showing signs of recovery. But most of them lost their propeller-like shapes and it may take time before the “kalachuchis” regain their delicate yellow center and creamy white outer petals.

Somehow Frankie is thankful of the firemen’s quick response. He was also able to offer first aid because of his skills in emergency-response volunteer works. He was right when he decided to spend his summer last year learning about fire fighting and safety.

Now, he is of great help.

Two years ago, when Frankie was just around 10 years old, he saw how their maid almost burned their house.

“Most house fires start in the kitchen,” he listened to his uncle Fireman Fred Frangipani during a seminar last year.

“So once you notice the hose of your cooking gas tank on fire, please don’t run away from it,” Fireman Fred added.

“What are we supposed to do then?” Frankie tried to figure out ahead of Fireman Fred’s explanation.

“You must apply rule of thumb,” Fireman Fred’s instruction rang in his head. “Press your thumb inches away from the burning area to stop the flames. Use a free hand to put off the gas tank. Inform a fireman immediately,” Fireman Fred went on.

“How can I learn all that quickly? It’s easier said than done,” he argued but only in his mind.

“Don’t worry. Practice makes perfect. Later on we are going to have a drill,” the instant answer came from Fireman Fred. Just the assurance Frankie needed at that moment.

Frankie remembered how horrified he was when he saw how fire could have eaten up their house. His family’s house was made of light materials. The maid was preparing a dish for lunch at that time. But the overheated grease she was using in sautéing tomatoes caught fire. It licked a portion of the thatched roof.

The maid was quick to put it out, though, with water. But it left an emotional scar in Frankie’s heart. He could have done a thing. But he knew not a thing about fire extinguishing. That sad experience, in fact, continues to give shooting pain every time he witnesses a fire.

“I can stand holding an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank hose on fire. I must hold an LPG tank hose on fire. I must not run away,” he challenged himself.

“As a fire brigade volunteer, you are not expected to master the skill immediately,” Fireman Fred explained. “But you have to remember that there will come a time that the safety of the entire community lies in your hands. Somebody has to do something. Someone has to do the job of putting fire out.”

So, before the fire drill, Frankie Frangipani encouraged himself to learn of the “fire triangle” by heart. The triangle stands for the three components to create a fire – heat, oxygen and fuel. “I must remove any of these three to extinguish a fire. I should,” he murmured.

Frankie further learned from Fireman Fred that the maid should not have doused water on the pan. Fire on overheated grease can still spread, most especially if the house is made of light materials.

“Water can cool down the fire and take away the heat source. However, it could have been better if the maid smothered it with a wet towel, or dirt, or sand to remove oxygen,” Fireman Fred stressed.

Frankie’s hands were shaking when he tried putting out a simulated fire with an extinguisher on his very first fire drill. Nonetheless, practice promises perfection. After that recent bush fire, Frankie saw a better version of himself.