Mall fire raises many concerns

CEBU, Philippines - The fire that hit Robinson’s Place and Cebu Midtown Hotel near Fuente Osmeña last Sunday has heightened firefighters’ concerns on future fire incidents that involve taller buildings.

City Fire Marshall Aderson Comar said they will ask the government for more equipment such as breathing apparatus, aerial ladders, and a gadget that can draw out smoke.

The fire, which occurred at the mall’s ground floor last Sunday, was confined and was not able to spread to other establishments, though firemen had difficulty in clearing out the area because of the thick smoke.

Firefighters used aerial ladders to rescue people trapped inside the hotel. The ladders were only as tall as the fourth floor of the mall which was adjacent to the hotel.

The retrieval of people trapped inside the hotel also delayed their operations, he said. The fire was cleared an hour and 30 minutes later after it was reported at 3:04 p.m.

If there is more budget, Comar said, a helicopter will also be a big advantage in rescuing victims from high-rise buildings or in mountain areas where fire trucks and other vehicles cannot go.

Comar cited a 30-story-long ladder in Japan, which they hoped to acquire this year.

“Mao man gyud ning batasan sa Pinoy, diha na mamalit ug gamit kung makakaon ug tagam. Sabagay, ang city government nag-program pa, nangita ug paagi para ma-acquire nato ang mga gikinahanglang ekipo,” Comar said.

As of yesterday evening, Comar pegged the damage at around P160,000, including water damage to both the mall and the hotel. The Bench boutique, where the fire reportedly started, was totally destroyed.

Around 50 workers and guests of the hotels were rescued, while 20 of them were taken to the hospital for minor injuries and smoke inhalation. Comar negated reports that there were people trapped inside the service elevator.

He also explained that the fire apparently did not raise the temperature enough to trigger an alarm.

Hermosillia Irizari, the mall manager, refused to face the media yesterday for an interview but said through a representative that they will issue a formal statement soon.

The mall management has just conducted a fire drill, but it was held at the nearby Robinsons Cybergate Mall from April 7 to April 9.

A female employee, who requested anonymity, said there was still no advice for them to return to work. She was among the many employees that waited outside the mall yesterday.

As the Fire Department goes on red alert status on Holy Week, all firemen and fire officers are not allowed to be absent, go on leave or vacation and to be on call 24/7, the fire marshal said.

Meanwhile, Mayor Michael Rama yesterday announced that Cebu City has an allocation of P20 million for financial assistance to the Cebu City Fire Department, but Rama said he may not allow the amount to be used to purchase ladders and other firefighting equipment.

Rama said the Department of Interior and Local Government, where the Bureau of Fire Protection belongs, should be the one to acquire such equipment to make the firemen more effective in responding to alarms.

Rama instructed City Hall public information officer Carlo Dugaduga to schedule a meeting with the owners of high-rise buildings in Cebu, together with the fire officials and representatives from the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry to discuss the problem.

Rama also wants owners of high-rise buildings in Cebu City to be required to have their own fire brigades to quickly respond to fire alarms in their establishments while waiting for the arrival of government firefighters.

The mayor instructed Cebu City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete to make the draft and to coordinate with the concerned city legislator for the passage of the ordinance that will require building owners to establish their own fire brigades when they apply for occupancy permit of their buildings.

Rama said every high-rise building in the city should have its own firefighting personnel and it should also come up with its own fire safety plans on how to evacuate its occupants in case of fire.

Only few of the big companies in Metro Cebu have their own fire brigades, although The FREEMAN learned that some of the Chinese businessmen are regularly giving support to the Cebu-Filipino Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade. — /BRP (FREEMAN NEWS)