Fire marshal tells villages to buy own fire trucks, build substations

CEBU, Philippines - Newly installed Mandaue City fire marshal Ronaldo Orbeta has suggested that barangays purchase their own fire trucks and build their own fire-substations.

Orbeta, who was installed as fire marshal of the city last August 16, said the Mandaue City fire station has only three fire trucks in good shape while the rest have seen better days.

The station owns only one fire ladder and one old water tanker. He said the city will buy a new fire truck.

If barangays had their own trucks, fires could easily be controlled, he said.

Orbeta said the fire station finds it difficult to be in the fire scene in a time frame of five minutes because of traffic.

He said the three fire-prone barangays are brangays Umapad, Mantuyong, and Tipolo.

Barangay Tipolo now has its own fire substation.  (FREEMAN)