Fire marshals ablaze with honesty still exist

The fiery summer month of May was deeply and literally felt in Caloocan this year, but instead of the destruction of property and loss of lives that always come with such events, an area of Caloocan City was saved by a timely call to Hotline 117.

A few minutes before midnight on May 16, 2003, the second floor of the industrial warehouse of VG Chua Plastic Printing Services at 39 G. de Jesus street, Barangay Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City, caught fire due to electric short circuit.

VG Chua Enterprises’ services include the printing of logos and designs on plastic shopping bags. Common knowledge dictates that both are flammable materials.

At around 12:43 a.m., a certain Grace, a resident on G. de Jesus street, called 117. The operator, under code number 2010, informed the Caloocan City Fire Station of the fire.

City Fire Marshall, Chief Inspector Agapito Nacario, directed the duty radio operator to dispatch a team from the Balintawak fire sub-station.

Two minutes later, Engine 47 from the station arrived at the scene and firefighters were soon training their hoses on the burning building.

The city fire marshall, together with the crew of Engine 50 stationed at the Central Fire Station, also responded to the alarm. When they arrived, the fire at the second floor of the warehouse was about to spread to the enitre building and nearby houses.

Nacario raised the alarm to Level 3 and instructed his men to go to the rooftop of the warehouse where the fire has yet to reach.

The rest of the warehouse was eventually protected from further destruction.

As more fire suppression was being conducted inside, cash amounting to P696,000 inside a toppled office table was recovered by the team led by Nacario. He took hold of the money and ordered Inspector Amorsolo Bautista, SFO2 Angel Pacheco, SFO1 Enrico Valerio to immediately find the owner, who at that time was not around and probably unaware of what happened to his property.

District Fire Marshall Superintendent Jaime Gaddi of the BFP and Regional Fire Marshall Senior Superintendent Danilo Cabrera advised Nacario to put the cash in a safe place and document the amount for reference.

At around 1:04 a.m. or about 21 minutes after the sound of the first alarm, the fire was declared under control. At 1:30 a.m., a fire-out was declared.

The owner of the warehouse, Vicente Chua, arrived later that morning. Though naturally depressed by what he saw, he was much relieved and surprised when the cash was returned to him without a peso lost.

He said the cash represented the salary of his employees. He expressed gratitude for the honesty displayed by the marshals of the Caloocan City Fire Station. He knew that in such a scenario, it was easy to declare that the money was also lost to the fire.

On May 20, a formal turnover ceremony witnessed by members of media was held in the presence of Caloocan City Administrator Mamerto Manahan, who represented Mayor Reynaldo Malonzo. It was a happy moment for everyone and utmost gratitude was given to the honest fire marshals.

Some cynics would dismiss that the marshals were merely doing what the taxpayers expect them to do, but doing their job efficiently along with the display of honesty, was something extraordinary.

At times when opportunists abound in all places, the necessary recognition should be given to the heroes of Engines 47 and 50. As pointed out by Nacario, it is just right to commend in the line of duty the sterling performances of Inspector Amorsolo Bautista, SFO2 Angel Pacheco, SFO1 Enrico Valerio, SFO1 Roberto Mendoza, FO3 Ferdinand Santos, FO3 Benedicto Tudha, FO3 Renato Guerrero, FO2 Edgardo de Leon (driver-pumper operator of E-47), FO2 Alexander Noquis (driver-pumper operator of E-50), FO2 Jose Avelino, FO2 Alfredo Santos, FO1 Antonio Go and FO1 Ronnie Estrallano.

Let the spirit of honest and efficient service fire up their morale.