The new firetruck of Maasin City Fire Station donated by the city LGU. (Photo: PIA Southern Leyte
MAASIN CITY (PIA) — The collective effort of everyone in the community, local government units (LGUs), and other sectors is crucial to avert or stop a destructive fire from getting out of control and even to prevent it from happening.
FSInsp. Earnswell Tan stresses a point during the Kapihan sa PIA. (Photo courtesy of Dahlia Orit, RP Sogod)
This was emphasized by Senior Inspector Earnswell Tan, acting fire marshal of Maasin City Fire Station, during the Kapihan sa PIA Southern Leyte.
Tan said this collective action served as the reason behind the permanent tagline, “Sa pag-iwas sa sunog, hindi ka nag-iisa,” (In avoiding fire incidents, you are not alone), which has been adapted by the fire bureau as the perennial message in its annual observance every month of March as Fire Prevention Month.
Keeping watch over uncontrolled fire is a year-round task, not just every fire prevention month, Tan hastened to add, for this has been a mandated observance due to a presidential order since way back then, when the incumbent president’s father was still the country’s president.
“Ang amoang tagline, sa pag-iwas sa sunog, hindi ka nag-iisa, wala na mi mag-theme, kay kana na lang among gi-focus kay we badly needed the cooperation, we badly needed the support of the LGU…we have to contribute to maintaining a fire safe community,” Tan said.
(Our tagline is, in preventing fires, you are not alone, we no longer have a theme, because that is all we focus on…)
He reported that in the previous year, they had responded to three fire calls, all residential, with faulty electrical wirings as the main cause, while last year, there was only one incident in Brgy. Combado, and the cause was traced to an unattended water heater, implying that awareness of their message was somehow instilled in the people’s consciousness.
As to their capability in putting out a conflagration, Tan thanked the local government unit through Mayor Nacional Mercado for giving them one unit firetruck. The fire station now has four firetrucks, including the one donated by the city.
Tan is hoping that within the year, another unit will be given by the BFP central office.
“Naa tay bag-ong firetruck…Ganina, ahong gihuwatan si Mayor kay ingon man si Mayor nga iya nang i-turn over, ipagamit na. Thank you very much … and the local government unit of Maasin City for the unending support to Maasin City Fire Station’s campaign against destructive fire,” he added.
(We have a new firetruck…A while ago, I waited for the Mayor for he said he will turnover it, he will let us use it…)
Tan said he utilized the social media in activities they had in observing Fire Prevention Month, such as contests on FB reels, spoken poetry, poster-making, and quiz bee.
The usual treats on open house where kids from elementary schools were invited to try the role as firefighters were also among the activities, including the fire officers going out themselves in a popular mall for a similar offering, as well as a contest drills with community fire auxiliary groups, with barangay San Rafael winning the competition, Tan shared. (MMP/PIA Southern Leyte)
