THE personnel of the fire station in Carcar City will face the City Council Tuesday, June 4, 2019, to explain why they failed to respond to a fire incident in Barangay Guadalupe.
The blaze destroyed 11 houses around 4 p.m. Saturday, June 1.
Guadalupe Barangay Captain Giovanne Barcenas told Superbalita Cebu that he was dismayed because the firefighters arrived in the village almost an hour after receiving the fire alarm.
“They arrived extremely late,” he said in Cebuano.
Barcenas, in a phone interview, said the fire scene is close to the fire station and firefighters could have reached the fire site in five minutes.
After the incident, Barcenas and his fellow village officials urged the city councilors to ask the firefighters to explain why it took them so long to respond.
The village officials, tanods and other residents helped one another in dousing the fire.
Barcenas said one of the two fire trucks failed to discharge water as the pumps malfunctioned.
The fire trucks from Barili, San Fernando and Argao saved the village from further damage.
Aside from the houses, the fire roasted pigs, chickens and goats. Barcenas said they were thankful that no one was injured.
The fire reportedly started in the house of Teresita Barangan.
City Councilor Jay Garcia, the peace and order committee chairman, confirmed he summoned the fire station personnel, including its chief.
He said the fire station has four fire trucks from the City Government and the National Government, but the other two were grounded for repair.
Garcia said the City Council will find a way to help the fire station improve its response during fire incidents. (From GPL of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)