FIREFIGHTERS were able to penetrate the Grand Residences building that was hit by fire on April 14, 2023, contrary to reports on social media that they were not able to respond accordingly as ladders were unable to reach the tower’s higher floors, said official Wednesday, April 19, 2023.
Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO) spokesperson Senior Fire Officer 2 Wendell Villanueva told SunStar Cebu that the photos showing the ladders only displayed the situation outside of the building.
He said the photos circulating online did not provide the full story surrounding the incident.
The fire raged for nine hours and caused an estimated P4 billion worth of damage when it hit the Grand Residences condominium on Gov. M. Cuenco Avenue in Barangay Kasambagan, Cebu City.
The blaze started at the building’s higher floors and eventually spread to the lower part of the structure, causing difficulty for firefighters since trucks equipped with motorized ladders can only reach up to the 18th floor.
Villanueva said that even modern ladders can only reach up to the 23rd floor, and although the case was unique for the department, firefighters were able to access the inside of the building and respond accordingly.
Despite public perception and lack of resources, Villanueva is confident that the CCFO is capable of handling any sort of fire.
“Naa nay naka latag na plano no na mo procure ta og helicopter by next year (There’s a plan to procure a helicopter by next year),” Villanueva said.
He added that by 2034, the Bureau of Fire Protection will be modernized and the public will not see any issues from old equipment that is used to combat fires. (Ralph Martinez, BIPSU intern)