THE Cebu Filipino-Chinese Volunteer Fire Brigade (CFCVFB) received last week a ladder fire truck — a first of its kind in Cebu.
This was the fourth truck given by the Rotary Club of Cebu West (RCCW) to CFCVFB. The first truck was given in 2009.
Former Rotary District Governor Toto Cupin said the club acquired the truck through their foreign network, the Rotary World Help Network, together with the Firefighters without Boarders of Canada.
“The truck was donated by our foreign partners for only 5,000 Canadian dollars. Inclusive of shipping, we acquired the truck for about 20,000 Canadian dollars,” Cupin said.
CFCVFB Fire Marshal Wilton Uykingtian, in an interview, said the Bronto Aerial Platform fire truck is different from the usual fire truck in Cebu City.
“The Bronto fire truck can reach around 10-storeys high. This is great especially with the advent of high-rise buildings,” Uykingktian said.
The fire truck also features a water tank with a capacity of 500 liters and can accommodate a maximum of 400 kilograms.
“We are also coordinating with the Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) to better our service,” Uykintian said.
As of present, the CFCVFB has four fully functioning water tanks but RCCW believes that these were not enough. Cupin said the club’s next project would be to add water tanks that could support ladder trucks.
RCCW initially brought three fire trucks but the other two (which were not ladder trucks) were given to the Municipality of Panglao, Bohol.
The old units in CFCVFB’s headquarters, Cupin said, were donated to the airbase in San Fernando, Pampangga.
As of present, CFCVFB has 42 active members, who are all volunteers, two fighting engines and four tankers.
The brigade was formed in the late 70s to help firefighters in Cebu City. (Rona Joyce T. Fernandez, CNU Com Intern)