By LOUI MALIZA
Stringer
THE City Fire District yesterday urged people who plan to flock to cemeteries next week to make sure that their houses are secured while they are away.
City fire chief Rommel Villafuerte said they would be deploying fire trucks to strategic areas but added that the public would need to do their part by ensuring their homes are on a “safe mode” before they troop to the cemeteries.
“Oplan Kaluluwa” is on, according to Villafuerte, and this means 31 of its firetrucks–and firefighters–would be on standby mode 24 hours a day. This, he said, has been the case since Wednesday.
“Because once in place kining mga firetrucks, dali na lang pagespond during emergencies apart from our information dissemination activities at vital areas such as terminals where we distribute leaflets about fire prevention tips,” Villafuerte said during the “Mediakonek” forum at the Cagayan de Oro Press Club (COPC).
He said the urban villages are strategically covered by 13 fire stations in barangays Iponan, Indahag and Gusa, among others.
“Actually, our concentration is on the residential areas because in cemeteries, we only need the medical aspect. Still we deployed firetrucks for visibility and special rescue units,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said the fire department heightened its alert level last week.
“There will be no vacation leave for our personnel,” he said.
He said the fire department would “triple” their regular firetruck visibility activity in fire-prone areas especially at night.
“Regularly, twice a day gyud. Pero karon, double or triple pa gyud,” Villafuerte said.
Villafuerte said the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office convened early this week, and it was agreed that barangay officials would make their security officers bring fire extinguishers.
“Especially sa mga dakung krus nga daghan mabilin nga waste materials that is prone to fire,” he said.
Villafuerte asked the public to cooperate and “do their part” to avoid fires.
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