BY JEN BAYLON
ILOILO City – The early evening weekend fire that struck the 11th floor of a high-rise building under construction at the Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao district brought to light a significant gap in the Iloilo City Bureau of Fire Protection’s (BFP) ability to tackle fires in high-rise structures – the lack of ladder trucks.
BFP’s firefighting team faced considerable challenges due to the absence of this critical piece of equipment, said Fire Chief Superintendent Melanie Hebawel, the city fire marshal.
Ladder trucks are critical in urban areas with high-rise buildings, as they allow firefighters to perform a range of tasks from a height that would otherwise be impossible with ground ladders. Their absence can significantly hinder the ability to respond effectively to fires in tall structures.
On Saturday, firefighters had to navigate staircases with extended hoses, a tactic that while effective, is not optimal for high-rise fire situations.
“Although our firefighters are trained for these scenarios, the unavailability of a ladder truck was a clear disadvantage,” said Hebawel.
Hebawel expressed gratitude for the assistance from the Federation Iloilo Fire Brigade and ICAG Volunteer Fire Brigade whose ladder trucks helped address Saturday’s fire at the Iloilo Business Park.
But this reliance on external agencies has underscored Iloilo City’s own pressing needs.
The BFP has been awaiting the delivery of a ladder truck, following national government procurements intended to bolster local fire departments.
“The financial constraints at the national level have unfortunately stalled the distribution of ladder trucks to cities like ours,” lamented Hebawel.
The most distinctive feature of a ladder truck is its large, extendable ladder, which is typically mounted on the top of the truck.
This ladder can reach several stories high, providing firefighters with access to upper levels of buildings, which is crucial during rescues or when trying to reach fires that are not accessible from the ground.
The ladder is mounted on a turntable, allowing it to rotate 360 degrees. This flexibility is essential for positioning the ladder to access specific points of a building.
Some ladder trucks have a bucket or platform attached to the end of the ladder, which provides a stable place for firefighters to stand while they perform tasks at a height. This is especially helpful for tasks like rescuing individuals from windows or balconies.
The BFP has launched an investigation into Saturday’s fire. An initial theory is that the blaze was sparked by combustible materials such as paint, thinner, PVC pipes, and butane./PN
