BFP Bocaue orients SPCB on fire safety

Mrs. Josephine Hernandez, a high school Technology and Home Economics teacher, tries to put off the lit LPG tank during the Fire Safety Demonstration, with FO3 Rolando C. Agustin, Chief Investigation and Intelligence and Fire Safety Inspector of the Bureau of Fire Protection - Bocaue Fire Station.

With matching demonstrations on how to put off an ignited liquified petroleum gas (LPG) and an open fire, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Bocaue Fire Station conducted fire safety drill and symposium yesterday, July 18, 2012.

FO3 Rolando C. Santos, Chief Investigation and Intelligence Unit and Plan Evaluator and Fire Safety Evaluator and SFO2 Agustin Octavo, Chief Admin and Internal Affairs Unit, oriented the entire high school department and the Grades 5 and 6 at the Fr. Louis Chauvet Gymnasium. Regular classes were suspended from 8:30 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. to accommodate the BFP Fire Safety Orientation and Drill.

FO3 Santos explained the salient features of the Republic Act 9514 or the 2008 Fire Code of the Philippines. “The BFP,” he said, “is tasked to fully implement RA 9514 in terms of fire safety education, enforcement, inspection, investigation, and submission of Fire and Safety Assessment Report (FALAR ) as prerequisite in securing business and construction/building permit.”

He lamented, however, that not many comply with safety standards as required by RA 9514. The conduct of fire drills is a mandate of the BFP, he added.

FO3 Santos cited some major fire incidents that claimed hundreds of lives as a consequence of non-compliance and often negligence of people concerned. He mentioned about the 1996 Ozone Disco tragedy that claimed 160 lives with 83 persons injured, with damages amounting to P15M. He also cited the Manor Hotel incident that killed 75 persons, 19 injured, and damages of up to P12M. In 2004, a fire razed the Baseco Compound which rendered 12,500 families homeless burning 6,000 homes that cost P40M.

The classic examples, he said, could have been prevented if only people thought of safety, so he emphasized about getting the right education or orientation with regard to dealing with fire.

FO3 Santos differentiated the three classes of fire which fire extinguishers are designed to deal with. “Class “A” fire involves ordinary combustible materials such as wood, paper, trash, plastic and upholstery,” he said. “Usually, water is enough to extiguish such a fire,” he added.

Class “B” fire are those of flammable liquids and gases like gasoline, oil, kerosene, LPG, and the like.  “Dry powder, foam, vaporizing liquid or carbond dioxide extinguishers are for Class “B” fires,” he said.

He described Class “C” fire as originating from energized electrical equipment, wiring, fuse boxes, and appliances. According to him dry powder, HCFC, CO₂ extinguishers are used for Class “C” fires.

Fire extinguishers are labeled as for Class A, B, C or a combination of the A, B, and C.

SFO3 Santos showed the different parts of a typical fire extinguisher and asked the audience to name them as he pointed out the parts to them. Calling on the SG Joel Cacas, the chief of security of the school, Santos demonstrated how to put off a LPG tank on fire. Cacas did a return demonstration and was able to put off the fire. Other students and teachers were also asked to volunteer for the exercise. Among those who tried were Xavier Alain Ocampo, a fourth year student, Mrs. Luzviminda Estrella, a high school Religious Education teacher, Mrs. Josephine Hernandez, a high school Technology and Livelihood Education teacher, and Miss Heidi Gregorio, a high school English teacher.

After the demonstration inside the gym, the students and teachers were asked to proceed to the grounds near the gym for a live demonstration on how to put up a huge blaze using a fire extinguisher.

Several grade school and high school students volunteered to experience putting out a fire first hand. They used up 3 dry powder fire extinguishers which can be used for Class A, B, and C fires. Another group of students used the fire truck training the fire hose toward the blazing fire.

Sr. Bernadette Racadio, SPC, the Directress and High School Principal, expressed her thanks to the BFP for conducting such an educational demonstration and drill.

Among those present together with the teachers and staff were Sr. Virginia Taguinod, SPC, the Grade School Principal and Community Superior, Mr. Cezar Mendoza, the HS Clubs and Organizations Chair, Mr. Ernesto Guillermo, Jr., the HS Academic Chair, Miss Imelda Baltazar, the GS Academic Chair, Miss Thelma Dimaapi, the GS clubs and Organizations Chair, and Mrs. Eufemia Dionson, the HS Homeroom Chair.