“Beterano na ni sa gira (This is veteran in fighting fires),” said Valentino Israel, the fire chief of the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS), as he slapped the back of perhaps the oldest fire truck in the country.
The truck was acquired circa 1958 and the city fire department still uses it during fire incidents.
“We’re still using and maintaining this, although this needs alignment and overhaul,” Israel said.
There is, however, a hitch: “Mahadlok ko basig di na kauli kay tiguwang na (I’m afraid it might not be able to return after a fire because of old age).”
The vintage 1958 Nissan diesel firetruck still has a robust body with no sign of corrosion.
build and not being corroded by rust.
The fire chief has been asking help from agencies to beef up the island with at least with one more firetruck to add to his current fleet of three, including the vintage one.
He said he is thankful for the active support of Mayor Aniano Antalan to the city fire department.
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) for IGACOS has 32 firefighers, 23 of whom are regular and nine job order personnel.
Ten regular personnel are stationed in Peñaplata BFP base, seven in Babak, and five in Samal District.
Israel said his current manpower can still effectively respond to the fire incidents occurring in the island, which occur infrequently considering the island’s sparse population. “Samal isn’t yet a high-risk area,” he said.
Israel has stationed the best firetruck in Babak District which is the most urbanized area in the island.
He urged islanders to be extra careful during the holidays. “December is also fire prevention month knowing that this is the month when there’s high consumption of power due to celebrations and Christmas lightings. A power overload or underload can trigger fire,” he said.
Last month he and his personnel put off four fires, but as of press time not a single fire has occurred in the island this month. Cha Monforte, Correspondent
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