Regular inspection of Fire hydrants sought

BAGUIO CITY – Councilor Vladimir Cayabas has requested the City Fire Department to regularly inspect and inventory the existing fire hydrants in the city to determine whether these life-saving devices need to be replaced or relocated or if there is a need to install more.

In his resolution, Cayabas said fire hydrants are essential in active fire protection as they are connection points by which firefighters can have access to a steady flow of water from a water reserve during operations.

Aside from determining the sufficiency of existing fire hydrants and inspecting non-operational ones to be replaced, Cayabas said the Fire Department also needs to check which ones need to be relocated considering the ongoing road clearing and road widening operations in the city.

Fire hydrants are usually installed along main thoroughfares and in other strategic areas where they are visible and easily accessible. Cayabas explained that there are fire hydrants within a 250 to 350 meter interval with two national thread standard hose outlets and that they are connected to and supplied with water by a pumper port facing the nearest street.

The installation of fire hydrants that are free from any obstruction is a national mandate under Republic Act No. 9514 otherwise known as the Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008. The act mandates the State to enforce all laws, rules, and regulations to ensure adherence to standard fire protection and safety measures and to promote accountability in the fire protection and prevention.

The month of March has been proclaimed as the Fire Prevention Month by virtue of Presidential Proclamation 115-A, Series of 1966. March has been declared as such since it is one of the warmest months and has the highest recorded number of fire incidents in the country. -Jordan G. Habbiling