A water concessionaire company on Tuesday has repositioned the fire hydrant, which went viral, because it was located right beside a wall rendering it somehow difficult to access.
According to Raffy Tima’s report on “24 Oras,” the fire hydrant was not fully utilized against the huge fire that hit Barangay Obrero on Sunday.
The fire that hit Barangay Obrero on Sunday, April 13, was the biggest fire that hit the village in the last seven years. The fire is bigger than the blaze that hit the area in 2018.
At least 77 families lost their homes in the recent fire that lasted for six hours.
According to barangay officials of Barangay Obrero, the fire hydrant was used during the recent blaze.
“Nagamit naman po ‘yun sir. Ang nangyari lang po kasi sir, ‘yung isang side nya, talagang nakapasok doon sa pader,” Barangay Obrero administrator Archie Pascual said.
(It was utilized, sir. However, one side was attached to the wall.)
The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) experienced a slight delay in using the said fire hydrant since it was too near the wall.
According to an investigation, the fire hydrant was initially placed along the sidewalk, but the water concessionaire moved it near the wall to fix the area.
“Sila po kasi yung authorized na gumalaw doon at maglipat. So nagkataon lang ng bakit doon naidikit sa bandang pader ng property,” said Senior Fire Officer 4 Rolando Valeña, QC Fire District Arson Investigator.
(The water concessionaire is authorized to move the fire hydrant. It just so happens to be too near the wall.)
The owner of the compound, where the fire hydrant was attached, sent a document to GMA Integrated News, clarifying that they have been requesting to move the fire hydrant away from the wall.
BFP reminded the public not to block or move fire hydrants since it has to be functional in case firefighters will use it.
The BFP also inspected the repositioned fire hydrant and approved this based on its standards. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/BAP, GMA Integrated News
