Tubod, Lanao del Norte – More than fifty participants attended the two-day Fire Suppression Training on August 18 and 19, 2011 at the MCC Hotel Conference Hall.

Attending the training are members of municipal fire brigades, Lanao del Norte Rescue and First-Aid Team and some PNP personnel.

The training was conducted by the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction & Management Council (PDRRMC) in cooperation with the Bureau of Fire Protection Region 10.

“Through this activity, we hope to strengthen the partnership between the Council, line agencies and the local fire volunteers”, PDRRMO In-Charge Marlyn Trozo said.

During the training, the participants were taught the tetrahedron of fire and the various techniques to suppress fire.
Facilitating the training are BFP officers from Tubod and Baroy fire stations.  

“We are now more aware of the dangers when conducting fire rescue and when best to enter a burning building to conduct rescue operations”, Lanao del Norte Rescue Team leader Darwin Tubio expressed.

Among the plans endorsed by the Council is the creation of a Disaster Response Team (DRT) that will conduct initial search, rescue, and first aid during natural and man-made calamities.

The DRT shall be a composite group made up by representatives from the AFP and PNP, Philippine National Red Cross and the local rescue team. Ultimately, the goal of the DRT is to minimize the effects of a disaster in a given community.

On the second day of training, the participants joined a simulation exercise on fire suppression at a local apartelle in Brgy. Pigcarangan, Tubod, this province.

“Here in Lanao del Norte, the foremost cause of fires is unattended candle usually peaking during the All-Souls Day”, Provincial Fire Marshall Oscar Abecia disclosed.

The training is also a requirement of the Gawad Kalasag Award, where Lanao del Norte is one of the contenders for the regional title. VNL/PIO-LDN