Mandaue schools lack firefighting equipment

INSPECTORS of the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) found out that most schools in Mandaue City do not have fire extinguishers.

Fire inspectors from the BFP which made the rounds on public and private schools since the last of May also found out that some school building’s have defective fire alarm systems and blocked fire exits.

SFO1 Sherwin Porcia, chief of the Fire Safety Enforcement Section of the BFP Mandaue said they will be asking the schools to comply with basic fire safety requirements.

Some fire exits have been blocked by all sort of things, and we advised them to clear it, Porcia said.

Lack of fire extinguishers is a prevalent problem among public schools. Most private schools however have fire extinguishers and emergency plans.

The BFP inspectors also looked into the overall safety of schools.

Porcia noted that in Ibabao Elementary School, they did not approve the conversion of a stock room into a classroom because of poor ventilation and the ceiling is very low.

“Lisod man gud kaayo kay amoang gi tan aw para ra baya sa mga bata pud kung amoa to e approve kay mga pakong ang mga estudyante unya walay ventilation,” he said while pointing out that the stock room was not also conducive for learning.

(We disapproved of the conversion of the stockroom into a classroom because the ventilation is very poor and student risks hitting their heads in the ceiling when standing.)

The BFP has also given basic fire safety tips during the BFP inspection.

Teachers were asked to to use school bells as alternative fire alarm systems if automated fire alarm systems won’t work or if the school does not have any.

They encouraged schools to adopt emergency warning protocols using their school bells and train the students on this.

Schools have been advised to assign different bell ring for start of classes, end of classes, recess and for emergencies.

By the end of June, the BFP said Porcia will conduct fire and earthquake drills public and private schools.