There is a phrase regularly repeated and like clockwork. We hear it during the month of March and the tragedy of its timing is not lost on those who observe Fire Prevention Month.
The Tagalog phrase goes like this: “Mas mabuti pa ang manakawan kaysa masunugan.” As the column title suggests, the English version goes: “It is better to be robbed than watch your house burn down.”
I always presumed that there are more fires in the month of March but strangely I have mentally recorded at least two fires inside Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig City and one at the Eastwood mix-use commercial center in Quezon City late May if not all in June.
In Barrio Kapitolyo, the fires occurred in “abandoned” homes and a storage facility. But the scary one that very few heard or read about was the fire at a condo building in Eastwood because it evokes tragic events from abroad.
The Eastwood fire did not hit the front pages or major newscasts because it was classified as “a small fire that was put out quickly.” What the reports missed are several people who suffered severe smoke inhalation of toxic materials.
I learned about the hospitalized victims after a couple of relatives reached out to ask for prayers from our men’s discipleship group of 12 to 14 men who regularly receive requests and commit to pray for people in need.
Not all fires are equal in intensity or destruction, but we should all think beyond the “fire” itself. Understandably, burning to death is too painful and frightening. Surviving second or third degree burns is even more painful and traumatic, especially for those permanently scarred or handicapped.
But an equally deadly factor during fires is the combination of flames, toxic flammable materials and severe smoke inhalation, which I believe is the primary reason people die in a fire.
As I think about that, it might be a good idea for high rise dwellers and office workers to be issued one gas mask and burn proof blanket per person for every unit or office.
The fire department and city hall require fire hoses, axes and fire extinguishers, but nobody thinks of having gas masks at the ready. Perhaps this is because many modern structures are now made of steel and concrete.
But inside these buildings are kilometers of electrical and IT wires, flammable ceiling boards, carpets and plastics of all sorts, even fiberglass.
Before anybody starts saying it’s too expensive to buy gas masks and fire retardant blankets, may I suggest you look into what the victims of smoke inhalation go through.
The relatives claim that a majority of those in the ICUs were and are still intubated, including the father, son and baby, all reportedly due to severe smoke inhalation.
Another young man is also intubated and is feared to never regain full use of his brain because of damage caused by toxic fumes. These people could be your father, brother, sister or mother.
As a result of all these, the situation has reportedly reached Sen. Raffy Tulfo, who could really make a difference as a senator in terms of formulating laws for the modernization of the fire code, building code and full modernization of the Bureau of Fire Protection in the face of thousands of high rise buildings and recent earthquakes.
Maybe I watch too many documentaries or TV shows, but I wonder if government officials as well as architects in the Philippines should start looking into technology or building design to disperse smoke and toxic fumes.
Hallway doors can be “armed” or connected with smoke detectors and alarms that will go off and automatically open exit doors and stairways and at the same time trigger large exhaust fans to remove or minimize smoke build up.
All these need to be highly automated and “human proof” because there is always the hesitation factor, where building maintenance crew or managers have second thoughts about “Break glass in case of emergency.”
When lives are at risk there must be no room for second guessing!
I know it’s a “damned if you do/damned if you don’t” situation but I pass the challenge to architects and engineers, maybe even the DOST, to incorporate building design, ventilation and exhaust systems. We know the problems; the real question is what are the solutions.
People often scoff or mock smoke detectors as money making gimmicks, but my wife insisted we install them in potential fire or flame zones. I finally agreed to do so when we installed Solar Power batteries – just in case.
Since then, I’ve discovered that the fire alarms don’t like me cooking dried fish or squid. The mild smoke sets off the ear-piercing fire alarm and scandalized the neighbors for a full minute.
We also bought several fire extinguishers, including for our car because I have seen enough cars burn on the road while owners cried helplessly. Having a fire extinguisher handy could make you a hero someday!
In closing, may I invite you to please pray for all the victims of the Eastwood fire as well as the many other victims and survivors of fires because “the prayers of a righteous person avails much.” Pray for miraculous healing and compassion to be upon them. God bless you all.
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