TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) - Region 2 is establishing Community Fire Auxiliary Groups (CFAG) in the barangays to serve as first responders during fire incidents. 

Major Franklin Tabingo, chief of the Operations Division, said there were already over 80 CFAGs established all over the region. 

He said that the BFP conducts trainings with at least ten members of the team in a barangay to serve as fire brigades, especially in areas that are isolated or far from the fire stations.

"Our municipal fire stations are conducting a series of training for CFAGs so we can expect that the number of established fire brigades in the barangays will double this year," Tabingo said. 

Captain Noverlyn Caoile, fire marshal of Peñablanca Fire Stations, said they have already started training for their CFAG in four barangays of the town including barangays of Alimanao, Camasi, Centro, and Dodan, which are considered as semi-urban barangays with-high rise and congested physical structures. 

"We will continue to train teams from other barangays until we complete the 24 barangays of the town. We really need CFAGs considering that our town is the largest in terms of land area and there are communities far from the station, so these trained CFAGs will be our first responders," Caoile said. 

She stressed that trained first responders are necessary to minimize the losses when there are fire incidents, especially to lives, and properties. 

Aside from fire suppressions, the participants were also trained in basic life support or first aid to serve as first responders when there are emergencies or accidents in their respective barangays. (JKC/OTB/PIA Region 2)