QUEZON CITY, (PIA) -- At least 120 volunteer firefighters participate in this year's Fire Olympics hosted by the Valenzuela City Government in partnership with the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP). 

Participants compete in a series of challenges such as the House and Carry-in-Shoulder Relay, PPE Donning and Doffing, Blitz Attack, and Tug of War, among others, where the Mapulang Lupa Fire Brigade bagged the championship trophy.

In accordance with the theme “Sa pag-iwas sa sunog, hindi ka nag-iisa,” the fire volunteers from various competing barangays in the city demonstrated their firefighting skills as applied in emergency rescue situations. 

The six (6) groups of participants include volunteers from the Mechanic Fire and Rescue Volunteer - Barangay Ugong, Barangay Gen. T. De Leon Fire Volunteers, Barangay Mapulang Lupa Fire and Rescue Brigade, and Barangay Veinte Reales Fire Brigade alongside the Valenzuela City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (VCDRRMO) as well as the city’s Disaster Relief Rehabilitation Committee (DIRREC).

Meanwhile, the Mechanic Fire and Rescue Volunteers finished 1st Runner-up as the Gen. Tiburcio De Leon Volunteers secured the 2nd Runner-up award. 

City Mayor Wes Gatchalian lauded the brave duty of firemen as they continue to intensify emergency response efforts during fire incidents in the city, thus avoiding greater casualties especially in the month of March when fire occurrences are deemed prevalent.

“Palakpakan po ninyo ang inyong mga sarili. I have one good reason at ‘yan po ay ang ating mga Fire Marshalls [BFP]. Alam niyo po, kahit madaling araw ay up-to-date po ang mga messages nila sakin (tuwing may fire incident). Naramdaman ko po ang kanilang dedikasyon para sa kanilang trabaho. Mabilis po ang kanilang pagme-message sa akin at mabilis po ang ating pagresponde sa sunog (Please applaud yourselves. I have one good reason and that is our Fire Marshalls [BFP]. You know, even if it’s in the early morning, I am equipped with real-time updates [everytime there’s a fire incident]. I felt their dedication to the call of service. They are quick to message me and our response to fire incidents is at top speed),” said Gatchalian.

The National Fire Olympics is conducted annually to showcase the rescue capabilities of BFP personnel and strengthen their cooperation to increase functional capacity at the height of fire scenes. 

At present, the city government of Valenzuela deploys a supplementary workforce called the ‘Bantay Sunog’ to extend the rescue arm of the local government towards fire victims. (PIA-NCR)

(Photos courtesy: Valenzuela City Public Information Office)