BFP issues hotlines for New Year fires

For fires in Metro Manila around New Year's Day, call telephone numbers 407-1230 or 729-5166. The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in Metro Manila issued the new hotlines on Wednesday. "Ang 4071230 personal hotline ko yan. Dalawang ring lang yan, sa second ring may kausap na kayo, ako yan ... Ang 7295166 may equipped na radyo," BFP Metro Manila chief Senior Superintendent Pablito Cordeta said in an interview on dzBB radio. (The first number is my personal hotline. You can expect me to answer it personally at the second ring. The second number is for our radio operations.) Cordeta said he expects firefighters to get dressed for duty in 30 seconds, and be at a fire scene in five minutes, similar to their preparation for the Christmas weekend last week. He said the public can also use the two hotlines to report late responses by the firefighters. However, he also appealed to the public not to use the hotlines to make prank calls. "We will treat all calls as true calls," he said. Cordeta also encouraged residents to memorize the telephone numbers of the BFP station nearest their residence, saying they have 120 fire stations strategically located in Metro Manila. 135 trucks, 2500 men on standby Cordeta said his command has 135 fire trucks and 2,500 men on standby to respond to fires. He said he expects district directors to be at the fire scene when the fire reaches the third alarm. He said he will personally be at the area when the fire reaches the fifth alarm. "Pag naunahan ko sila ibang usapan yan (If I get to the scene and catch the district directors not there, they will answer to me)," he said. Kwitis cause of several fires Meanwhile, Cordeta appealed to revelers to be careful in lighting fireworks, especially kwitis, which has caused several fires in Metro Manila. "This must be directed 90 degrees upward, diretso langit. Pag lihis nang kaunti, ang pasok nito bubong, kisame, to whom it may concern," he said. (Direct the kwitis 90 degrees up, straight into the air. A small deviation will cause it to shoot into roofs or windows of nearby houses.) "Pag bumagsak sa informal settlers delikado yan (If it sparks a fire in a squatters' area, we will have a big problem)," he added. Floating fireworks vessels The Philippine Coast Guard will inspect floating vessels where fireworks shows will be held to mark the New Year. Radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported Coast Guard commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo ordered tighter inspections of floating fireworks stages. The police in Metro Manila will also remain on heightened alert throughout the New Year weekend, according to a report by dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo. In Manila, the police seized some P100,000 worth of illegal fireworks Wednesday morning. Among the fireworks seized were five-star, baby dynamite, pla-pla and ingkong. – VVP, GMANews.TV