DILG organizing ‘fire summit’ to fix BFP, fire volunteers’ row

Following the confusion over the 30-hour fire in Baclaran last week, the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now organizing a fire summit to iron out kinks between government firefighters and volunteers. Radio dzEC reported Tuesday that the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) is now working to invite all "stakeholders" to the summit, including disgruntled Chinese Filipino fire volunteers. DILG undersecretary Marius Corpus said they hope to have a dialogue between firefighters and volunteers so they can air their particular concerns and grievances in joint operations. Corpus said all concerned stakeholders can also air their gripes and come up with suggested solutions. Last week, a 30-hour fire believed caused by an air-conditioning unit left on overnight destroyed a Baclaran mall and disrupted business in nearby establishments, including the Light Rail Transit. Volunteer firefighters were incensed over what they called the lack of coordination and differences in procedures with their counterparts from the BFP. - GMANews.TV