Save Lives, Save Property

August 4, 2008

My dad, Virgilio Fernandez, is an advocate of protecting lives through fire fighting.  He has been part of Soler Volunteer for more than 15 years, and has responded and has been witness to handful of disasters like “Ozone Disco tragedy”, “LRT Blumentritt Bombing”, and many others.  

I believe that we could also help save lives in our own way by being proactive even if we’re not fire fighters.  Read the article below from Manila Bulletin Online.

 

Fight fire with ” Txt Fire “

By Charissa M. Luci

 

Obsession.

This prompted the birth of such spam called “Txt Fire,” a public service intended to improve the fire fighting response time for volunteer brigades and fire stations nationwide in saving lives and limbs.

 

Launched last November, “Txt Fire” is the brainchild of Gerry Chua, the communications head of the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigade, Inc., a Filipino-Chinese volunteer fire brigade group founded in 1975.

 

“It all started through my obsessive texting until I realized that this could be converted into something fruitful. I’m fond of sending group messages and why not send these in preventing fires?” said Chua.

 

Also the executive vice president for 10 years, he said that “Txt Fire” would make a difference as it called for “volunteerism” not only on the firefighters but also on the community.

 

A firefighter volunteer himself, Chua said that this spam encourages people in different walks of life to participate in preventing and suppressing all kinds of destructive fires.

 

“Through this, the sole responsibility to get to the fire first is not only rested on our shoulders. The community has a large part in saving others’ lives and properties.”

 

With 4,500 fire brigade members, he said, the association could handle more fire occurrences if there is community support.

 

Though not all of us can be a fire brigade volunteers, he said that we can take part by either reporting or monitoring incidence of fire.

 

To be a text fire volunteer, just register by typing REG space <Full Name> space <Address> and send it to 09186888888.

 

As a text fire volunteer, one can report a fire by sending REPORT space <Location> to the same number while local fire station will verify the reports.

 

“We need to verify reports to not waste our time and effort. So far, we only encountered one bluff report,” he said, adding that they can easily identify if the report is a ‘bluff’ through the imaginary address given to them.

 

Since the start of the operation, they have received more than 190 reports.

 

Part of the services, you can also receive a report in a matter of seconds, 12 seconds or less, on any active fire by texting FIRE and send to the same number.

 

The communications head said, aside from 110 fire chiefs, more than 2,000 members, which he called “Fire Alert Group,” have received fire alert.

 

More than 4,000 volunteers nationwide have contributed to help the fire brigade volunteers respond faster to fires.

 

According to Chua, their fire brigade group has 38 offices nationwide, including Cebu, Bacolod, Davao, Tacloban, Legazpi, Albay, Naga, Iriga and other major key cities in the country.

 

Aside from texting, one can also report fires to the Association of Philippine Volunteer Fire Brigade, Inc.’s hotline, 522-2222.

 

Chua said that in one minute, their hotline could handle 400 calls as they have five operators receiving the calls.

 

Having this kind of public service would mean ceaseless effort, boundless time and enough resources.

 

Chua spent more than half a million to ensure an efficient and effective “Txt Fire” operation.

 

“This is a twenty-four hour-service delivery so we need updated equipment to guarantee an unobstructed operating system.”

 

Believing that kindness begets kindness, he said he will devote his time in helping others, keeping himself obsessed in public service.

 

“Hindi na ako magnenegosyo, magtetext fire na lang ako,” he enthused.

 

Known as “Mr. Ube Hopia” of Eng Bee Tin Chinese Deli, he himself is the owner of Cafe Mezzanine in Binondo whose revenues were donated to Binondo Volunteer Fire Search and Rescue Brigade, Inc. and Paco Volunteer Fire Search and Rescue Brigade, Inc.

 

He disclosed that every six months, he donates P500,000 to further improve the firefighting system, including the equipment.

 

Asked what is special force within that he can’t resist and have to go and help, he said: “I feel better whenever I help.”

 

Dedication. Sacrifice. Commitment.

 

Though “death is only a matter of minutes away,” in the fire service, these three things keep him and his fellow fire brigade volunteers obsessed to public service.

 

*The article was lifted from past Manila Bulletin Online

**The “Txt Fire” is still working, I’ve just registered my new number.