The fire brigades of both Barangay Punta Baja, Rizal and Berong Nickel Corporation will represent the MIMAROPA Region in the upcoming Fire Olympic Nationals.
This is after both teams won in the recent MIMAROPA Regional Fire Olympics held in Marinduque province last September 24.
The Regional Fire Olympics was divided into two categories, the Commercial and Industrial for mining companies in the region, and the Barangay category for the different barangays, to which Barangay Punta-Baja in Rizal town were the representatives.
Val Sajot, Health and Safety Inspector of Berong Nickel Corp., said that their fire brigade won by default given that other regions failed to send their representatives in the competition.
“During that time na andoon kami, the representatives for the industrial category eh Palawan representatives lang ang nandoon. Because of the bad weather that time hindi nakarating ‘yung iba,” Sajot said.
Sajot said that the brigades went through a physical training for two weeks before the competition. They also coordinated with their local fire personnel in order for them to make sure that they will be equipped with further knowledge about the regional olympics.
“We coordinated with the Quezon Municipal Fire Station through Fire Marshal Insp. Marlo Agbisit, OIC nila. And SFO2 Jasper Cruz, siya ang nag-train samin. Medyo mabitag ‘yung training namin,” Sajot said.
Though Berong Nickel Corp. won by default, their team performed an exhibition game to which the brigade underwent three events: Rescue and Relay Transfer, Fire Extinguishment Drill, and lastly, Busted Host Up the Ladder.
The Rescue and Relay Transfer is an event in which a patient trapped in a flamed building or place needs be carried and rescued by the brigade in the fastest time possible.
The Fire Extinguishment, on the other hand, is an event in which four on-fire drums displayed 150 meters away from the brigade needs to be put out using a fire extinguisher in the soonest possible time.
Busted Host Up the Ladder, which scores 50% of the criteria of the fire olympics is an event in which a fire truck with two targets on fire needs to be put out using seven hosts in the quickest time possible.
Sajot said that Berong Nickel Corp. Fire Brigade scored perfect 50% in the Busted Host Up the Ladder event.
The Punta-Baja Fire Brigade also competed in the same events as the Industrial and won over all other barangay fire brigades coming from the MIMAROPA region.