Fire hoses stabbed during Iloilo City blaze

By Jennifer P. Rendon

ILOILO CITY — At least three Bureau of Fire Protection hoses were allegedly stabbed and damaged while firefighters battled a late-evening blaze that gutted 13 houses in Barangay Veterans Village, Iloilo City Proper.

Senior Fire Officer 1 Denmark Macoco, acting chief of the BFP-Iloilo City Intelligence and Investigation Unit, confirmed that at least three fire hoses were damaged during the operation.

“We’re still checking if there are at least two more hoses that were poked with a knife,” he added.

Macoco said BFP-Iloilo City officials were discussing possible action against those responsible for damaging the equipment.

A 25-foot fire hose costs about PHP 8,100, according to information gathered after the incident.

Macoco said puncturing a fire hose while it is being used can disrupt firefighting operations, reduce water pressure, and endanger firefighters and residents.

A Facebook account using the name Xiao Zhong Hua also raised concerns over the damaged firefighting equipment.

The account alleged that “three brand-new fire hoses were deliberately struck with a knife simply to redirect water toward nearby homes that were on fire.”

The post said fire hoses are essential and expensive pieces of firefighting equipment, and damaging them during an active fire could hinder efforts to contain a blaze.

“The public must understand that fire equipment should never be obstructed, tampered with, or intentionally damaged. Every second and every piece of equipment is critical during a fire emergency. Damaging three brand-new fire hoses is not only costly but can also put firefighters, residents, and the entire community at greater risk. This is unacceptable and should never happen,” the FB user said.

The fire, reported at 10:05 p.m., destroyed eight houses and partially damaged five others.

Firefighters placed the blaze under control at 10:45 p.m. and declared it out at 11:03 p.m.

Macoco said the fire apparently originated from a house made of mixed materials and occupied by a person identified only as “Eleanor.”

Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the fire.

The BFP estimated property damage at PHP 360,000.

Authorities are also continuing to determine who damaged the fire hoses and whether additional equipment was affected during the firefighting operation.