Four electric pole ‘fires’ reported in 24 hours

By: Jennifer P. Rendon

In a span of 24 hours, the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) – Iloilo City has responded to minor fire incidents in the metropolis.

By minor, this involved electric utility poles of Panay Electric Company (PECO).

The first “miscellaneous” fire incident was reported at 1:16 p.m. of Oct. 19, 2019 at Barangay South Fundidor, Molo district.

Fire fighters arrived two minutes later and put off the blaze at 1:22 p.m.

At 3:08 a.m. of Oct. 20, another electric utility pole was reported to have ignited near the Land Transportation Office (LTO) at Barangay Tabuc Suba, Jaro district.

It was put off in just six minutes.

At 5:54 a. m., another electric pole reportedly caught fire. It was quelled seven minutes after fire fighters responded to the scene.

Another miscellaneous fire incident, yet again involving an electric pole, was reported at 1:19 p.m. of Sunday.

Just like the previous ones, it was put off within a few minutes.

Fire Chief Inspector Christopher Regencia, BFP-Iloilo City fire marshal, said they respond to electric utility post fires almost on a daily basis.

Asked what could have triggered these incidents, “kadalasan ‘yong sumasagi sa mga kahoy dahon. Halos ganyan po,” Regencia said in a text message.

When pressed to comment further on who could be responsible, if there is any for such incidents, he said, “in my opinion, may ara sang technical consideration pagdating sa PECO kasi expertise nila ‘yan. Pagdating sa mga tao naman, may ara din kakulangan kasi may mga illegal connection din naman.”

Meanwhile, PECO refused to comment on the issue, as they are still checking the burnt poles.
Several PECO consumers have earlier voiced out their concerns on the alleged overloading of transformers, spaghetti wires, and illegal connections in some facilities of PECO.