CCFO tests skills of Cebu mall emergency response team in exercise

CEBU CITY – The Cebu City Fire Office (CCFO) conducted a simulation exercise to test the skills of an emergency response team in an upscale mall at IT Park in Barangay Lahug here Thursday, July 21.

The ERT had to contend with a fire that broke out in the mall resulting into a commotion. The ERT scampered to grab their firefighting equipment while people inside the establishment were transferred to safer grounds.

Senior Fire Officer 2 (SFO2) Wendell Villanueva, spokesperson of the CCFO, said the drill was meant to test the readiness of ERTs of various establishments in the area.

IT Park is home to several commercial establishments that include malls, banks, business process outsourcing offices, and food parks.

Villanueva said the CCFO is intensifying the conduct of simulation exercises in areas with high-rise buildings.

“These drills are necessary so that in case of fire incidents, the ERTs will know what to do while our firefighters are still on the way,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva said establishments with at least 50 personnel need to have an established ERT.

“In case a fire breaks out in a building, at least the ERT is prepared with fire fighting and rescue operations in place,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva said an ERT has to undergo 40-hour training before a certificate of competency is issued.

The five-day training includes basic life support, actual fire fighting, rescue operation, and giving of first aid treatment training, Villanueva said.

“After the training, there will be another round of evaluation to make sure that they learned something from the 40-hour training,” Villanueva added.

During the simulation exercise, Villanueva noted that the ERTs performed well but “there is still room for improvement.”

Villanueva pointed out that more simulation exercises will be conducted in the future.

“There is a big difference between simulations and actual incidents. During the actual incident, the adrenaline is really high. We need to train them regularly. It should be repeated, one time is not enough, it should be a year-round activity,” said Villanueva.