Fire Dept. takes heat for San Pedro blaze
The National Fire Service has
concluded its investigation into
the problems the San Pedro Fire
Department experienced when
it responded to Saturday's early
morning fire on the island. Fire
Chief Henry Baizar says all the
equipment on the truck was
working when the team arrived at the location, but
that the troubles began after they started pumping
water from the lagoon.
Henry Baizar, Fire Chief
"Our investigation revealed that the water source was
not deep enough. And what happened is when they
decided to prime the pump it started sucking up mud
instead of water and it sort of blocked the system
some sort of the way and caused the primer to be
burnt. And once the primer burnt then there is no way
that they can lift water with the pump."
Jacqueline Woods
"What is the National Fire Service doing to improve
the situation in San Pedro?"
Henry Baizar
"Well as far as I am concerned, the vehicle we have
out there is capable of fighting any fire that San Pedro
may have. In this instance, with this fire we had a
problem. The problem was there and we are not trying
to put blame anywhere else, we are to be blamed.
The guys went out there, they tried to do their best,
the water was not deep enough to get the lift, it
started sucking mud. And what we need to do now is
try and work with the Town Council and whoever is
out there to ensure that there are proper water heads
in place in certain areas of San Pedro."
Jacqueline Woods
"You mean hydrants?"
Henry Baizar
"Well not even hydrants. Water-heads are where you
go and get water from an open source. What will have
to happen is that they will need to go an identify
areas where these water-heads must be all around
the islands, because if there are no hydrants then we
must get water from somewhere."
Baizar says getting water from the seafront is
impossible because of the congestion in the area.
Meanwhile, Baizar says even though the San Pedro
Fire Department is equipped with another truck,
that vehicle does not have the capacity to handle
big fires like the one that occurred on the weekend
that left nearly one hundred people homeless.