Students and mallgoers alike had fun and learned various skills related to fire prevention at the Bida Ka Fire Square Roadshow held last April 5 which was organized by the Bureau of Fire Protection in partnership with SM Baguio.
A program opening the roadshow started at 10:30 in the morning. It featured talks from BFP-Baguio Fire Marshal Fire Superintendent Marisol Odiver, SM Baguio Assistant Mall Manager Michael Jason Peña, and BFP-Cordillera Director Fire Senior Superintendent Robert Pacis, with their speeches highlighting the importance of the event to those who attended. In between the speeches, song and dance numbers and a showcase of BFP uniforms are featured by firefighters from the city of Baguio, entertaining the audience.
The attendees of the event went to the various booths that the BFP offered after the program concluded. These include simulations of fire-related instances such as rappelling and smokehouse, and crash courses on emergency-related skills, including basic life support, bandaging, usage of fire extinguishers, and knot-tying. Younger participants have played the life-sized Fireman’s Ladder, a board game akin to snakes and ladders with themes related to emergency readiness. Additional booths from the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and the Department of Health were also featured in this event, with each booth featuring talks related to each agency.
Participants of the event have positively received the fire square roadshow. Students, in particular, have noted the applicability of the event in their daily lives. “This is an excellent activity for us because we have a chance to learn from the BFP in case we encounter fires”, Diane Gurion, a Grade 11 student from Baguio City National High School mentioned. Parents have also expressed gratitude to the Bureau of Fire Protection for organizing the event. Janna Lopeda, a mother of two, stated that she brought her children for them to learn life skills, adding, “They should be aware about fire safety and what they should do in case of emergency”.
When asked about the importance of the roadshow to their target audience, BFP-Cordillera Director Pacis said “We have noticed that children are the most vulnerable when it comes to fire. So, we aimed to do this activity to teach them what to do in case of emergencies as early as possible”. BFP-Baguio Fire Marshal Odiver supported the sentiment, further remarking, “The youth is our main audience (in this event) because they can remember what is taught here more easily”. As a final message, Director Pacis encourages people to attend events like this. “This event is for everyone and we can use what is offered here in case there is an emergency in the future”, he concluded.
The roadshow that aimed to promote fire safety awareness among population, especially children and students has been annually conducted since 2017. | Xyrhille Mhark Abapo
