The meeting with Fire Chief Tom Manglona, Capt. Juan Pua and other fire division officials took place in the office of Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, at 10:30 a.m.
Committee Chairman Ralph S. Demapan, Covenant-Saipan, said the delayed response of the fire division is a serious concern for the community.
Pua showed the lawmakers a report indicating the response time of the fire truck.
He said the rescue personnel from the Emergency Medical Services arrived “on time,” but the fire truck that had water arrived when the house was already gutted by fire.
This fire truck came from Kagman, Pua added. DPS earlier said it came from San Roque.
Residents said the fire truck arrived almost an hour after they called for assistance.
Tenorio noted that although there are six fire stations on Saipan, the fire division only has two fire trucks, of which only one is working.
“Obviously, something is wrong here,” Tenorio said, noting that there is a fire station just five minutes away from the burning house in Koblerville but the fire truck that had water came from the other end of the island.
The problem, according to Pua, is their lack of resources.
Variety learned that the government has financial resources for personnel only and not for operation and necessary equipment.
“We can pay people but they cannot do their job due to lack of proper equipment,” a former lawmaker said.
The Department of Public Safety, Pua said, has 86 firefighters and rescue personnel who work in three shifts every day.
Manglona said there is a need to purchase three more fire trucks.
Noting that it’s the Legislature’s responsibility to find funding, Tenorio said they must address the fire division’s lack of equipment.
Saipan used to have four fire trucks but only one is “serviceable,” Department of Public Safety spokesman Sgt. Thomas A. Blas Jr. said yesterday.
Blas said he was told by Fire Chief Manglona that of the three ambulance units, two are serviceable but the other one needs to be repaired.
Blas said there is no reason for the community to be concerned with the distribution of emergency units which is based on population.
