‘Firemen could have saved my brother’

THE SCHOOL principal’s family were considering whether to ask for an investigation of the Bogo Fire Department for their alleged delayed response to yesterday’s fire, which killed school principal Jose Embert Catarata.

Charlon Catarata, the victim’s younger brother, said he believed that had the fire department responded immediately to the fire alarm, his brother could have been saved.

The victim’s neighbor said the fire department came to the fire scene 35 minutes after they called.

Tonying Montesclaros who lives across the house of Embert, said they saw the house on fire at 1:15 a.m. They immediately called the fire department but their number was busy. They called the police station instead to inform the fire department of the incident but they came 35 minutes after the call.

Montesclaros said the fire was almost out when the firemen arrived. The neighbors helped put out the fire.

Montesclaros said Embert was still calling out for help when they made the fire alarm. He said if the firemen came in earlier, they could have saved Embert.

But Bogo City Fire Chief SFO1 Eduardo Sotto said they received the fire alarm at 1:17 a.m. and arrived at the fire scene three minutes later.

Sotto said they declared the fire out at 1:45 a.m.

He said the fire easily ate the house because it was partially made of wood.

Sotto also said the house only had on exit, which was at the living room where the fire started.

His neighbors responded first in the alarm but were not able to get inside the house through the windows to rescue Catarata because it was covered with live wire.

Sotto said the victim’s house was burglarized twice. The live wire, according to his neighbors, were protection from the burglars.

Sotto said it rained before the fire. It was possible that the live wires were grounded and started the fire.

Charlon, a security guard, said he regretted going on duty that night.

“If only I was there,” said Charlon, who believed he could have saved his brother, Embert.

Charlon lives near the house of Embert in barangay Gairan, Bogo City.

He said he visits his brother every night and always reminds him to be careful with his electrical wirings. But that night, he was unable to see him because he was on a night-shift duty.

Charlon said his brother owns many gadgets and appliances and that wirings are all over inside his house.

He also said his brother never used live wires to protect his home.

Charlon said his brother was friendly and helpful and always ready to help his co-teachers who needed financial assistance./Correspondent Carine M. Asutilla