Some of the 24 public elementary and high schools inspected by the Bacolod City bureau of Fire Protection were found to have committed violations, city deputy fire marshal, Insp. Publio Ploteña said yesterday.

Ploteña said he noted that some schools have huge arches at their main gates that will make it difficult for fire trucks and ambulances to get inside their campuses in cases of emergency.

During their inspection, he said, they saw several open wires which are hazardous to students, and there are also schools with corroded electrical connections.

Ploteña also said there are schools with obstructions in the hallway that will hamper easy escape of the students in case of fire incidents. The BFP will issue notices of violations to the principals of these schools so they can correct their lapses, he added.

BFP will also furnish the Department of Education in Bacolod City copies of the report on the violations they found in the schools.

Aside from correcting the violations found, they also sent notices to schools, including private institutions, to conduct compulsory fire exit drills, Ploteña added.

While there are schools that continue to defy the fire safety requirements, he said, others have already corrected the violations they noted during their inspection last year.

BFP is set to inspect 42 more public elementary and high schools in Bacolod City and also private institutions, before the opening of classes on June 4.*APN

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