Castro: Accreditation, being up to par with best industry practices important

As a Precinct 2 representative, Rep. Manny Castro (Ind-Saipan) stresses the importance of accreditation, maintenance, and training to limit incidences like the Susupe fire that happened last weekend.

Victims of the Susupe fire shared that while the fire spread rapidly, that there was an issue with water needed to extinguish the fire.

Specifically, Saipan Tribune learned that because water could not be accessed from a nearby fire hydrant, there was a delay in extinguishing the fire because there was a brief waiting period for a fire truck from up north.

Speaking at a joint public hearing last Wednesday, Castro shared that it is important to get departments like the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services accredited to ensure certain standards are met like proper equipment maintenance and proper training.

“I’m not trying to throw anyone under the bus, but I wanted to stress the importance of accreditation and getting our departments accredited. Right now, with our Firefighters, I know they’re going through a lot of issues in terms of funding, shift changes, etc. I intend to meet with the DFEMS commissioner. We fear change. But when the data and information is there, we need to look at the best possible solutions,” he said.

“We need to look at these situations and take proactive measures whether it be installing sprinklers in areas prone to forest fires, or make sure that we have proper maintenance of our fire engines and hydrants and proper training for our firemen. I firmly believe that for many years, we’ve been going through similar challenges, no matter what administration, but until we look at accreditation, setting standards, and being up to par with best practices in the industry, we’re going to continue to have these challenges,” he added.

According to a previous article on the Saipan Tribune, DFEMS received a call about a fire in Susupe just behind the Department of Corrections building at around 10:19pm and issued out multiple units to respond to the site.

Arriving at the scene at 10:23pm, Rescue-1 conducted a thorough assessment reporting a trash fire and said flames were dangerously close to both the housing structures and nearby vehicles.

The point of origin of the fire was determined to be the northside of the buildings which used to be a small shed and part of an auto shop.

DFEMS said within minutes of Rescue-1’s arrival the fire escalated and engulfed the structures. Rescue personnel immediately evacuated nearby residents to safety, while off-duty firefighters from Alpha Shift joined forces to contain the blaze.

Under the leadership of Bravo Shift commander, Capt. J.C. Camacho, the main fire was brought under control by 1:08am, marking the beginning of the mop-up phase. By 2:07am, the fire was fully contained and extinguished.

Fire investigator Lamarc Iguel said with multiple fuel loads, the fire was able to spread quickly toward the southern side of the structure.

Meanwhile, minor soot damage was found on adjacent structures on the southern side, and the suppression operation was able to control the fire’s exposure and contain it in one area.

He added that the eastern side of the housing structures suffered roof collapses as a result of the inferno.

“Based on scene investigations and interview statements, the area of the origin was located on the northeast side of the property.”

As of now, the cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Division of Fire Prevention and Arson Investigation, with a determination expected at a later date.