Gordon commends PRC firefighters for saving family in Quezon City blaze

PHILIPPINE Red Cross (PRC) Chairman Richard J. Gordon on Thursday commended PRC firemen who responded to a fire incident in Quezon City, and rescued four members of family from the blaze.

“I commend our team of firefighting volunteers for doing a fantastic job. It is important to realize that the PRC has many unsung heroes. As volunteers, it is just fitting to honor them for their bravery and their eagerness to save lives and alleviate the suffering of our kababayans,” said Gordon.

On Wednesday, February 1, PRC firefighting teams responded to a big fire that reached the third alarm at Barangay Masambong in Quezon City and rescued four members of the Ceazar family.

The Ceazar family found themselves trapped in their own house as the fire ravaged a compound where they were residing. Two teams of PRC firefighting volunteers found a way to reach them by climbing over an establishment and piercing a wall to make a hole in order to reach the trapped family, including 67-yearold father Danny Caesar, 67-year-old mother Ramona Ceazar and their children 31-year-old Stella Marie and 28-year-old Danny Jr.

What made the situation even more difficult was the condition of the family’s mother, Ramona, who was unable to walk and needed to be transported out of the house using a wheelchair.

“Due to the quick thinking and determination of our PRC firefighters, lives were saved and our organization recognizes those who have put their lives in danger to save the lives of others,” added Gordon.

The two teams of PRC firefighters are composed of Team Leaders Jestoni Destura and Romel Barroga, team members Von Cypress, Paul Rei Guiang, Henry Sablay, Neil Jason Almero, Alfred Bautista, Zandro Cenizal, Friendly Daque, Ezekiel Daque, Steven Clark Leant, Kim Ordonez, Ferdinand Pacarro, Osmundo Cabanero, and Mharu Rabaino.

PRC also sent an ambulance team to the scene of the fire to provide emergency medical assistance to those families affected.

About 500 families or 2,500 individuals were directly affected by the fire. These families are now relocated to temporary evacuation centers at the Apolonio Tennis Court and Masambong Covered court.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PRC A JOINT team of Philippine Red Cross (PRC) firefighters and paramedics check on wheelchairbound Ramona Ceazar, 67, who was rescued by PRC firefighting teams from her burning house in Masambong, Quezon City, along with her husband and of her two children. PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon commended the volunteer fighters for their bravery and dedication in accomplishing the rescue operation.