Calasiao blaze hero buried
CALASIAO–He served selflessly.
SF04 Jose Cariño, a fireman who heroically helped out during the blaze at the municipal hall on September 15, 2008 and ended up in coma, finally succumbed to his injuries last October 31.
His heroism was not lost to the town whose officials honored him during his interment at the municipal cemetery last November 3.
He passed away after two years in coma as a result of inhaling toxic smoke during the fire incident in 2008.
When the fire broke out late at night, there were only Carino and another fireman on duty with only one fire truck available. He fell unconscious as he tried to douse the fire.
He reportedly was not breathing as they rushed him the Dagupan Doctors Villaflor Memorial Hospital where he was revived but remained in coma.
His family then transferred him to a hospital in the capital Metro Manila, but the doctor there seeing, no progress in Cariño’s condition, advised the family to take him back to Pangasinan.
For two years he was under medication at their home in Barangay Malabago and brought only to the hospital for check-ups or when complications arose.
Cariño received a P2.5M retirement benefit worth from the Bureau of Fire Protection prior to his complete disability discharge, according to SF01 Virgilio Mamitag, Fire Safety Inspector but Cariño’s family used it all to defray the cost of his medication that reached P8 million.
Cariño, 56, was due to retire this November after almost 27 years in service.
Cariño’s interment was attended by Calasiao Mayor Mark Roy Macanlalay, Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay, municipal and barangay councilors, and representatives of the Dagupan and Sta. Barbara Fire Stations.
Vice Mayor Roy Macanlalay, who was town mayor when the old municipal building was razed to the ground, extended financial support to Cariño’s family.
The municipal building has since been rebuilt and learning from the tragedy, the Calasiao fire station now have more men on duty at night and 3rd District Rep. Rachel Arenas has pledged to provide funds for an additional fire truck.
If only for these crucial lessons, Cariño did not die in vain. —Roselle. Gale, University of Pangasinan-Phinma
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