SM Prime Holdings Inc.

03/15/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 03/14/2024 21:51

SM SUPERMALLS and BFP Conduct Fire Drill to Commemorate Fire Prevention Month

Smoke was seen coming out of the Megamall as part of the fire and evacuation drill conducted in SM Megamall where members of the BFP Mandaluyong Rope Rescue Team rescued trapped consumers from the rooftop.

More than 21k employees, security guards, janitors, other agency personnel, customers, BFP personnel in more than 106 SM malls, offices and properties participated in 3rd SM Supermalls and Bureau of Fire Protection Nationwide Simultaneous Fire Drill on March 13, 2024.

The drill simulated the occurrence of a 7.2. magnitude earthquake which resulted to destructive fire, explosion of gas farm, and collapsed of some structures with injuries to people inside the mall, missing persons, and trapped victims. SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City was the main venue of the fire drill.

Two 'victims' rescued by the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Mandaluyong City from the bridgeway of SM Megamall using the aerial ladder truck - was one of the highlights of the activity.

The Mandaluyong City Fire Station, Mandaluyong CDRRMO, PNP, MMDA, barangay, together with SM's fire brigade teams and tenants demonstrated their respective capabilities including rope rescue and high angle rescue by the BFP Special Rescue Force, tenant employees demonstrated how to use of fire blankets and fire extinguishers, and SM Fire Brigade Team as first responders on the scene.

Victim - Under Rescue simulation was demonstrated by the BFP Special Rescue Force where the rescuer lowered the injured victim 30 meters above the ground.

The nationwide simultaneous fire drill is one of the ways in which SM affirms its contribution to the creation of risk-resilient societies. The Public-Private Partnership with the BFP give priority to the constant training of SM's personnel to respond to disasters including earthquakes and destructive fires. This in turn help in ensuring the safety of SM's stakeholders including customers, tenants, employees, nearby communities and the general public.

Present in the Megamall Fire Drill were L-R: FSupt Nazrudyn M. Cablayan (Mandaluyong City Fire Marshal), Ian Mathay (SM Supermalls Megamall AVP), Atty. Pearl Jayagan Turley (SM Supermalls AVP for Corporate Compliance), CSupt Manuel Golino (BFP Director for Fire Safety Enforcement), Mandaluyong City Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr., USec Serafin Barreto of DILG, Engr. Junias Eusebio (VP Mall Operations of SM Supermalls), SSupt Rodrigo Reyes (ARDO of BFP NCR).