The Bureau of Fire Protection has removed the station head and entire force of Pozorrubio town’s fire department following a fire that killed a family of five. The blaze, which started from an overcharged e-bike, revealed alleged gross negligence, with reports claiming the firemen were drinking and turned up to the scene in slippers. Seven other firemen from different towns were also relieved.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) in the Ilocos Region of the Philippines has relieved the station head and entire force of the Pozorrubio town fire department following a midnight fire which gutted three houses and killed a family of five four days ago. Senior Fire Officer 3 Amante Clemente Battalao took over the station from SFO4 Randy Fabro, the fire marshal, who was relieved of his duty on April 4, along with seven other firefighters from different towns. The cause of the blaze is believed to have been an overcharged e-bike, but the Pangasinan Governor said that he would investigate reports of the firefighters having a drinking spree when the fire broke out, and that the BFP response was late, with fire trucks from two neighbouring towns arriving first with Pozorrubio’s truck being unable to provide water, and the firemen not wearing suitable footwear.