AN EVALUATION ON THE FIREFIGHTER VOLUNTEER'S PREPAREDNESS ON FIRE INCIDENTS IN BARANGAY COMMONWEALTH QUEZON CITY
Keywords:
fire incident preparedness, emergency response, training and drills, incident command protocols, firefighter coordination, community safety, purposive sampling, descriptive research design, survey questionnaire, socio-demographic profile, weighted arithmetic mAbstract
This study focuses on the preparedness of volunteer firefighters in responding to fire incidents. As essential first responders, volunteer firefighters play a vital role in community safety, often serving as the first line of defense during emergencies. Driven by a strong sense of duty and altruism, they undergo rigorous training while balancing their firefighting responsibilities with full-time jobs. However, their effectiveness in emergencies heavily depends on their level of preparedness, which this study aims to assess and improve. A total of 50 respondents were selected using a purposive sampling technique. This study employed a descriptive research design to analyze the demographic profile of the respondents and assess the preparedness of volunteer firefighters in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City. A survey questionnaire served as the primary data collection tool, and the gathered data were analyzed using the weighted arithmetic mean. This study revealed that the majority of volunteer firefighters in Barangay Commonwealth, Quezon City, fall within the 18-25 age group (26%), are predominantly male (62%), and are mostly married (52%). In terms of educational attainment, most respondents have reached the college level (30%), and their length of service is primarily between 7-10 years (40%).
The respondents strongly agreed (overall mean of 3.38) that various challenges affect their preparedness. To address these issues, the majority of respondents supported proposed measures, with the highest-rated recommendation being the regular conduct of realistic drills and simulations to ensure volunteers are well-prepared for emergency scenarios. To enhance the preparedness and response capabilities of volunteer firefighters, measures will be developed to strengthen their training and coordination. The researchers recommend conducting full-scale emergency simulations, involving multiple agencies when possible, to improve volunteer response coordination and ensure adherence to incident command protocols.
