Manila firefighters test their skills in annual Fireman games

Fire truck sirens echoed at a park in Manila on Sunday as firefighters competed in an annual Fireman Olympics designed to test their skills during crisis situations.About 300 Firefighters from Manilas five districts raced to see who had the best time in solving specific fire-related situations that require speed, coordination, marksmanship and endurance.Bureau of fire Protection Regional Director Santiago Laguna said the Fireman Olympics was another type of training in preparation for emergencies, while promoting camaraderie with neighbouring firefighters.It helps improve their skills because they get to train and use their firefighting techniques, he said.Participants teamed up as they climbed ladders and shot water cannons at their targets, while judges examined each teams speed and abilities.Firefighters also demonstrated their rescue operations in a fifty-metre relay race where they carried their incapacitated team members to safety.The contest shows one aspect of our job. When it comes to real fire situations, we have one foot in the grave, said Malabon City Fire Marshal Genik Tena.The annual Fireman Olympics originated as a fire-prevention awareness campaign amid Manilas growing number of fire incidents in the past decades.Manila has the highest number of fires in the Philippines, with an average of three to five incidents reported daily.The Bureau of fire Protection reported over 720 cases during the first quarter of 2012, and a total of 2,700 fires in 2011.