Firefighters' Presence at Campos Rueda fire

On our way home last 09 June 2009, coming from Manila, where we had secured our NBI clearances for adoption, we got caught into some traffic along Buendia Avenue.

Why? There was a fire at the Campus Rueda Bldg, along Urban Avenue. This is walking distance from the Makati Medical Center or just behind the Tropical Hut Hamburger Restaurant, front the Makati Post Office.

The earliest firemen dates back to at least Ancient Egypt. During the times of the Romans, firefighters were privately organized and funded groups. They were really more a business than a public service, until Julius Caesar Augustus called for the creation of trained firefighters. He equipped and paid these men. They also were the early police force. Augustus was the first emperor of the Roman Empire. He ruled alone from 27 BC until his death in AD 14. Here is an 1878 illustration of early firefighters.

Wished I had my Canon Rebel XTI with me? Still, I snapped a few pictures with my iPhone. Other pictures were taken by Chief as I still had my hands on Shaq.




I remember this building much from my old Manila Bulletin days, when I was assigned at the Makati Peninsula Branch. We had a couple of advertisers held office at Campos Rueda. Wow, that was back in the early 80s and there was still the Rizal Theatre, where the Makati Shangrila now stands.

The Campos Rueda is relatively an old building. It is probably made of flammable materials such as wood which is different from so called "fire-resistant" buildings we see in a modern metropolis. These "fire-resistant" buildings can be designed to limit fire to a small area or floor, thus giving occupants the time to evacuate the building.


It was quick presence of the firemen that prevented the fire from spreading to the other buildings. The firemen had to be on the spot easily as the Makati Fire Station was just across the street, at the back of the Makati Post Office.

The Makati Fire Department (MFD) has often won the search for Best Fire Station in the National Capital Region (NCR) and is recognized as a multi-awarded firefighter in the country today.