PCG water cannons save lighthouse station from grass fire

MANILA, Philippines — They may not have been used by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to counter recent Chinese provocations at sea, but water cannons saved the day for a vital lighthouse in Baler, Aurora threatened by a grass fire.

On Friday, the grass fire rapidly spread around the lighthouse station in Barangay Zabali, Sitio Diguisit in Baler, prompting the PCG sub-station in the area to seek help from the local Bureau of Fire Protection and the Aurora PCG station.

PCG Commandant Adm. Ronnie Gil Gavan commended yesterday the Coast Guard Station Aurora and Coast Guard Sub-Station Baler personnel whose swift actions helped save the lighthouse.

“Our personnel did not wait for a call for help. They identified the danger and worked alongside partner agencies to protect a critical maritime navigation facility. Their actions embody the Philippine Coast Guard’s commitment to safeguarding lives and national maritime infrastructure,” Gavan said.

Coast Guard vessels have of late been at the receiving end of water cannon attacks from the Chinese. The PCG has long resisted pressure to fight back using its own water cannon, saying the equipment is meant only for firefighting and humanitarian operations.

The Maritime Safety Services Unit-Northern Eastern Luzon and volunteer residents arrived and worked together to contain the fire before it could engulf the lighthouse compound.

The fire was declared under control and extinguished within an hour. The PCG said there were no reports of injury to personnel or damage to the facility.

For his part, PCG spokesman for the West Philippine Sea Rear Admiral Jay Tarriela said that not all lighthouses are under the PCG, as some are operated by the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) and private port operators.

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