public safety

ZLC users call for changes

In the wake of a fire Monday, users of the ZLC want to see better security measures.

The fire, which took five hours to control, is the second at the Colón facility within the past year.

LA PRENSA

burned out:Not much remains from the businesses in the Zona Libre de Colón that were destroyed in Monday’s fire, which caused millions of dollars in damage.1021858

Users of the Zona Libre de Colón (ZLC) yesterday demanded that better security measures for the buildings there.

David Cohen, president of the Asociación de Usuarios, said that these measures are needed in the wake of a fire Monday that destroyed several buildings and caused millions of dollars in damage.

Gabriel Caballero, a former director of the Sistema Nacional de Protección Civil (Sinaproc), said that a contingency plan is being worked on to prevent a repeat of Monday's disaster.

But Cohen expressed his frustration that the contingency plan, which has been in the works since a fire at the facility last October, has not been implemented.

"We met on four occassions since (the October fire), but we have not seen any results," he said. "And now we have to live with the consequences."

Firefighters were hampered by a lack of water pressure when they first arrived on the scene Monday. This allowed the fire to spread. It eventually destroyed nine businesses.

The fire means that dozens of employees might lose their jobs while the businesses decide what to do next.

Cohen said the ZLC's administration needs to implement mandatory safety standards for the buisnesses operating there, and inspections need to be carried out on a regular basis.

While there are several water tanks at the zone, they are apparently not filled because they lack the proper maintenance to keep them operational.

Daniel Cheng, a former manager of the ZLC, said that security measures are clearly lacking at the facility.

"There have been problems with robberies, and now with the watertanks," he said. "The administration needs to make adjustments."

ZLC Manager Nilda Quijano said Monday that the fire would have been difficult to contain because the merchandise in the affected businesses was flammable. He also said that the contingency plan is in the "rough draft" stage, but should be ready soon.

There were no serious injuries in Monday’s fire, though one firefighter was slightly hurt when his ankle became entangled in a hose.

An official damage estimate has not been released, but preliminary reports have put that amount at $20 million.