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Civilians help stop brush fire from hitting power pole, store
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Posted on Mar 18 2009
Civilians assisted police officers and firefighters in preventing a bush fire from burning down a power pole and spreading to a store in Finasisu yesterday afternoon.
Saipan Tribune learned that the fire lit up the bushes in a vacant lot along the side of Tun Joaquin Doi Road.
Witnesses said the fire of still unknown cause started near the base of a power pole at a bushy lot at 2:40pm.
Ariel Villanueva said he was driving his car when he saw fire near the power pole so he parked at the Finasisu Market and dialed 911.
Villanueva said police officers immediately arrived then later two fire trucks responded.
He said while waiting for fire trucks, a police officer tried to stop the fire from spreading to the utility pole.
Villanueva and five other people took buckets of water to prevent the blaze from spreading to the nearby generator room and stock room of the Finasisu Market.
Firefighters arrived and joined the civilians and police officers in extinguishing the fire.
A witness suspected that somebody could have thrown a lighted cigarette near the power pole and this ignited the fire.
