Members of the Brixton Hills Volunteer Fire Brigade Association distributed relief packs to 657 families or 2,000 individuals affected by the fire that gutted at least 300 houses inside the Manila International Container Port (MICT) in Purok 3, Isla Puting Bato in Tondo, Manila on April 10.

The beneficiaries received food packs containing rice, biscuits, canned sardines, instant noodles, bihon noodles, and candies.

Brixton Hills Volunteer Fire Brigade Association was established in 2004 in Quezon City, where most of their original fire volunteers reside. 

The group, led by its founders - Dr. Vincent Chan, Anthony Choi, Jerome Brian Tang, and Eric Sy - started as a personal mission to serve the community.

According to them, no fire trucks were available in their area in Quezon City at the time, and the nearest fire station was a few kilometers away. 

They said they had to buy their own fire trucks and fire equipment. They also conducted a recruitment activity to gather volunteers.

Today, the association has 13 fire trucks and more than 100 fire volunteers ready to respond to emergencies.

From Quezon City, the association branched out to Manila in 2010, until it reached Muntinlupa, Malabon, Parañaque, and most recently, Imus, Cavite. 

Dr. Chan said he was an active fire volunteer since he was a young man. He said the bravery of Brixton Hills volunteers inspires him to continue helping people.

"I witnessed first-hand how a fire can devastate families and even a whole community. When you personally experience that - how a fire affects people, most especially children - you would want to be of help or service to them," he said.

The team gets a sense of relief as soon as a fire is declared out, but he said their work does not stop there.

"Our volunteers report to us immediately about the status of the affected families and what they need so we can start preparing for the relief effort. Putting out the fire is just the first half of the job," the founder said.

Dr. Chan said Brixton volunteers also donate relief goods to communities affected by other calamities like typhoons and flooding as these are common problems in Quezon City.

He said they received several requests for assistance from different barangays, which prompted them to launch first aid and water rescue training among their volunteers.

"We started the relief work because of fire, but now we are extending help to anyone affected by other calamities," Chan said.

He cited the facemask, alcohol, and food pack distributions they conducted in areas affected by the Taal Volcano eruption and even during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown.

Brixton volunteers also held a weekly donation drive to areas with high cases of Covid-19 as well as flushing and sanitation operations in public places, hospitals, and schools. 

"As volunteers, we take it upon ourselves to give these families a little hope through our donations," he added.