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DFEMS asks for $3.45M budget; eyes more firefighters
The Department of Fire and Emergency Management Services has presented a budget of $3.45 million for fiscal year 2016 to fund the new department’s operations.
DFEMS acting commissioner Clyde Norita faced lawmakers at a budget hearing on Capital Hill yesterday to defend his budget request, saying it will be used to staff the department with more firefighters and fire trucks.
When asked about an item on his proposed budget that called for a deputy commissioner for the department, Norita said the department does not need the deputy position, post but it was only included in accordance with the law.
In an interview, Norita said the language of the law says divisions should have a certain number of deputy commissioners that are unfunded, which in the case of the Department of Fire and Emergency Management Services, is five.
“But I feel we do not need five deputy commissioners. What we would need are more firefighters,” Norita said.
Aside from funding operations, Norita said the $3.45-million budget calls for 10 more firefighters.
He said there are currently 78 firefighters on Saipan, 11 on Tinian, and five on Rota.
The additional 10 firefighters will suffice for the six stations the department has, he said.
In terms of fire trucks, Norita said the department has two pumpers, each with a 750-gallon capacity, and one wildland fire truck with a 500-gallon capacity.
There are several trucks needing repairs or replacement including one tanker, one pumper, and one wildland, currently not in operation.
The department also has six ambulances, two of which are down, Norita said.
“Basically, these are the assets that the department has,” he said.
Nortia said his budget request will “satisfy” the current requirements of the department. =
