Firefighters want participation in sea rescue mission

In a move to complement efforts in conducting rescue mission, lawmakers should consider allowing the Fire Division personnel to participate in rescue missions at sea.

This recommendation was made by Fire Division Director Herman P. Sablan to lawmakers to facilitate the job of saving people’s lives.

While the fire personnel are trained and equipped to save lives, they cannot join the boating safety personnel during rescue mission in the ocean since the law only authorizes the Division of Boating Safety to carry out the job. The fire personnel would have to wait on land for the boating safety people to rescue the victims at sea.

“We are trained to save lives and we have the equipment to do so. The first 5 to 30 minutes is very crucial in saving lives so we have to be there,” he said.

The Boating Safety Division operates mainly under the U.S. Coast Guard funds and with very little local funds involved. Mr. Sablan said his office is looking for some grants to be awarded to the Fire Division to manage the type of service offered by the boating personnel.

“We need to get some federal grant with matching local funds. It may also be monetary contributions from the business sector,” Mr. Sablan said. He added that the same set up in Guam should be followed where the fire personnel can give support and rescue to the boating safety.

He hinted that placing the Fire Division and the Boating Safety under one office may solve the problem since no one has challenged the present setup where both agencies are under the Department of Public Safety.

“The Boating Safety may have the ability to retrieve and get people off the waters but the ability to revive them lies on the fire safety personnel who are trained to do this,” he added.

Meanwhile, DPS is planning the construction of a new fire station building which will pave the way for the transfer of Fire Station 1 beside the Motor Vehicle Office.

The proposed building will be equipped with proper facilities such as kitchen, sleeping quarters, dispatcher’s room and enough space to house the expensive vehicles and equipment.

Amid budgetary constraints, the Fire Division needs replacement for the current fleet of ambulance and fire trucks which at times have become unreliable. (LFR)