FIREFIGHTERS CORPS OF PUERTO RICO.

LEGAL AUTHORITY

Act No. 43 of june 21 1988, as amended, known as the Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico Act.

MISSION

Prevent, combat and extinguish determine the causes of fires in order to protect the lives and property of citizens.

VISION

Transform the Firefighters Corps into an agency of fast and efficient response to all kinds of emergenccies, earthquakes, floods, spilling of dangerous materials, rescue in collapsed structures, vehicular rescue, air rescue, marine rescue, medical emergencies, forest fires and situations that involve weapons of mass destruction or terrorism. This includes coverage from air, sea and land; and the utilization of modern fire stations with radio communication, around the entire Island.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico is directed by a Fire Chief appointed by the Governor of Puerto Rico with the advice and consent of the Senate. The agency is composed of the following units:

  • Training
  • Administration
  • Extinguishing Fire Extinction
  • Fire Prevention
  • Office of Auditing
  • Office of Human Resources
  • Office of Public Relations and Press
  • Office of the Fire Chief
GEOGRAPHIC STRUCTURE

The Firefighters Corps of Puerto Rico is located on #2432 Loza Street, at the corner of Doncella Street, Urb. Punta Las Maras in Santurce. It also has six regional zones located in: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Caguas, Carolina, Ponce and San Juan. The zones are subdivided in 12 districts located in: Aguadilla, Arecibo, Barceloneta, Bayamn, Caguas, Guayama, Humacao, Mayagez, Ponce, Rio Piedras and San Juan. A total of 95 firestations on the island respond to these districts.

PROGRAMMATIC STRUCTURE

POSITIONS FILLED

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012
Sept./08 Sept./09 Sept./10 Feb./11 Proj.

 

Total amount of positions 1,979 1,922 1,881 1,855 1,855

Data comes from the Agency's Certified Headcount Reports. Figures for Fiscal Year 2011-2012 were estimated during the budget formulation process.

PROGRAMS

Fire Prevention and Extinction Training Techniques

Program Description

This program is responsible for training all the members of the Firefighters Corps in the most advanced techniques of preventing and extinguishing of fires, rescue, first aid and medical assistance. It also organizes and trains: brigades, groups of volunteer firemen, and officials of the public and private sector in fire preventionextinguishing and rescue.

Customers

Employees of the Firefighters Corps and of government and private agencies.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Firefighters 2 5 8 8
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff 4 5 2 2
Total, Positions 6 10 10 10

General Management and Administration

Program Description

Provides the following services: accounting, budget, general services, correspondence, human resources, auditing, legal council, public relations and transportation.

Objetive

  • Continue with the construction and/or programming (auction and design) of the following stations: Peuelas, Camuy, Gayanilla and Dorado.
Customers

Civilian personnel and agency employees

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff 95 66 74 73
Total, Positions 95 66 74 73


Fire Prevention and Education

Program Description

Development and implementation of measures directed at eradicating the risk of fire and educating the community.


Objective

  • Continue with an aggressive schedule to visit schools and special communities carrying the message of prevention and orientation.

Statistical Data 2010 2011 2012

 

Educational fairs 955 1,003 1,053
Exhibits of fire equipment 1,029 1,080 1,134
General exhibits 1,044 1,096 1,151
Presentations at elementary schools 962 1,010 1,061
Presentations to seniors 187 196 206
Promotional and educational activities 1,645 1,727 1,814

Information provided by the Agency during the budget process of fiscal year 2011-2012.

Customers

Owners of property and/or businesses subject to inspection and citizens

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Firefighters 4 4 4 4
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff 13 16 10 10
Other staff 121 119 116 115
Total, Positions 138 139 130 129



Fire Extinction and Control

Program Description

Offers the following services: fire extinction, rescue in situations of emergency and disasters, protection in cases of natural disaster, and coordination with other agencies. Attends emergency calls in situations of fires, disasters and spills of dangerous materials. Is responsible for rapidly and efficiently eradicating all types of fires, controling its propagation and rescuing lives and properties. Assists the Prevention of Fires Program in functions of preventive nature, such as the education of young students (the Little Firemen Program) and offers orientation services. It also is dedicated to the inspection and eradication of fire risks, as well as the investigation for determining origin and cause. Provides support to other government agencies, when deployed to attend to emergencies or simulations.

Objective

  • Controls fires and inspect hydrants throughout Puerto Rico.

Statistical Data 2010 2011 2012

 

Fire extinction and control 12,031 11,429 10,858

Information provided by the Agency during the budget process of fiscal year 2011-2012.

Customers

All citizens, in conformance with Act No. 43 of June, 1988.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Firefighters 1,080 1,049 1,015 991
Managerial,Technical, Administrative, and Office Staff 31 29 23 23
Total, Positions 1,111 1,078 1,038 1,014

9-1-1 Emergency Service/Child Abuse Line

Program Description

Establishes a universal 9-1-1 telephone number for emergencies throughout Puerto Rico. The 9-1-1 code replaces the emergency numbers traditionally used and provides the Puerto Rican people with a uniform, easy to identify, access and dial number.

Objective

  • Reduce response time from 10 to 5 minutes. Promote administrative and high-level support to the programs and operational units so that they may comply with the established goals.

Customers

Attends citizens.

Human Resources

Authorized and Proposed Positions 2009 2010 2011 2012

Firefighters 629 629 629 629
Total, Positions 629 629 629 629



FISCAL YEAR 2011-2012 ADOPTED BUDGET

The adopted budget for the fiscal year 2011-2012 is $71,402,000. The resources include $63,410,000 from the Joint Resolution of the General Fund, $5,468,000 from State Special Funds and $465,000 in Federal Grants, $300,000 from Other Income and $1,759,000 from the Federal American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

Operational expenses reflect a decrease of $1,375,000 in comparison with the resources assigned for the fiscal year 2010-2011 due to the implementation of cost control measures.

The resources from the Joint Resolution General Fund will be used to prevent, eradicate and determine the causes of fires to protect lives and property.

State Special Fund from inspections will be used as established by the Law to prevent, eradicate and determine the causes of fires to protect lives and property. The reduction in this fund corresponds to the creation and implementation of Act # 161 of December 1, 2009, known as the Puerto Rico Process and Permits Reform.

Federal funding is received from the Cooperative Foresty Assistance and the Child Safety and Child Booster Seat Incentive.


SUMMARY OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES

Consolidated Budget  (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Program  
Operational Expenses Actual Actual Budget Adopted
9-1-1 Emergency Service / Child Abuse Line 9,170 7,768 7,398 7,432
Fire Extinction and Control 63,777 56,398 54,450 53,065
Fire Prevention and Education 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
Fire Prevention and Extinction Training Techniques 219 324 188 187
General Management and Administration 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402
Total, Program 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402
 
Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 73,642 21,056 8,909 63,410
Federal Grants 2,121 102 462 465
Other Income 340 264 266 300
State Special Funds 3,644 4,404 6,063 5,468
Local Stabilization Fund 0 44,908 55,164 0
Federal Economic Stimulus - ARRA 0 327 1,913 1,759
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402
Total, Funding Sources 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 69,174 64,569 64,626 63,836
Rent and Utilities 4,029 3,227 2,856 3,569
Purchased Services 664 645 769 629
Donations, Subsidies, and Distributions 37 33 40 40
Transportation Expenses 202 76 78 87
Professional Services 60 879 95 69
Other Expenses 825 133 215 153
Previous Years Debt Payments 425 0 188 150
Equipment Purchases 2,953 849 3,120 2,181
Office Supplies and other Materials 1,378 644 784 687
Advertising and Media Expenses 0 6 6 1
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402
Total, Expense Category 79,747 71,061 72,777 71,402

SUMMARY OF RESOURCES BY PROGRAM

Fire Prevention and Extinction Training Techniques

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 219 176 19 187
Local Stabilization Fund 0 148 169 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 219 324 188 187
Total, Funding Sources 219 324 188 187
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 219 324 188 187
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 219 324 188 187
Total, Expense Category 219 324 188 187
 

General Management and Administration

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 2,182 1,763 761 7,607
Local Stabilization Fund 0 0 6,853 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
Total, Funding Sources 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
Total, Expense Category 2,182 1,763 7,614 7,607
 
Fire Prevention and Education

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 4,399 2,025 313 3,111
Local Stabilization Fund 0 2,783 2,814 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
Total, Funding Sources 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
Total, Expense Category 4,399 4,808 3,127 3,111
 
Fire Extinction and Control

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Federal Economic Stimulus - ARRA 0 327 1,913 1,759
Federal Grants 2,121 102 462 465
Joint Resolution - General Fund 58,012 15,987 7,103 45,373
Local Stabilization Fund 0 35,578 38,909 0
State Special Funds 3,644 4,404 6,063 5,468
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 63,777 56,398 54,450 53,065
Total, Funding Sources 63,777 56,398 54,450 53,065
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 53,544 50,170 46,565 45,799
Rent and Utilities 4,029 3,227 2,856 3,569
Purchased Services 664 645 769 629
Donations, Subsidies, and Distributions 37 33 40 40
Transportation Expenses 202 76 78 87
Professional Services 60 879 95 69
Other Expenses 825 133 215 153
Previous Years Debt Payments 425 0 188 150
Equipment Purchases 2,613 587 2,854 1,881
Office Supplies and other Materials 1,378 642 784 687
Advertising and Media Expenses 0 6 6 1
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 63,777 56,398 54,450 53,065
Total, Expense Category 63,777 56,398 54,450 53,065
 

9-1-1 Emergency Service/Child Abuse Line

Budget (thousands $) 2009 2010 2011 2012

 

Funding Sources  
Operational Expenses  
Joint Resolution - General Fund 8,830 1,105 713 7,132
Local Stabilization Fund 0 6,399 6,419 0
Other Income 340 264 266 300
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 9,170 7,768 7,398 7,432
Total, Funding Sources 9,170 7,768 7,398 7,432
 
Expense Category  
Operational Expenses  
Payroll and Related Expenses 8,830 7,504 7,132 7,132
Equipment Purchases 340 262 266 300
Office Supplies and other Materials 0 2 0 0
Subtotal, Operational Expenses 9,170 7,768 7,398 7,432
Total, Expense Category 9,170 7,768 7,398 7,432