Firefighters union proposes alliance with engineers for building safety

United Firefighters Union of Puerto Rico President José Tirado

By The Star Staff

United Firefighters Union of Puerto Rico President José Tirado requested an urgent meeting on Monday with the Engineers and Surveyors Association of Puerto Rico to establish a partnership that will strengthen building safety on the island.

“The recent tragedy that occurred at the Jet Set nightclub in Santo Domingo […] has highlighted the urgent need to review and strengthen building codes and safety regulations in high-traffic areas,” Tirado said in a written statement.

The union leader warned about proposals by the Department of Economic Development and Commerce to modify permitting and inspection processes, pointing out that firefighter inspections are not arbitrary, but necessary to protect lives and property.

Tirado noted in the statement that the Firefighters Bureau’s fire prevention inspectors play a key role in structural safety and that a partnership with professionals from the Engineers Association would allow for the sharing of technical knowledge that strengthens incident prevention.

The union emphasized that such a collaboration would allow for proactively addressing risks in high-traffic structures, promoting safer and more resilient buildings throughout Puerto Rico.