Firefighters warn of risks posed by inspection bill.

By THE STAR STAFF

Puerto Rico Firefighters Union President José Tirado warned on Wednesday that a bill proposed by Gov. Jenniffer González Colón aimed at transferring inspection duties to the Department of Economic Development and Commerce (DDEC by its acronym in Spanish) places public safety at risk.

“Under this bill, the Bureau loses direct control over inspections, which would instead pass into the hands of authorized external personnel,” Tirado said in a written statement. “This reduces the Fire Department to a mere oversight body, whereas its historical and essential role has always been active prevention.”

The union leader argued that the measure undermines the preventive and technical functions of the Firefighters Bureau by sidelining personnel specifically trained in fire management and structural hazard assessment.

“The intent is to relegate our firefighters to the role of observers, after permits have been endorsed, rather than allowing them to serve as key players in prevention,” he added. “That is both unacceptable and dangerous.”

Tirado cited the 1986 fire at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico and the recent catastrophe at the Jetset nightclub in Santo Domingo as stark examples of the consequences that arise when prevention and oversight systems fail.

“History has taught us that when safety controls are weakened, the results can be fatal,” he stressed. “We cannot repeat the mistakes of the past.”

The union announced that it will participate in the public hearings on the bill scheduled for May 6 in the House of Representatives.

Tirado noted that this is not the first time an attempt has been made to curtail the role of the fire prevention inspector. Just last year, the union publicly denounced a memorandum issued by the DDEC that sought to expedite permit renewals without requiring input from fire prevention inspectors.

“Thanks to the union’s firm opposition, that initiative was ultimately rescinded -- precisely because of the risks it posed,” he said.