By Mar-Vic Cagurangan
Variety News Staff

GUAM residents would be charged fees for non-emergency use of the Guam Fire Department’s ambulance and inspection services under the proposed rules and regulations that are aimed at establishing self-generating revenues for the department.
“Revenues generated as a result of the provision of these non-emergency-related services to the community will be allocated to the Guam Fire Department for the express purposes of procuring necessary supplies, equipment, and materials for the department’s firefighters,” according to Bill 81, introduced by Sen. Adolpho Palacios Sr., D-Ordot/Chalan Pago.
The proposed fees, however, would not apply to the regular emergency life-saving and fire-prevention services provided by GFD.
The bill does not specify situations that are considered “non-emergency,” but it provides a list of items that call for primary emergency services. These include medical missions such as the “evaluation or management” of pains, injuries or any life-threatening medical or psychological conditions.
GFD’s response to any situation that doesn’t fall under any emergency category would require a minimum fee of $25 for the first hour and additional $15 for each succeeding hour. A minimum one-hour fee would be charged for all “stand-by services.” After the first hour, hourly fees would be charged for each additional hour or each 15 minutes. Fees would be charged from the time a unit arrives at a stand-by until the time the unit leaves the scene.
The bill also authorizes GFD to charge a minimum of $30 for conducting building inspections or review of building plans and issuance of permits.
In introducing the bill, Palacios noted that the financial limitations of the government of Guam has for years hampered GFD’s ability to procure much-needed firefighting and life-saving equipment, supplies and other firefighter tools.
“The eventual adoption of segments of the Guam Fire Department’s rules and regulations would allow for the deposit of necessary fees and fines into the Fire, Life and Medical Emergency Fund that would be applied directly toward the procurement of much-needed materials, supplies and equipment for Guam’s firefighters,” Bill 81 states. “Any additional equipment and supplies for the uniformed firefighters would certainly reinforce the firefighters’ ability to save lives, to include their own.”