Competency of Bfp Personnel

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LOCAL LITERATURE

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) serves as the fire and life safety government agency under the operational control of the Department of Interior and Local Government. Created by the virtue of Rule 111, Section 49 of the Republic Act No. 6975, the BFP is responsible for the eradication and prevention of all destructive fires on buildings and other structures, forest, land transportation vehicles, sea vessels and plane crashes.

According to the manual of the BFP fires 2007, the BFP shall develop efficient and responsive firefighters. With outmost responsibility, integrity, competence, loyalty and honesty, respect to human rights and concern to the protection of lives, property, environment and national heritage.

Fire accidents always happen with a cause. The common cause of fire is carelessness, discarded cigarette, careless disposition of combustible materials, poorly managed or defective heating facilities, spontaneous combustion arising from the storage of articles in poorly ventilated places, explosion from petroleum products, and sun rays focus on glasses which may serve as a convex lens and lightings spark, overheating and electrical defects.

Rule 9 of P.D. 1185 provides the general guidelines for the organization, equipage, operation and proficiency training of company and community fire brigades.

Aside from the BFP firefighters, there are private companies and individuals who voluntarily organize to assist the department in firefighting prevention and suppression. It is based in the companies in the localities for immediate action whenever there are outbreaks of fire. With this, fire is suppressed immediately if the outbreak is on small scale, but if the outbreak is large then the BFP is always ready to perform their duties. Fire brigades are also equipped with firefighting equipments and fire brigade volunteers who have undergone rigid trainings in firefighting.

The BFP is also to continue to broaden and deepen the expertise of its firefighters. The BFP’s Special Rescue Unit is composed of firefighters who have undergone specialized training to enable them to conduct rescue operations if need be, and thus to allow them to mount a proper response to other catastrophes and/or emergencies instead of only fires per se. Additionally, the BFP is to continue to build its competencies, especially as regards new threats – those that may not be widely recognized as falling under its ambit. Not many may know, for instance, that there is a unit in the BFP that helps address its critical need to keep its WMD (weapons of mass destruction)/HAZMAT (hazardous materials) capabilities sharp – hazardous materials and hazardous operations management capabilities, which include planning and preparedness, prevention, response, cleanup and recovery in the event of spillage release of hazardous materials or waste. Some BFP firefighters have the skills to manage such delicate endeavors, backed up by suitable safety equipment and protective gear. (http://securitymatters.com.ph/the-bureau-of-fire-protection-moving-towards-true-fire-readiness-and-prevention-8992/)

FOREIGN STUDIES

In the study conducted by Dippa et al. entitled “firefighters: Moving Towards True Fire Readiness and Prevention ”. The main purpose of an investigation unit is the prevention of arson. The most successful way to accomplish this objective is through the prosecution and incarceration of those responsible for the crime. It is essential for the investigator to interview the fire fighters who were the first to arrive at the fire and those who fought the fire. Fire will often destroy evidence of arson. As well, the water and chemical foam used by the fire fighters may destroy evidence. The first fire fighters on the scene may have noticed evidence that may not exist by the time the fire is extinguished.

Based on the researchers, the arson investigator can also establish evidence in coordination with other experts, such as the medical examiner or toxicologist. The method by which the fire is set is often the best clue to the motive for setting the fire. A qualified fire investigator can show a jury the fire was an after-thought to the crime, set with available combustibles or flammables found at the scene. In a case of arson-for-profit, the investigator can show a jury the fire was carefully planned and set in such a way to ensure the maximum possible destruction of the property.

LOCAL STUDIES

The study of Dante et al., 2006, entitled ” firefighting Capability of Dipolog Fire Station”, revealed that the firefighting facilities of the fire station was moderately adequate and some did not conform with the standard set by the National Fire Protection Association. Another findings in the study was on the leadership of the municipal Fire Marshal, community cooperation and manpower was moderately capable.

Conceptual Framework

This study covers the Republic Act 9514 or Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008 which is a milestone in addressing the issues concerning of Bureau of Fire Protection personnel. It will promote economic development through the prevention and suppression of all kinds, of destructive fires, and promote the professionalization of the fire service as a profession.

This study deals with the competency of the BFP personnel in handling arson cases of the selected areas in Nueva Ecija. The Bfp Personnel was promulgated to minimize the occurrence of arson which brought destructive effects on lives and property which undermined the economic and social gains of the people. The researchers aim to determine the level of competency of BFP personnel in dealing arson cases and the degree of the problem encountered by the BFP personnel in dealing Arson cases.

To further discuss the conceptual framework of this study, figure 1 present the paradigm. The independent variables deals with the level of competency of BFP personnel in handling arson cases.Dependent variables deals with the abilities and skills of BFP personnel in handling arson cases.

[pic 1]

[pic 2]

Independent Variables Dependent Variables

Level of competency Abilities and

of BFP Personnel in skills of BFP[pic 3]

handling arson cases. Personnel in

handling arson

cases.

Figure