San Nicolas details plans for GFD

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Tuesday was Day One for the new fire chief of the Guam Fire Department. He's the fifth person to take the helm of the Guam Fire Department since the Calvo Administration took over in January. Acting Fire Chief Lieutenant Joey San Nicolas says the same day he was appointed, is the same day he completed his first order of business - that's to have the governor sign off on a certificate of emergency for GFD's ambulance fleet.

A request for proposal for the use of Department of Interior funds - $500,000 of it -was put out today, and he says they will try again to lease out private ambulances services until the new units are secured. "My focus this week is to set the stage, I've already met with the my staff and commanders and basically put out a preliminary philosophy on how things are going to go from this point forward as far as a short term plan," San Nicolas explained.

A short-term plan, San Nicolas says, that will get GFD back on a positive track. He says he will do that leaving his door open to the fire department personnel that have any concerns or problems. "I do intend on going out to visit to the stations when the time does permit, but that does not stop any of our guys and I did put that out in my meeting with my commanders today that if they have any immediate issues to either forward up the chain or come and see me," he said.

San Nicolas is also faced with moving out the headquarters from the DNA Building in Hagatna. It's part of the government's plans to cut down on spending, as he said, "We are actually decentralizing putting our civilian staff into our housing in Tiyan, which was formerly our supply area, and then we are moving our uniform personnel to different central fire stations."

As for other cost-cutting measures, he says he has yet to review plans the chief's before him have set. He adds they will continue to look for ways to run more efficiently without compromising the public's safety. It's part of his long-term plan, of which he says, "The overall goal is to get our service to where it needs to be, to fulfill our mission of saving lives and protection of property, get the right equipment at the right stations, giving the right training to the right personnel, and allowing them to effectively do their job."