(a) (1) The Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the Virgin Islands are under the supervision of the Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, (VIFEMS).(2) The VIFEMS may obtain a federal Employer Identification Number and manage billing and collections systems for ambulance service.
(1) The Fire Services and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) of the Virgin Islands are under the supervision of the Director of the Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services, (VIFEMS).
(2) The VIFEMS may obtain a federal Employer Identification Number and manage billing and collections systems for ambulance service.
(b) The VIFEMS, under the direction of the Director, is responsible for the following:(1) To enforce the laws and regulations as they pertain to fire services and emergency medical services in the Virgin Islands;(2) To provide effective fire prevention, fire protection, fire suppression, and special operations, such as hazardous materials, and search and rescue to persons and property of the Virgin Islands;(3) To provide emergency and non-emergency basic and advanced life support services to persons in the Virgin Islands;(4) To prevent and reduce the risk of fire through effective public education and injury prevention, conduct fire safety code inspections and enforcement programs;(5) To conduct arson investigations and make arrests pertaining to such matters; and(6) To establish and participate in training and certification, professional development, and educational programs relating to fire science, EMS, and other related matters.
(1) To enforce the laws and regulations as they pertain to fire services and emergency medical services in the Virgin Islands;
(2) To provide effective fire prevention, fire protection, fire suppression, and special operations, such as hazardous materials, and search and rescue to persons and property of the Virgin Islands;
(3) To provide emergency and non-emergency basic and advanced life support services to persons in the Virgin Islands;
(4) To prevent and reduce the risk of fire through effective public education and injury prevention, conduct fire safety code inspections and enforcement programs;
(5) To conduct arson investigations and make arrests pertaining to such matters; and
(6) To establish and participate in training and certification, professional development, and educational programs relating to fire science, EMS, and other related matters.
(c) The VIFEMS shall have one Medical Director of Emergency Medical Services, one Assistant Director of Fire, one Assistant Director of Emergency Medical Services, and one Territorial Training Coordinator, all of whom are appointed by the Governor and report to the Director of the VIFEMS.
(d) There must be one Fire Chief and one Emergency Medical Services Chief for the District of St. Croix and one Fire Chief and one Emergency Medical Services Chief for the District of St. Thomas-St. John. There must also be a Deputy Fire Chief for the Island of St. Croix, a Deputy Fire Chief for the Island of St. John who must be a resident of St. John, and a Deputy Fire Chief for the Island of St. Thomas, all of whom must be appointed by the Governor.
(e) The Director shall establish an Arson Prevention and Investigation Unit within each fire district for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of the Territorial Fire Prevention Code and such other rules and regulations that will aid in the prevention of fires. Each Arson Prevention and Investigation Unit must be staffed by one District Fire Marshal, and such Fire Inspectors, Deputy Marshals and Deputy Inspectors I, II, II, as determined by the Director. The Fire Marshals, Fire Inspectors, and Deputies must have specialized training in arson and investigation, which training must be certified by the Director.
(f) The Fire Chief and the Fire Marshal or their authorized representative has the authority to investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of every fire, explosion, or hazardous materials emergency. When the Fire Chief, the Fire Marshal, or the authorized representative has reason to believe that a fire, explosion, or hazardous materials incident may be the result of a violation of any law, the Fire Chief, Fire Marshall, or authorized representative shall immediately take custody of and safeguard all physical evidence in connection therewith, and has the authority to prohibit the disturbance or removal of any material, substance, device, or utility in, or upon, any building or property where the emergency occurred until such time as the investigation of the incident is complete, However with respect to fires, explosions, and hazardous materials incidents involving critical injury, death, or assaults with intent to kill, the Virgin Islands Police Department is the primary investigative agency.
(g) The Fire Chief and the Fire Marshal or their authorized representative has the authority to enter business premises and inspect the premises for any violations to the fire code. If a determination is made that there are violations that present an imminent fire hazard, the offending business has 72 hours to correct the violations. The Director of the VIFEMS has the authority to close any business that fails to correct the violations with written notice to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs. The business may be opened only upon the issuance of certificate of compliance by the VIFEMS Director to the Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs.
(h) The Territorial Training Coordinator shall design an education and training program that encompasses entry-level and in-service training based upon the VIFEMS’ mission and operational performance measures. The Territorial Training Coordinator, in close coordination with the Assistant Directors and Medical Director, shall develop and implement a program of certification for firefighters, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and emergency medical responders.
(i) The organization of the VIFEMS within the Office of the Governor shall be in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the Director.