LANSING – The Michigan House of Representatives today unanimously passed a legislative package that establishes a new Bureau of Fire Services, which would consolidate fire-fighting resources and promote more effective and efficient fire-fighting techniques within the Department of Labor and Economic Growth (DLEG).
Among the bills passed was House Bill 5870, introduced by Representative Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn). Representative Polidori, a fire chief for 22 years before retiring in 1996, testified in favor of the package before the House Appropriations Committee last week. "I think it's important to give our firefighters the resources needed to make their jobs more efficient," said Polidori. "Our firefighters put their lives on the line everyday. This vote is a major first step and our firefighters deserve it."
Polidori added that this legislation has been needed for a long time, and that he was glad to work with his House and Senate colleagues to put the proposal together. "For these bills to pass out of the House of Representatives unanimously shows how strongly we support this legislation," said Polidori
The proposal would, among other things, establish a Bureau of Fire Services headed by the State Fire Marshal. The plan follows an executive directive that Governor Jennifer M. Granholm issued in November ordering that planning begin immediately on a new agency that would be responsible for the fire-service related aspects of the state's homeland security and emergency response.
The legislative plan would:
- Establish the Bureau of Fire Services within DLEG and transfer the duties of the State Fire Marshal to the newly created office;
- Recognize the act creating the Arson Strike Force Unit;
- Transfer the Fire Fighting Training Council to the Bureau of Fire Services;
- Require that local units of government apply to the Bureau of Fire Services for permits to process fireworks.