Bureau of Fire Protection

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP; Filipino: Kawanihan ng Pamatay-Sunog) is the government body in the Philippines responsible for firefighting services. It is under the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior and Local Government.

The BFP is responsible for ensuring public safety through the prevention or suppression of all destructive fires on buildings, houses, and other similar structure, forests, and land transportation vehicles and equipment, ships/vessels docked at piers, wharves or anchored at major seaports, petroleum industry installations. It is also responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (PD 1185) and other related laws, conduct investigations involving fire incidents and causes thereof including the filing of appropriate complaints/cases.

According to its website, the primary functions of the BFP are

• Be responsible for the prevention and suppression of all destructive fires on:
  • Buildings, houses, and other structures;
  • Forests;
  • Land transportation vehicles and equipments;
  • Ships and vessels docked at piers or wharves anchored in major sea ports;
  • Petroleum industry installations;
  • Plane crashes; and
  • Other similar activities
• Be responsible for the enforcement of the Fire Code of the Philippines (PD 1185) and other related laws;
• Shall have the power to investigate all causes of fires and if necessary, file the proper complaint with the city or provincial prosecutor who has jurisdiction over the case;
• In the time of national emergency, all elements of the BFP shall upon direction of the President, assist the AFP in meeting the national emergency; and
• Shall establish at least one (1) fire station with adequate personnel, firefighting facilities, and equipments in every provincial capital, city and municipality subject to standard rules and regulations as maybe promulgated by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) (Sec 56).

The BFP was formed from the units of the Integrated National Police's Office of Fire Protection Service on January 29, 1991 through Republic Act No. 6975, which created the present Interior Department and placed the provision of fire services under its control.

Republic Act No. 6975, or the Department of Interior and Local Government Act of 1990, took effect on January 1, 1991 and paved the way for the establishment of the Philippine National Police, BFP and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology as separate entities. Specifically, the Fire Bureau's charter was created under Chapter IV (Section 53 to 59) and carried-out through the provisions of Rule VII (Sections 49 to 58) of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of the act. The organization was then placed under the direct supervision of the DILG undersecretary for peace and order. The Appropriation Act of 1991 also caused the inaugural operation of the BFP on August 2, 1991 as a distinct agency of the government, with the initial preparation of its operation plans and budget (OPB) undertaken by the staff of the Office of the National Chief Fire Marshal at Camp Crame, Quezon City headed by F/Brigadier General Ernesto Madriaga, INP (1990–1992), which took over from the long reign of F/Major Primo D. Cordeta (Ret.), the first chief fire marshal (1978–1989). Madriaga served as the BFP's first acting fire chief/director from 1991 to 1992.

The fire ranks used until 1991:

Fire Brigadier General
Fire Colonel
Fire Lieutenant Colonel
Fire Major
Fire Captain
Fire Lieutenant
Fire Sergeant
Fire Corporal
Fireman First Class
Fireman

In 2021, Republic Act No.11589, or the BFP Modernization Act, was enacted into law, mandating the implementation of a ten year program to modernize the BFP. The law also enabled the creation of security and protection units (SPUs) in each regional and city fire station and allowed 14 members at most per SPU to bear firearms.

The bureau is headed by a chief, and is assisted by a deputy chief. It has regional offices, headed by a person with the rank of chief superintendent or senior superintendent. It also has provincial offices, district offices, and city or municipal stations.

Aside from fire fighting units, the bureau has a Special Rescue/HAZMAT unit, an Emergency Medical Services unit, a Special Operations Unit, an Arson Investigation Unit, the Fire Law Enforcement Service, and the Fire National Training Institute.

The current leadership is as follows:

• Commander-in-Chief: Pres. Bongbong Marcos
• Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (SILG): Hon. Juanito Victor C. Remulla
  • Undersecretary for Public Safety, DILG: Usec. Serafin P. Barreto Jr., CESO IV
• Chief, Bureau of Fire Protection (C, BFP): FDir. Jesus P. Fernandez
• The Deputy Chief for Administration (TDCA, BFP): FCSupt. Jesus P. Fernandez (acting capacity)
• The Deputy Chief for Operations (TDCO, BFP): FCSupt. Wilberto Rico Neil A. Kwan Tiu
• The Chief of Directorial Staff (TDCS, BFP): FCSupt. Manuel M. Manuel (acting capacity)

The National Headquarters is composed of:

• Office of the Chief, BFP
• Office of the Deputy Chief for Administration
• Office of the Deputy Chief for Operations
• BFP Directorial Staff
  • Directorate for Intelligence and Investigation
  • Directorate for Operations
  • Directorate for Plans and Standard Development
  • Directorate for Comptrollership
  • Directorate for Fire Safety Enforcement
  • Directorate for Logistics
  • Directorate for Personnel and Records Management
  • Directorate for Information and Communications Management
  • Directorate for Human Resource Development

Rank Structure

The ranks of commissioned officers are as follows:

• Director
• Chief Superintendent
• Senior Superintendent
• Superintendent
• Chief Inspector
• Senior Inspector
• Inspector

The ranks of non-commissioned officers are as follows:

• Senior Fire Officer 4
• Senior Fire Officer 3
• Senior Fire Officer 2
• Senior Fire Officer 1
• Fire Officer 3
• Fire Officer 2
• Fire Officer 1

Non-Uniformed Personnel

The bureau employs a host civilian personnel and employees having no rank. Civil service employees carry their civil service grade.

The bureau provides fire fighting vehicles depending on the jurisdiction's capabilities. Each city and municipality in the Philippines has one to four such vehicles in their inventories at a minimum.

The following is an incomplete list.

• Philippine National Police
• Bureau of Jail Management and Penology

• Media related to Bureau of Fire Protection at Wikimedia Commons
• Official website