Introduction to the First National Fire Safety Norma
Guadalajara, Jalisco is working on creating the first Norma de Seguridad Humana y Contra Incendios (Human Safety and Fire Prevention Norm) in the country. This norm aims to establish updated and applicable guidelines across Jalisco’s territory, preventing incidents and minimizing human and economic losses associated with fires. The project is a collaboration between the public, private sectors, and specialized organizations, according to Sergio Ramírez López, director of the Jalisco State Unit for Civil Protection and Firefighters.
Key Financial Impact of Incendiary Events
Ramírez López highlighted that Mexico experiences approximately 96,000 fires annually, equating to 260 incidents daily. These events cause annual economic losses exceeding 34,000 million pesos, predominantly affecting industrial, commercial, and residential sectors. To address this issue, Jalisco proposes that insurance companies compensate firefighting corporations for attending fires in insured facilities, similar to how they reimburse towing companies after accidents.
Insurance Company Compensation Proposal
The state’s initiative involves modifying the Income Laws to ensure that insurance company payments go towards an emergency fund, contributed to by municipal and state governments. Additionally, Jalisco suggests investing more resources in infrastructure to strengthen prevention capabilities and avoid emergencies.
Limited Firefighting Infrastructure
Ramírez López emphasized that a significant challenge in Mexican cities is the lack of basic firefighting infrastructure, especially urban water networks. In the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area, 30% of operational capacity is dedicated to water transport via tanker trucks, as there’s no functional street firefighting network.
Jalisco’s Role in Metro-México
As part of an interstate coordination strategy, Jalisco participates in the formation of Metro-México, an alliance comprising bombero corporations from Querétaro, Durango, Nuevo León, Zapopan, Guadalajara, Puerto Vallarta, Oaxaca, Mazatlán, and Navojoa. This network aims to enhance professionalism, technical leadership, and cooperation among urban corporations, as Mexico currently lacks a national strategy for firefighting.
Key Questions and Answers
- What is Jalisco’s primary objective? Jalisco aims to create the first national fire safety norm to prevent incidents and minimize losses associated with fires.
- Why is insurance company compensation important? This proposal seeks fair reimbursement for firefighting corporations attending fires in insured facilities, similar to how towing companies are paid after accidents.
- What infrastructure challenges does Jalisco face? The city struggles with insufficient firefighting infrastructure, particularly in urban water networks.
- What is Metro-México? Metro-México is an alliance of urban firefighting corporations from various Mexican cities, aiming to strengthen professionalism and cooperation in fire safety.
