Originally known as Fire Services

It was created by Law 158 of May 9, 1942, to protect lives and property through fire prevention.

The Puerto Rico Fire originated in Ponce. Was for 1823 when Governor Miguel De La Torre, was very concerned about a large fire occurred on February 27, 1820. This fire nearly destroyed the town of Ponce primitive. At that time it was mandatory for every male from 16 to 60 years out firefighter.

They had to provide the tools to fight fires, such as spikes, buckets and shovels. Unfortunately this first institution was decaying Fire Department once Governor De La Torre left the governorship.

Another major fire occurred in the Playa de Ponce in 1845, it moved to Conde de Marisol, ruler of the island at that time, to create another voluntary organization.

For the year 1862, under the auspices of Don Luis Ponce Mayor Quijano and Font, was reorganized and was appointed Chief Thomas Cladellas.

For 1879, the Fire Department back to reorganize, under the leadership of architect Don Juan Ponce Bertoly.

Finally, finally reorganized in 1883 when Maximo Meana was mayor of Ponce. It was composed of four firefighters. Officers were Don Julio Steinacher, first Chief Don Juan Seix, second Chief Don Oscar Schuch Olivero: Brigade Chief Officer of the Academy of Gymnastics, Don Fernando M. Toro. That same day, organized the Gang of Bugles with some drummers drumming, marking the time when firefighters were days of magazine. Later in September the same year 1883 Don Juan Morell Campos organized the first Band of the Ponce Fire Department.

On January 25, 1899, a group of firefighters among whom was Don Pedro Sabater and civil Scrip Rafael Rivera, come to fight a fire at the depot, near where now stands the College of Ponce, in that place kept large amounts of bullets, ammunition and gunpowder. These heroes saved the lives of many people and saved the Ponce of a conflagration.

Mayoral In 1918 the brothers built the first motorized pump in Puerto Rico. Used for this purpose a Pope Hartford chassis.

In 1930 entered the Ponce Fire Department as Lieutenant Don Raul Gandara. He later became Fire Chief Puerto Rico.

In 1942 the Puerto Rico Legislature created the Fire Service in Puerto Rico. The governor of the island, Rexford Guy Towell chose Don Raul Gandara, who was captain of the Ponce Fire Department to become Chief of the Fire Service in Puerto Rico.

Fire Chiefs Puerto Rico