As defined by Public Law 23-77 an emergency means any actual or self-perceived event, which threatens life, limb, or well being of, an individual in such a manner that immediate medical or public safety care is needed.

In 1991, the Twenty-First Guam Legislature certified passage of Public Law 21-61 to the Governor for the creation for the creation of an Emergency “E911” system. Originally, the E911 Communications System was under the auspices of the Guam Office of Civil Defense. Concurrently, the Guam Fire Department dedicated a considerable amount of labor for the daily operation of the E911 systems.

Therefore, Public 23-77 was enacted in 1995 to establish and designate the Guam Fire Department as the lead agency for the Emergency E911 Telephone Communications System. This law also transferred positions, personnel, programs, property and appropriations pertaining to the continued operation of the E911 Communications System from Guam Office of Civil Defense to the Guam Fire Department.

On August 02, 2001, the E911 Integrated Emergency Communications Center (IECC) was activated and thus began the new era in E911 Tele-Communications. The E911 IECC was designed with the latest state of the art technology in the region today. With the assistance of Motorola, the E911 IECC has been integrated with the Air Force, Navy and Guam Police via Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). With this technology in place, a “Zero Response Time” for emergency units could be achieved. With the oversight of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), the E911 IECC shall break new ground in technology for enhancing the operations of the E911 Communications Bureau. To further enhance the overall effectiveness of the E911 System, the Guam Fire Department and the E911 IECC is striving towards providing island-wide PSAP coverage to the island via the Guam Fire Department Fire Stations. Future plans for coverage include the Guam Office of Civil Defense and possibly at the Guam International Airport facility.

These policies and procedures cannot, nor are they expected to provide a solution to every question or problem, which may arise in an organization established to render emergency service. It is expected, however, that they will be sufficiently comprehensive to cover, in a specific or general way, the obligations and duties of the members of the Guam Fire Department. In addition, these policies and procedures are dynamic and subject to change to meet the demands of the public at large.

They are not designed, nor intended to limit any member in the exercise of his/her judgment or initiative in taking the action a reasonable person would take in extraordinary situations. Much, by necessity, must be left to the loyalty, integrity, and sound discretion of members. Only through the possession of these qualities by each individual member, as well as the conscientious discharge of his/her duty, will the department measure up to the high standards required of the service.