The Meritorious Fire Corps of the Republic of Panama (BCBRP) clarifies to the public that its work in gas facilities is limited exclusively to verifying that the connections pass the hermeticity tests, refuting versions spread in some media that generate confusion about its role. Colonel Cirilo Castillo, national director of the National Directorate of Fire Safety, Prevention, and Investigation (DINASEPI), explained that firefighters do not participate in the sale of hoses, pipes, or materials used for gas installations in homes, buildings, or businesses. In all cases, the owner must comply with a hermeticity test, as if it were a new installation, always prioritizing the safety of people and their property. If a gas leak is detected inside a wall, the owner has different options, such as breaking the structure to locate the failure or performing a new external installation. These decisions, as well as the repair or modification work, correspond exclusively to the owner and the qualified technician they hire, without the direct intervention of the Fire Corps. The BCBRP reiterates that it does not carry out repairs or installations, and that its participation is activated only to verify that the connection is safe and suitable for gas supply.
