In the exercise of their police powers, the mayor and the High Commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia implement the resources under the responsibility of the fire and rescue services under the conditions set out in operational regulations issued by the High Commissioner.
The organisation of the command of rescue operations is determined by these regulations. The designated rescue operations commander is responsible, under the authority of the director of rescue operations, for the implementation of all public and private resources mobilised to carry out rescue operations.
In the event of imminent danger, the emergency operations commander takes the necessary measures to protect the population and the safety of the personnel involved. He reports to the director of rescue operations.
The operational regulations are adopted by the High Commissioner within three years of the date of publication of l’ordonnance n° 2006-173 du 15 février 2006 portant actualisation et adaptation du droit applicable en matière de sécurité civile en Polynésie française, après avis du gouvernement de la Polynésie française et du conseil d’administration de l’établissement public d’incendie et de secours de Polynésie française.
Until the publication of the decree setting out the operational regulations, the mayor is responsible for appointing the commander of the rescue operations when these do not extend beyond the territory of the commune or do not require the assistance of resources from outside the commune. In all other cases, the emergency operations commander is appointed by the High Commissioner.