(FORTUNE Magazine) – SAN FRANCISCO -- A group of Hispanic firefighters wants to establish ((a)) . . . panel to certify who is -- and who is not -- Hispanic . . . The Hispanic firefighters' request, which has been presented to the city attorney, reawakens a rancorous debate over fire department hiring practices . . . Under a court-ordered . . . plan, all parties agree that minority groups will be given preferential consideration in hiring and promotions. The new controversy focuses on . . . the ((fire department's)) definition of Hispanic, which includes all people of Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central American, South American or other Spanish culture or origin. Some Hispanic firefighters now complain that ((this)) definition is too broad . . .They want people of Spanish descent disqualified . . . and have called for creation of a 12-member panel of Hispanic firefighters to certify the ethnicity of those who identify themselves as Hispanic . . . ((One of the firefighters)) said of his Spanish-American colleagues, ''They live a totally white life.'' -- From a news report in the San Jose Mercury News.