The minister met Cardiff firefighters to mark powers changeover

Extra powers were granted earlier this year under changes agreed at Westminster.

It adds to the growing portfolio of powers - like health and education - enjoyed by ministers at Cardiff Bay.

But the assembly government says the change allows them to decide how best to run the service for people in Wales.

It is another addition to the growing portfolio of devolved powers since the assembly opened for business in Cardiff Bay in 1999.

Social Justice Minister Edwina Hart said devolving the responsibility to Wales "provides the assembly with an exciting opportunity".

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"We now have the chance to provide a long-lasting framework to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries as a result of fire and other emergency incidents in Wales," said Mrs Hart, who met firefighters in Cardiff to make the handover of powers.

Work on a draft national framework for the fire service in Wales is going on but is still some way off being finalised, she added.

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The change in administration of the fire service in Wales is introduced under the Fire And Rescue Services Bill drawn up following last year's bitter nine-month pay dispute.

The assembly government said the fire service would now be fully integrated with all "key partnership organisations," such as community safety partnerships.

It also said the fire service would be better able to take into local views on its needs.

"The Welsh assembly will know what is good for the people of Wales far better than John Prescott does," said the union's chairman in Wales Bob Allen.

Mr Allen said the changeover will make no difference to the Welsh population who will still dial 999 in the same way or to the fire crews and operators.

"We look forward to working with the assembly on issues of the future of the fire service.

In March the Richard report into the future of Welsh devolution recommended that the assembly should be given more powers as well as additional AMs.

Lord Richard (right) recommended more law-making powers for the assembly

While plans for devolved regional assemblies in England have been put on hold following the massive 'No' vote in last week's referendum in the North-East, the Welsh administration is slowly gathering more powers.

Last month it was also announced that the assembly government was to get more powers to tackle any future outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

It followed confusion over the handling of the 2001 epidemic.

But the former Labour leader Neil Kinnock - who is to enter the Lords when his tenure as European Commissioner ends - has said he will campaign against any move to give the Welsh assembly more powers.