[Amended 1-22-1997 by Ord. No. 265]
All members of volunteer fire departments or
volunteer fire companies of the Township of West Deer, including any
paid fire fighter who is a member of a volunteer fire company and
performs the services of a volunteer fire fighter during off-duty
hours, shall be and are hereby declared to be employees of the Township
who shall be entitled to receive compensation in case of injuries
received while actively engaged as fire fighters; or while going to
or returning from a fire which the Fire Department or fire company
attended, including travel from and the direct return to a fire fighter's
home, place or business or other place where he or she shall have
been when he or she received the call or alarm; or while participating
in instruction fire drills in which the Fire Department or fire company
shall have participated; or while repairing or doing other work about
or on the fire apparatus or buildings and grounds of the Fire Department
or fire company upon the authorization of the Chief of the Fire Department
or fire company or other person in charge; or while answering any
emergency calls for any purpose; or while riding upon the fire apparatus
which is owned or used by the Fire Department or fire company; or
while performing any other duties of such Fire Department or fire
company as authorized by the Township. Further, the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of West Deer authorizes all members of the volunteer
fire departments or companies within the Township of West Deer to
engage in the performance of any duty authorized by the Chiefs of
the West Deer Fire Department.
All members of volunteer ambulance corps of
the Township of West Deer shall be and are hereby declared to be employees
of the Township who shall be entitled to receive compensation in the
case of injuries received while actually engaged as ambulance corpsmen;
or while going to or returning from any fire, accident or other emergency
which such volunteer ambulance corps shall attend, including travel
from and direct return to a corps person's home, place of business
or other place where he or she shall have been when he or she received
the call or alarm; or while participating in ambulance corps of which
they are members; or while repairing or doing other work about or
on the ambulance apparatus or buildings and grounds of such ambulance
corps upon the authorization of the Corps President or other person
in charge; or while answering any emergency call for any purpose;
or while riding in or upon the ambulance apparatus owned by the ambulance
corps of which they are members at any time; or while performing any
other duties of such ambulance corps as are authorized by the Township.
Further, the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer hereby
authorizes members of the volunteer ambulance corps to engage in the
performance of any duties authorized by any officer or officers of
any volunteer ambulance corps within the Township of West Deer.
All members of volunteer rescue and lifesaving
squads of the Township shall be and are hereby declared to be employees
of the Township and shall be entitled to receive compensation in the
case of injuries received while actually engaged as a rescue or lifesaving
squad member attending to an emergency to which that squad has been
called or responded, including travel from and the direct return to
a squad person's home, place or business or other place where he or
she shall have been when he or she received the call or alarm; or
while participating in rescue and lifesaving drills in which the squad
is participating; or while repairing or doing other work about or
on the apparatus, buildings and grounds of such rescue and lifesaving
squad upon the authorization of the chief or other person in charge;
or while riding in or upon the apparatus of the rescue and lifesaving
squad and at any time while performing any other duties authorized
by the Township. Further, the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of West Deer hereby authorizes members of the volunteer rescue and
lifesaving squads of the Township to engage in the performance of
any duty authorized by any officer or officers of all volunteer rescue
and lifesaving squads within the Township of West Deer.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of
West Deer hereby authorizes members of volunteer fire departments
or companies, volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer rescue and lifesaving
squads to perform the following duties, in addition to the above-mentioned
normal fire-fighting, rescue and emergency medical duties:
A. Participation in drills, practices, training sessions
and prefire planning activities authorized by the Fire Chief.
B. Participation in community celebrations, ceremonial
observances and funerals for deceased fire fighters or other public
figures where such attendance is deemed appropriate and authorized,
in writing, by the Fire Chief.
C. While performing duties necessary to prepare the fire
station for use as a polling place for the primary and general elections,
including like services performed at other municipal or school district
buildings for said elections.
D. Preparation for and responsible participation in parades
with the prior approval of the Fire Department or fire company, ambulance
corps and/or rescue and lifesaving squad, and written notice is provided
to the Township 30 days prior to the event.
E. Any public service functions performed for the welfare
of the community as long as these activities are responsibly supervised
and are sanctioned by the Chief of the Fire Department or fire company
or any officer or officers of any volunteer ambulance corps or rescue
and lifesaving squads, and written notice is provided to the Township
30 days prior to the function.
F. Any and all public safety activities undertaken by
any and all Fire Departments or companies, ambulance corps or rescue
and lifesaving squad members to render care to the injured, prevent
loss of life, provide comfort and security to victims and limit or
prevent damage to or loss of property as circumstances may dictate.
G. While rendering assistance to police officers where
such aid is specifically requested or is done without request to protect
our citizens from imminent danger.
H. Participation in fire prevention inspections, post-fire
investigations, bomb searches and evacuations.
I. While participating in public programs to promote
health and safety, to enlist new members, solicit community support
or conduct fundraising activities, so long as the activity is specifically
sanctioned by the Fire Department or fire company, ambulance corps
and/or rescue and lifesaving squad, with written notice to the Township
30 days prior to the activity or event.
J. While performing such other duties necessary for the
efficient operation of the above volunteer services as may, from time
to time, be authorized by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of West Deer.
It is the purpose of this chapter to ensure
that all members of volunteer fire departments or companies, volunteer
ambulance corps and volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of the
Township of West Deer shall be entitled to receive compensation under
the Workers' Compensation Law of Pennsylvania if such person is injured while engaging in any of the
above-mentioned activities.