Borough of Fair Lawn, NJ Number, Qualifications and Election of Members

[Amended 9-13-2011 by Ord. No. 2224-2011; 9-11-2012 by Ord. No. 2252-2012; 5-12-2015 by Ord. No. 2350-2015]

Company Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 4 shall consist of regular firefighters, probationary firefighters and associate firefighters for each company. The complement of members shall include all officers. Qualifications of active members shall be:

Active regular firefighters. No person shall be appointed a member of the Fire Department unless he/she is a citizen of the United States; is sound in body and in good health; has a high school diploma or an equivalency certificate or is able to read, write and speak the English language well and intelligently; is of good moral character; has not been convicted of any crime involving moral turpitude; is a resident of the municipality or a contiguous municipality; has reached the age of 18 years; and has completed the training requirements of § 13-9B or equivalent. Any person who has resigned as a member of the Fire Department and seeks to reenter the Department may qualify for appointment, provided that he/she has previously served the Department as a member in good standing for at least two years or reapplies within one year of resignation and meets all of the other qualifications provided in this chapter. Removal of residence from the municipality or a contiguous municipality shall be cause for dismissal from the Department.

Probationary firefighter.

(1)

A probationary firefighter may be a new member who has reached the age of 18 years and meets all other requirements of Subsection A. An active regular member shall attend and complete with passing grades Basic firefighter 1 or equivalent course, within two years, will be on probation for a minimum of six months and, until voted to active regular member status, shall receive all benefits afforded to regular members by the Borough of Fair Lawn, except voting privileges and holding firematic office.

(2)

(Reserved)

(3)

Any junior who has reached the age of 18 but is still in high school must follow all junior provisions stated in § 13-79 until he or she has graduated high school or has equivalency certificate.

(4)

If a probationary firefighter is 18 but is still attending high school, he must follow all the provisions in § 13-79 until he graduates or receives a GED.

Associate firefighter.

(1)

An associate firefighter may be a nonresident who is available in Fair Lawn for duty at least 20 hours per week with a written letter from his/her employer approving work time response. He/she must meet the requirements of Subsection B.

(2)

Firefighters holding associate membership shall be eligible to hold company firematic office up to and including the position of Captain in the Fire Department; shall have truck house privileges; and are eligible to attend training courses, parades and receive benefits afforded firefighters by the Borough of Fair Lawn.

(3)

Each company is allowed to have 10 associate firefighters.

Physical requirements. All active members shall meet the current state respiratory protection program, shall be required to take a physical examination by a Fire Department physician, designated by the Borough, and be certified by said physician to be physically fit for duty as an active firefighter. After the physical examination, members shall be classified into one of the following fire-fighting categories:

(1)

Interior firefighters. These members can be involved in IDLH (immediately dangerous to life or health) atmosphere, including roof operations, any interior operations involving the use of SCBA, ladder operations, etc. This includes wearing a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) and a bailout bag system. These members can partake in all aspects of emergency services deemed vital to life and property. Interior firefighters must pass a mask fit test annually and comply with all standard operating guidelines as they pertain to the bailout bag system.

(2)

Exterior firefighters. These members cannot engage in fire-fighting activity that puts them in an IDLH atmosphere inside of an enclosed structure or operate at any height, including on ground ladders. The member will not wear or qualify on the bailout bag system. The member will not be able to wear an SCBA without completing all mandatory requirements to wear an SCBA. The member will only partake in fire-fighting activities outside of the fire structure.

(3)

Limited exterior firefighters. These members cannot be engaged in fire-fighting activity that puts them in an IDLH atmosphere inside or outside any structure. These members do not have to wear or complete any SCBA mandatory training. Examples of the limited activities will be driving and operating apparatus, operating as a safety officer, connecting and straightening hose lines, videotaping, photography, and any other limited activity deemed necessary by the company officer.

(4)

Medically unfit for duty. These members have been deemed by physical examination to be medically unfit for duty as either an interior firefighter, exterior firefighter or limited exterior firefighter and shall be suspended from active duty upon certification by the Board of Fire Commissioners to the Borough Council until such time as the Borough Physician designated by the Borough determines that such member should be reinstated to interior firefighter status, exterior firefighter status and limited exterior firefighter status.

Applications. Each person shall complete an application on a form to be approved by the Fire Board to become a member of the Fire Department. The Company Captain will time and date each application and forward to the Fire Clerk as to when it was received. The application shall also be noted, by time and date, as to when the member is approved for service. This is to avoid confusion relative to years of service at a later date.

Badge numbers.

(1)

Assignment of numbers to new firefighters.

(a)

Each Company Captain will assign each new firefighter and provide that person with a badge consistent with the numbers listed below:

[1]

Company No. 1: 1 to 25 and 101 to 115.

[2]

Company No. 2: 26 to 50 and 116 to 130.

[3]

Company No. 3: 51 to 75 and 131 to 145.

[4]

Company No. 4: 76 to 100 and 146 to 160.

(b)

Any member voted in as a regular member and who exceeds the current company badge numbers assigned can hold badge numbers 161 to 199. Effective January 1, 2022, all new members will start with badge number 200 and continue on indefinitely regardless of the fire company the member is assigned.

[Amended 10-26-2021 by Ord. No. 2594-2021]

(2)

Each probationary firefighter will be assigned a badge indicating AUX member.