[Adopted by Ord. No. 7-15-1998]
Rohrerstown Community Fire Company and Hempfield
Fire Department, each organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and headquartered in East Hempfield Township,
are hereby designated as the officially recognized fire companies
for the Township. The members of Rohrerstown Fire Company and Hempfield
Fire Department have continuously served the Township since their
respective incorporations.
A.
The fire companies are hereby authorized to provide
such services to the Township as may be necessary for the protection
of property and persons situated therein, which includes, by way of
example and not of limitation, the extinguishment of fires and the
prevention of loss of life and property from fire, automobile accidents,
medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents and other dangerous
situations.
B.
The fire companies may also provide nonemergency and
public service functions which are consistent with written policies
adopted from time to time by the Township, such as, again by way of
example and not of limitation, removing water from property after
storms, assisting in the removal, abatement and prevention of damage
or injury to persons or property, whether through natural causes or
man-made situations.
C.
The fire companies may also conduct and participate
in such training activities and drills, either within or outside of
the Township, as may be deemed necessary by the Fire Chief, the chief
officers of the fire line or governing body of the respective fire
companies to maintain proficiency in providing services.
D.
The fire companies may respond to fire calls and provide
emergency services to municipalities outside of the Township. The
fire companies may also provide nonemergency and public service functions
to municipalities outside the Township, provided they are authorized
to do so by East Hempfield Township and by such other municipalities
or by the local fire companies authorized to serve such municipalities.
In addition to actually participating in the
activities of the fire companies as authorized above, or going to
or returning from any activity, the members of the fire companies
are also authorized to engage in the following activities, provided
they are lawful and consistent with written policies adopted from
time to time by the Township:
A.
Engage in any type of drill, training, ceremony, practice,
test or parade when duly called for or authorized by the Fire Chief,
the chief officers of the fire line or governing body of the respective
fire company.
B.
Engage in fund-raising activities for the fire companies
when authorized by the governing body of such fire companies to do
so.
C.
Engage in the performance of any other lawful duty
or activity customarily performed by fire companies and authorized
by the Fire Chief or governing body of the fire companies.
The purpose and intent of this article is to
recognize Rohrerstown Community Fire Company and Hempfield Fire Department
as the official fire companies of the Township for the purposes and
with the intent specified in Section 150(e) of the Code[1] and regulations promulgated thereunder, and to specify
additional authorized activities for firefighters for worker's compensation
purposes. Nothing in this article shall be construed to prevent fire
companies located in neighboring municipalities from responding to
emergency calls in this Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 150(e) of the
Internal Revenue Code, which defines the term "qualified volunteer
fire department."
