[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Leetsdale as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Firemen's Relief Association — See Ch. 49.
Uniform construction codes — See Ch. 132.
[Adopted 4-14-1958 by Ord. No. 286]
From and after the passage of this article, there shall exist within the said Borough, for the safety and protection of the citizens and property thereof, a regular duly organized Fire Department to be appointed by the Council of said Borough under the conditions and provisions to be set forth by said Council.
[Amended 2-14-1979 by Ord. No. 441; 6-12-1991 by Ord. No. 495; 10-9-1991 by Ord. No. 498]
A. 
Membership. Any person 18 years of age or older shall be eligible for appointment as a member of the Leetsdale Borough Fire Department. Residency within the Borough shall not be required to be appointed to or maintain membership in the Leetsdale Borough Fire Department.
[Amended 8-13-1998 by Ord. No. 555]
B. 
Appointments. The Council of the said Borough shall appoint the members and officers of the said Fire Department to act in the capacity of a Fire Department for said Borough. Each member appointed shall be placed on a period of probation for 90 days. At the end of the above-described period of probation, the Leetsdale Fire Department line officers shall review the performance of the subject fire fighter and thereafter make recommendations to the Borough Council Fire Committee as to whether or not said subject fire fighter should be placed on the fully active roster or, in the alternative, dismissed.
The duties of the Chief of said Fire Department shall be as follows:
A. 
To take full charge of all fire-fighting apparatus equipment now owned or that may hereafter be purchased or acquired by said Borough.
B. 
To assume full charge and direction of the Fire Department herein organized and to the best of his ability so organize the said Department, and make such rules and regulations therefor as may be necessary for the full protection of the citizens and property in said Borough in time of fire.
C. 
The said Chief of the Fire Department may appoint such lieutenants and other officers as may be necessary for the proper organization of the Department herein established, provided that such additional officers so appointed by the Chief shall receive no compensation other than that herein provided for regular members.
D. 
In case of a vacancy among the members of said Department other than the appointive officers, by reason of death, resignation or like cause, the Chief of said Department may appoint some person or persons, as the case may be, to fill said vacancy or vacancies until the said Council of the Borough regularly fills such vacancy.
The officers and members of said Fire Department herein established shall receive compensation for their services as such payable out of the general funds of said Borough, in amounts determined by the Borough Council.
Any person or persons who voluntarily assist the said Fire Department in any manner in the performance of its regular duties and is not listed as a member on the rolls of the Fire Department does so at his own risk, and without compensation for said service and without any liability on the part of the Borough of Leetsdale for injuries sustained thereby.
Any person or persons, members of the herein designated Fire Department, who shall willfully turn in a false alarm, knowing it to be such, shall be subject to immediate discharge from the Department.
[Adopted 2-12-1998 by Ord. No. 548]
The Borough's Fire Department and all members thereof are hereby authorized by Borough Council to perform the following duties in addition to the normal fire-fighting and rescue duties:
A. 
Participation in drills, practices, training sessions and pre-fire planning activities authorized by the Fire Department's Fire Chief and supervised by a qualified instructor, or a Fire Department officer.
B. 
Participation in community celebrations, ceremonial observances and funerals for deceased fire fighters or other public figures where such attendance is deemed appropriate by the Fire Chief.
C. 
Duties necessary to prepare the fire station for use as a distribution center or a polling place for the primary and general elections. This is extended to include like services performed at other municipal or School District buildings.
D. 
Preparation for and responsible participation in parades if said participation has the prior approval of the Fire Chief and Fire Department.
E. 
Any public service functions performed for the welfare of the community, including recovery of animals, as long as these activities are responsibly supervised and are approved by the Fire Department and Fire Chief.
F. 
Any and all public safety activities undertaken by Fire Department 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. 
Activities undertaken while rendering assistance to police officers where such aid is specifically requested or is done without request to protect the public welfare from imminent danger, including fire duties.
H. 
Participation in fire prevention activities, post-fire investigations, bomb searches, evacuation drills, and fire lane enforcement.
I. 
Participation in public programs to promote health and safety, to enlist new members, or solicit community support, or conduct fund-raising activities so long as no compensation is being paid to the member while engaged in the fund-raising activity, 100% of the proceeds go to the Fire Department, and so long as each activity is sanctioned by the Fire Chief and the Fire Department.
J. 
While safely and responsibly performing repairs, maintenance and remodeling work on the Fire Department vehicle, buildings, grounds or equipment.
K. 
Such other duties necessary for the efficient operation of the Fire Department as may, from time to time, be assigned by the Borough Council, along with the officers of the Fire Department, and which are also defined within the constitution and by-laws of the Fire Department.
The foregoing activities shall be deemed to be authorized only when the particular fire fighter is actively engaged as a member of the Fire Company.
This article is intended to authorize certain duties for purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act and will not be construed to make any volunteer fire fighter a Borough employee for any other purpose.