[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners
of the Township of Swatara 9-6-1995 by Res. No. R-1995-37 (Ch. 1, Part 10A,
of the 1990 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 9-8-2004 by Ord.
No. 2004-6]
The Swatara Township Fire Marshal shall be the
highest fire official in Swatara Township and shall be a full-time
Township employee serving at the pleasure of the Board. The compensation
of the Fire Marshal shall be fixed, from time to time, by the Board
of Commissioners.
The duties and responsibilities of the Fire
Marshal shall be divided into three prime areas:
[Amended 7-9-1997 by Res. No. 1997-28]
A.
The Fire Marshal shall serve as a member of the Fire
Committee of the Board of Commissioners in an advisory capacity only.
He shall report his activities directly to the Fire Committee and/or
the full Board of Commissioners. The Fire Marshal shall act as a liaison
between the Fire Committee or Board and the Swatara Township Volunteer
Firemen's Association, Township fire and ambulance companies.
B.
The Fire Marshal shall serve as an advisor to the
Fire Committee, and/or the Board, to develop a coordinated Township-wide
management plan for the operation of fire services. Included will
be financial and personnel management, equipment selection, fire protection
engineering, fire prevention, fire safety education, research and
planning, maintenance, training, community relations, safety and health
and other related activities.
C.
The Fire Marshal shall act in a supervisory capacity
in relation to all activities of the Swatara Township fire companies
relating to training. Specifically, the Fire Marshal shall:
(1)
Require each fire company to establish and maintain
a training and education program with a goal of preventing occupational
accidents, deaths, injuries and illnesses.
(2)
Require each fire company to provide a written training
program indicating the areas in which training will occur, the frequency
of training and the names and qualifications of instructors providing
such training.
(3)
With Board approval, require modification in the training
programs of any company found to be deficient as well as requiring
fire companies to establish specific training programs when necessary.
(4)
Review with instructors the materials and methods
of instruction.
(5)
With Board approval, require removal of instructors
not deemed to be qualified.
(6)
Require each fire company to certify to him the completion
of training in each training program area for each individual fire
company member. In conjunction with this certification, if the Fire
Marshal is on the scene of a fire or emergency and observes a person
not certified as trained in an area in which he is engaged or about
to be engaged, the Fire Marshal shall be authorized to instruct the
chief of that company to remove said uncertified person from performing
the specified activity. If the chief refuses to remove such person
from the specified activity, the matter will be brought to the attention
of the Board for any further action.
D.
The Fire Marshal shall act in an advisory capacity
at the scene of any fire or emergency situation. When responding on
the initial alarm, and no designated area officer is responding, the
Fire Marshal may take the appropriate action to provide the level
of protection needed. He shall offer advice to, or respond to requests
for advice from, the fire chief or line officer of the company or
companies in attendance. The Fire Marshal shall have no authority
to require or mandate a chief, line officer or company to act in any
specific manner at the scene of a fire or emergency situation, unless
he becomes aware of a decision or observes an action that is clearly
inappropriate and puts at risk lives or property.
E.
The Fire Marshal shall investigate injuries to fire
company personnel which may result in a workman's compensation claim
and shall assist the individual involved in properly making the appropriate
claim.
F.
The Fire Marshal may act as a liaison between the
property owners of the Township and various fire companies serving
them in relation to securing plans of the premises to be utilized
by fire companies in fire-fighting and emergency situations, to recommend
actions to be taken at the property to facilitate fighting of fires
or providing of emergency service, as well as related matters.
G.
The Fire Marshal shall provide annual training regarding
hazardous materials first awareness certification to the Police Department,
fire companies, highway department, fire police and ambulance companies.
H.
The Fire Marshal shall approve the emergency response
system (fire boxes) sent to the Dauphin County Emergency Management
Agency to ensure appropriate coverage and response and that the Township
is properly covered which fire equipment is dispatched on mutual aid
outside the Township.
I.
The Fire Marshal shall use his best efforts to keep
individual fire companies informed on pertinent data relating to fighting
of fires and providing of other emergency services. The Fire Marshal
shall not be required to give individual companies advice on financial
matters or the internal operations or running of their fire companies
not otherwise provided for in this chapter.
J.
The Fire Marshal shall supply to and receive from
all Township fire companies all fire and incident reports.
A.
The Fire Marshal shall investigate or cause to be
investigated every fire or explosion occurring within Swatara Township
that is of a suspicious nature or which involves the loss of life
or serious injury or causes destruction or damage to property, in
accordance with Article 1 of the BOCA Fire Code Chapter on Administration
and Enforcement as adopted by the Township under the provisions of
the BOCA Fire Prevention Code, 1987.
B.
The Fire Marshal shall prepare reports of investigation
and submit them to authorized agencies.
A.
The Fire Marshal shall enforce the provisions of the BOCA Fire Prevention Code, 1987 Edition, pursuant to the authority of Chapter 128, Code Enforcement, § 128-23, of the Code of Swatara Township.
B.
The Fire Marshal shall carry out the aforesaid enforcement
provisions in cooperation with any and all other Township departments
including, but not limited to, Administration and Building and Code
Enforcement.
