There is hereby established a junior members program to the
Washington Township Fire Department, to be known as "junior members
or junior firefighters," which shall operate under and pursuant to
N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95 et seq.
Any person who is a resident of the Township of Washington and
is between 16 years and 18 years of age shall be eligible for membership
as a junior member. No individual shall become a junior member unless
written permission is obtained from such individual's parents
or legal guardian. Said written permission shall be in a form approved
by the Township Committee and shall be acknowledged or approved in
the manner required by law for deeds to real estate to be recorded.
Junior members shall also be required to obtain working papers from
the New Jersey Department of Labor if applicable. The original written
permission and working papers, if applicable, shall be retained by
the Township Clerk, who shall forward a copy to the Department Chief.
Junior members shall be provided with the same insurance coverage
as provided for the regular volunteer firemen of the Township of Washington.
The junior members program shall operate under the guidance
of the fire company of which the junior firefighter is a member and
shall follow that company's bylaws.
The Township Committee hereinafter establishes the following
rules and regulations designed to govern the activities of the junior
firefighters and to provide for the training of its members with a
view toward their eventual membership in the Washington Township Fire
Department:
A. No junior firefighter shall be required to perform duties which would
expose junior firefighter to the same degree of hazard as a regular
member of the Fire Department.
B. No junior firefighter shall be permitted to engage in firefighting
or be in the immediate vicinity of a hazardous condition involving
the handling of dangerous or poisonous acids or dyes or injurious
quantities of toxic or noxious dust, gases, vapors or fumes.
C. A junior firefighter shall be on probation until the age of 18 years
and may be expelled from the Junior Members Program for just cause.
D. A junior firefighter shall comply with the SOGs of the Washington
Township Fire Department, as well as any bylaws of the company where
the junior firefighter is assigned.
E. A junior firefighter shall obey the commands of the Fire Chief or
any other officer of the Washington Township Fire Department.
F. It is important for the junior firefighter to understand that they
are not privileged in any way while responding to an emergency or
nonemergency call for the Fire Department.
G. The junior firefighter will obey all New Jersey Department of Motor
Vehicle laws while responding, including, but not limited to, those
prohibiting exceeding the posted speed limit, passing in a nonpassing
zone, tailgating, not stopping at red traffic signals, not stopping
completely at stop signs, not yielding to right-of-way as necessary,
making a right turn on red when a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted,
etc.
H. The junior firefighter should realize that when responding to an
emergency call, a fire truck may be granted privileges by other drivers
under certain circumstances (involving the use of lights and sirens)
but that these privileges are not rights and that they do not apply
to junior firemen.
I. The following rules should be observed at all times:
(1) No external identification lights, i.e., "blue" lights, are to be
used.
(2) Junior firefighters should not use their headlights to alert other
motorists that they are seeking to pass.
(3) Junior firefighters should not use the horn to signal their desire
to pass or to be yielded a right-of-way.
(4) Junior firefighters should not use their hazard lights while responding
to signal other drivers their desire to pass or to be yielded a right-of-way.
(5) Junior firefighters should not point, glare, or in any other way
signal a driver who did not yield right-of-way to them. Other drivers
are not obligated in any way to do so.
J. Training shall include, but not be limited to, instruction concerning
industrial fire systems; breathing apparatus; municipal water systems;
hydrants and alternate water sources; care, testing and handling of
fire hoses; types and uses of hand-held fire extinguishers; procedures
for handling alarms; radio procedures; care, cleaning and basic maintenance
of apparatus; preparation of knots for hoisting equipment; safety
measures for riding on apparatus; use of personal safety equipment
and hand tools; theory of pumps and hydraulic fire systems and the
use of ladders, including their care and testing. Actual use of the
equipment shall be encouraged whenever it shall be deemed advisable
by the Washington Township Fire Department, provided that a junior
fireman shall not be exposed to any danger. Adequate supervision shall
be provided, and all possible safety precautions shall be taken.
K. Junior firefighters may apply for an adult class of membership in
the Washington Township Fire Department upon achieving the age of
18 years by completing the appropriate application forms in accordance
with the Fire Department's procedures.
L. Subject to the approval of the Township Committee, these rules and
regulations may be supplemented by the Washington Township Fire Department.