Township of Elk, NJ Chapter 20 Fire Department

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Committee of the Township of Elk 5-2-1985. Amendments noted where applicable.]

§ 20-1 Establishment.

[Amended 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. O-9-2023]

The Elk Township Fire Department, to be composed of two companies to be known as Aura Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and Ferrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, is hereby established.

§ 20-2 Members: qualification, benefits.

A. Present members in good standing of the Aura Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 and Ferrell Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 shall be members of the Elk Township Fire Department, without formal election thereto.

[Amended 5-16-2023 by Ord. No. O-9-2023]

B. No person shall hereafter become a member of the Elk Township Fire Department or any unit thereof unless above the age of 18 years and not over the age of 70 years, and shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a fireman as evidenced by a filed certificate to that effect after a physical examination for that purpose by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of New Jersey.

[Amended 10-7-2021 by Ord. No. O-12-2021]

C. No present or future member of said Department shall be eligible to or qualified for benefits of a local fireman's relief association or the New Jersey Firemen's Relief Association, except in compliance with rules and regulations of said Association. The application provided in § 20-4 hereof shall contain a provision to the above over the applicant's signature.

D. Each year, at the Township Committee's reorganization meeting, each active member of each fire company shall be administered a sworn oath of office. If an active member is unavailable, the active member shall be sworn as soon as reasonably possible after the Township Committee's reorganization meeting.

[Added 10-7-2021 by Ord. No. O-12-2021]

§ 20-3 Required performance of duties by members.

[Amended 10-7-2021 by Ord. No. O-12-2021]

A. Every member of each fire company shall, in each and every year, participate in at least 60% of the company fire duty. "Fire duty" shall mean actual attendance and performance of duty at fires and drills, and a record shall be kept of such attendance and duty by the Chief of each fire company.

B. No later than the third Monday in January, the Chief of each fire company shall annually file with the Municipal Clerk a duly verified list and report, under oath, of all active members of the fire company including the Chief, which are under his or her control and supervision, not holding exempt fireman certificates, which shall set forth the name and residence address of all such firemen, whether a citizen of the United States, date of becoming a fireman (Incident Management Level 1 Certification or greater), age at that time, date of membership of the company of which he is a member and percentage of fire duty performed during that year by each fireman as required in § 20-3A above. In addition, the Chief of each fire company shall include in the annual report to the governing body the following information:

(1) Incident command directives;

(2) SOPs/SOGs adopted during the year;

(3) Fit test records;

(4) Apparatus maintenance documentation including annual pump test records for each apparatus;

(5) OSHA/PEOSH logs of work-related injuries and illness;

(6) Training records;

(7) Invoices/receipts/purchase orders evidencing the expenditures of the fire company utilizing the Township's annual stipend;

(8) Amendments to the company's organization structure or chart;

(9) Inventory of Township-owned apparatus, equipment and/or assets;

(10) Written emergency action plan;

(11) Written fire prevention plan;

(12) Fire extinguisher training records;

(13) M.S.D.S. for all reportable products, including flares; extinguishers; firefighting foam; gasoline; diesel fuel; oxygen; and any other reportable product;

(14) Proof that each active member maintains a current Incident Management Level I certification;

(15) Proof that each middle manager, command and/or general staff maintains a minimum ICS-300 NIMS certification;

(16) Proof that the fire company is compliant with PEOSH Standards for Firefighters (N.J.A.C. 12:100-10);

(17) Proof that each active member of the fire company is compliant with NIMS;

(18) Proof that the fire company is National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) compliant; and

(19) IRS Form 990 for the fire company.

C. The Chief of each fire company shall monthly (no later than the first Wednesday of each month) file with the Municipal Clerk a duly verified report which provides the following information/documentation:

(1) Date(s) and description of training;

(2) Name of each member attending training, and the number of hours for each training session;

(3) Date(s), address(es) and time(s) (sign-on/sign-off) of each incident;

(4) The name of each active member attending the incident;

(5) Apparatus and/or equipment maintenance or testing. Specifically identify the apparatus and/or equipment and nature of the maintenance and/or test;

(6) OSHA 300 log of work-related injury and/or illness, if any;

(7) Name of each active member who completed an ability to perform/fit test;

(8) Name and address of each new member; and

(9) Any documents or notifications from the State of New Jersey directed to the fire company.

§ 20-4 Application for membership.

[Amended 12-26-1991; 10-7-2021 by Ord. No. O-12-2021]

Every person seeking to join the Elk Township Fire Department shall make application to the fire company of the applicant's choice, and, upon election to membership pursuant to the bylaws of the company, the applicant shall become a member in good standing of the Fire Department, and confirmation by the Township Committee, at which time applicant's name shall be entered on the roll of firemen by the Municipal Clerk.

§ 20-5 Exemption certificates.

Exemption certificates may be issued to members of the Fire Department who shall have served seven years in active duty under municipal control, as required by law April 29, 1935, and as amended May 26, 1936.