[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer 12-8-1993 by Ord. No. 242. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended 1-22-1997 by Ord. No. 265]
All members of volunteer fire departments or volunteer fire companies of the Township of West Deer, including any paid fire fighter who is a member of a volunteer fire company and performs the services of a volunteer fire fighter during off-duty hours, shall be and are hereby declared to be employees of the Township who shall be entitled to receive compensation in case of injuries received while actively engaged as fire fighters; or while going to or returning from a fire which the Fire Department or fire company attended, including travel from and the direct return to a fire fighter's home, place or business or other place where he or she shall have been when he or she received the call or alarm; or while participating in instruction fire drills in which the Fire Department or fire company shall have participated; or while repairing or doing other work about or on the fire apparatus or buildings and grounds of the Fire Department or fire company upon the authorization of the Chief of the Fire Department or fire company or other person in charge; or while answering any emergency calls for any purpose; or while riding upon the fire apparatus which is owned or used by the Fire Department or fire company; or while performing any other duties of such Fire Department or fire company as authorized by the Township. Further, the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer authorizes all members of the volunteer fire departments or companies within the Township of West Deer to engage in the performance of any duty authorized by the Chiefs of the West Deer Fire Department.
All members of volunteer ambulance corps of the Township of West Deer shall be and are hereby declared to be employees of the Township who shall be entitled to receive compensation in the case of injuries received while actually engaged as ambulance corpsmen; or while going to or returning from any fire, accident or other emergency which such volunteer ambulance corps shall attend, including travel from and direct return to a corps person's home, place of business or other place where he or she shall have been when he or she received the call or alarm; or while participating in ambulance corps of which they are members; or while repairing or doing other work about or on the ambulance apparatus or buildings and grounds of such ambulance corps upon the authorization of the Corps President or other person in charge; or while answering any emergency call for any purpose; or while riding in or upon the ambulance apparatus owned by the ambulance corps of which they are members at any time; or while performing any other duties of such ambulance corps as are authorized by the Township. Further, the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer hereby authorizes members of the volunteer ambulance corps to engage in the performance of any duties authorized by any officer or officers of any volunteer ambulance corps within the Township of West Deer.
All members of volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of the Township shall be and are hereby declared to be employees of the Township and shall be entitled to receive compensation in the case of injuries received while actually engaged as a rescue or lifesaving squad member attending to an emergency to which that squad has been called or responded, including travel from and the direct return to a squad person's home, place or business or other place where he or she shall have been when he or she received the call or alarm; or while participating in rescue and lifesaving drills in which the squad is participating; or while repairing or doing other work about or on the apparatus, buildings and grounds of such rescue and lifesaving squad upon the authorization of the chief or other person in charge; or while riding in or upon the apparatus of the rescue and lifesaving squad and at any time while performing any other duties authorized by the Township. Further, the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer hereby authorizes members of the volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of the Township to engage in the performance of any duty authorized by any officer or officers of all volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads within the Township of West Deer.
The Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer hereby authorizes members of volunteer fire departments or companies, volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads to perform the following duties, in addition to the above-mentioned normal fire-fighting, rescue and emergency medical duties:
A. 
Participation in drills, practices, training sessions and prefire planning activities authorized by the Fire Chief.
B. 
Participation in community celebrations, ceremonial observances and funerals for deceased fire fighters or other public figures where such attendance is deemed appropriate and authorized, in writing, by the Fire Chief.
C. 
While performing duties necessary to prepare the fire station for use as a polling place for the primary and general elections, including like services performed at other municipal or school district buildings for said elections.
D. 
Preparation for and responsible participation in parades with the prior approval of the Fire Department or fire company, ambulance corps and/or rescue and lifesaving squad, and written notice is provided to the Township 30 days prior to the event.
E. 
Any public service functions performed for the welfare of the community as long as these activities are responsibly supervised and are sanctioned by the Chief of the Fire Department or fire company or any officer or officers of any volunteer ambulance corps or rescue and lifesaving squads, and written notice is provided to the Township 30 days prior to the function.
F. 
Any and all public safety activities undertaken by any and all Fire Departments or companies, ambulance corps or rescue and lifesaving squad 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. 
While rendering assistance to police officers where such aid is specifically requested or is done without request to protect our citizens from imminent danger.
H. 
Participation in fire prevention inspections, post-fire investigations, bomb searches and evacuations.
I. 
While participating in public programs to promote health and safety, to enlist new members, solicit community support or conduct fundraising activities, so long as the activity is specifically sanctioned by the Fire Department or fire company, ambulance corps and/or rescue and lifesaving squad, with written notice to the Township 30 days prior to the activity or event.
J. 
While performing such other duties necessary for the efficient operation of the above volunteer services as may, from time to time, be authorized by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of West Deer.
It is the purpose of this chapter to ensure that all members of volunteer fire departments or companies, volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of the Township of West Deer shall be entitled to receive compensation under the Workers' Compensation Law of Pennsylvania[1] if such person is injured while engaging in any of the above-mentioned activities.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 77 P.S. § 1 et seq.