[Adopted 12-27-1976 by Ord. No. 1976-12 (Part 10, Ch. 1, Art.
B, of the 1976 Code of Ordinances)]
The Commissioners herewith recognize the Eden Fire Company No.
1, the Neffsville Fire Company and the Southern Manheim Township Fire
Company as the official organizations responsible for protecting the
Township from fires and for fighting fires within the Township.
A.
No person shall place ashes, cinders, dirt, rubbish, building material
or any other material of any kind whatsoever around or in close proximity
to any fire hydrant in the Township so as to cause hindrance or delay
in access thereto or prevent the free use thereof by the fire companies.
No person shall, in any way, interfere with or tamper with any fire
hydrant or attempt to take water therefrom without special authority
from the Fire Chief or the person acting as such.
B.
Without the consent of the Fire Chief or the Assistant Fire Chief,
no person not an active member of a fire company shall at any time
ride upon any of the fire apparatus of the fire companies, nor shall
any person make use of any fire apparatus, hose, or other equipment
of a fire company, other than for the purpose for which the same was
intended, without the consent of the Fire Chief.
No person, not actually engaged in the extinguishment of a fire
or the saving of property endangered thereby, shall enter any building
in which a fire is being fought by a fire company, either during or
after the fire, without the express consent of the owner or occupant
of the building.
No person, except an active member or members of the fire company
engaged in fighting a fire, shall at any time enter within the territory
in the vicinity of any fire, when the same may be roped off, or access
within the limits be denied by the police, or interfere by giving
orders to any individual, unless requested so to do by the Fire Chief
or the person acting as such.
A.
No person shall, in any way, obstruct or prevent, or attempt to obstruct
or prevent, the Fire Chief in the discharge of his duties, by denying
or attempting to deny him access to any premises owned or occupied
by the persons or by failing or refusing to furnish correct information
requested by the Fire Chief in the investigation into the cause, origin
or circumstances of any fire.
B.
No person shall, in any way, obstruct or prevent, or attempt to obstruct
or prevent, the Fire Chief while inspecting any construction, building
or premises in the Township to determine the existence of any possible
fire hazard, nor shall any person deny access to the premises for
inspection thereof.
[Amended 12-12-1994 by Ord. No. 1994-28]
[Amended 7-12-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-16; 12-12-2000 by Ord. No.
2000-20]
A.
The fire companies recognized by Manheim Township are hereby authorized
to provide such services to the Township as maybe necessary for the
protection of property and persons situate therein, which include,
by way of example and not of limitation, the extinguishment and prevention
of loss of life and property from fire, automobile accidents, medical
emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, and other dangerous situations.
B.
The fire companies may also provide nonemergency and public service
functions, such as, again by way of example and not of limitation,
removing water from property after storms, and assisting in the removal,
abatement and prevention of damage or injury to persons or property,
whether through natural causes or man-made situations.
C.
The fire companies may also conduct and participate in such training
activities and drills, either within or outside of the Township, as
may be deemed necessary by the officers of the fire companies to maintain
proficiency in providing service.
D.
The fire companies may also respond to calls and provide services
to municipalities outside of the Township.
E.
The fire companies may recover the cost of equipment necessarily
damaged or destroyed and the cost of fire-extinguishing agents used
or consumed in the course of fighting fires or in the performance
of their authorized duties from the persons, corporations or other
entities for whom the fire company performed its services.
[Added 7-12-1993 by Ord. No. 1993-16]
In addition to actually participating in the activities of the
fire companies as authorized above, or in going to or returning from
any activity, the members of the fire companies recognized by the
Township are also authorized to do the following things:
A.
Engage in any type of drill, training, ceremony, practice, test or
parade when duly called for or authorized by an officer or officers
of the fire companies.
B.
Engage in fund-raising activities for the fire companies, when authorized
by an officer or officers of the fire companies, such as holding or
participating in festivals or carnivals or such other lawful fund-raising
activities as are appropriate for volunteer fire companies and their
members, provided that all funds so raised shall be used solely for
the benefit of the volunteer fire companies.
C.
Engage in the performance of such other duties or activities as are
appropriate for volunteer fire companies and their members and which
have been duly authorized by an officer or officers of the fire companies.
