[HISTORY: Adopted by the Council of the Borough of Milford 7-6-1970 as Ch. 3 of
the Revised General Ordinances. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire protection — See Ch. 14.
Personnel policies — See Ch. 28.
The Fire Department of the Borough of Milford shall consist
of a Chief, three assistants and such engine-, hook- and laddermen
as may be appointed by the Council.
On the recommendation of the firefighters, the Chief and assistants
shall be appointed by the Council, from time to time, in such manner
as they may, by resolution, provide and shall hold office for one
year and until their successors qualify.
No person shall become a member of the Fire Department unless
he is at least 16 years of age, agrees to perform the duties of a
firefighter as prescribed in this chapter and receives a recommendation
by vote of the members of the Department.
The firefighters shall constitute one company and shall be assigned,
from time to time, by the Chief to duty or service on the fire engine,
hook and ladder truck and hose cart or tender. The company shall consist
of as many members as the Council shall, from time to time, appoint.
The company shall nominate and recommend to the Council for appointment
such qualified persons as apply for membership in the company.
Every member of the Fire Department shall receive a membership
card executed and signed by the Clerk and the Mayor and a metallic
badge upon the terms and conditions hereafter specified. The membership
card shall be furnished by the Clerk to the Chief and shall be delivered
by him to the person entitled to receive it. The commencement of the
term of service of each person appointed as a member of the Department
shall be from the date of the delivery to him of the badge and membership
card.
A.
The Chief shall devote his time and attention to the faithful discharge
of the duties of his office. He shall examine, at least once a month
and more often if necessary, the engine house, fire engine, hose and
other fire apparatus, the public hydrants and the water supply and
shall keep in his office a record of the date of the examination and
the condition in which the equipment was found by him. He shall, under
the direction of the Milford Borough Fire Liaison and Chair, superintend
in person and direct all ordinary and necessary repairs to the engine
house, fire engine, hose and other apparatus which may be ordered
to be built or repaired, and he shall certify all accounts for such
work.[1]
B.
He shall keep a record of the names of the officers and members of
the Fire Department and of all appointments, resignations and removals
of the firefighters as they take place from time to time.
C.
Where fire threatens damage to or destruction of property within
the Borough, the Chief shall take prompt and efficient measures and
use the means of the Department to extinguish the fire. He shall,
at such times and on occasions of alarm of fire, have sole and absolute
control and command over all the fire apparatus and members of the
Fire Department and over persons aiding and assisting the Department
in cases of actual fire.
D.
In the absence of the Chief at any fire, the command shall devolve
upon an assistant according to the regulations established for that
purpose by the Department.
E.
On the first Monday of March in each year and at such other times
as the Council shall require or when, in his judgment, the interest
of the Department demands it, the Chief shall report the condition
of the public water supply and hydrants, the engine house and the
fire apparatus and make recommendations he deems necessary.
F.
The Chief shall inquire into all violations of the provisions of
this chapter or of any law of the State of New Jersey relating to
the prevention or extinguishment of fires and shall cause legal proceedings
to be initiated to prevent the continuance of any violations. He shall
investigate the cause of all fires which take place within the Borough.
If the result of the inquiry satisfies him that the fire was incendiary
in origin, he shall report to the Mayor that there are good and sufficient
grounds of presumption that the fire was caused by design, and the
Mayor shall offer a reward that he deems advisable or that the Council
recommends for the discovery and apprehension of the incendiary. The
reward shall be paid on the conviction of the offender.
G.
The Chief shall keep a record of all alarms of fire and of all fires
which occur within the Borough, indicating the cause, a description
of the building or buildings injured or destroyed and the names of
their owners or occupants, as nearly as can be ascertained on careful
and diligent inquiry.
The assistants, when attending fires, shall obey the direction
of the Chief. They shall take proper measures to arrange and use the
fire apparatus in the most advantageous manner for the efficient extinguishment
of fires. The Chief and assistants shall maintain order while members
of the Department are going to, working at or returning from fires
and at all other times when they are on duty.
Whenever a fire breaks out in the Borough, it shall be the duty
of firefighters to report immediately upon the alarm to their fire
company apparatus and accompany the apparatus to the fire unless otherwise
directed by the Chief or an assistant. The firefighters shall manage
the fire apparatus to the best of their ability and, when the fire
is extinguished, shall return the fire apparatus to the engine house
upon direction of the Chief or assistant. A person who is not a firefighter
but who is present at a fire shall be subject to the orders of the
Chief or his assistants or, in their absence, of the Mayor, Milford
Borough Fire Liaison and Chair or members of the Fire Department and
shall act under their direction in extinguishing the fire, preserving
order and removing and protecting property.
The Fire Department may adopt bylaws and regulations for its
government, with the advice and consent of the Council, that it deems
useful and proper in the discharge of its duties.
Any firefighter guilty of misconduct or neglect of his duties
as a firefighter shall be reported by the Chief to the Council and
may be dismissed for such misconduct or neglect of duty. All complaints
made by residents of the Borough to the Chief, Mayor or Council against
firefighters for misconduct or neglect in the performance of their
duties shall be reported to the Council for action. Whenever any report
is made against a firefighter, a full opportunity for a hearing shall
be given to him by the Council, but he may be suspended by the Council
until final action on the complaint.
No engine, hose cart, hook and ladder truck or other machine
or apparatus of the Fire Department shall be taken outside the limits
of the Borough without having first obtained the permission of the
Milford Borough Fire Liaison and Chair, except in cases of a fire
or other emergency or for purposes of a fire drill.
No expenditures of public moneys shall be made by the Fire Department
without obtaining the permission of the Milford Borough Fire Liaison
and Chair, except in an emergency.
All firefighters shall obey all municipal ordinances and state
laws while operating the engines, machines or other apparatus of the
Fire Department.
