Services shall be reimbursable whenever a Fire Department vehicle and equipment respond to an emergency rescue incident. Said emergency shall include, but not be limited to, a motor vehicle accident, hazardous material spill or technical rescue incident. Emergency services provided shall include, but not be limited to, extrication by the use of any specialized equipment. Fees for incidents involve multiple vehicles shall be established on a per-vehicle basis.
Any recipient of services herein specified shall provide the Fire Department with his or her name, address and telephone number, as well as the name, address and telephone number of his or her insurance carrier, if applicable.
A.
The Fire Department response to rescue shall be reimbursed as follows:
(1)
Light rescue: $314.
(a)
Operations such as stabilizations, use of hand tools, hazard control and other related light rescue.
(2)
Medium Rescue: $629.
(a)
Operations include the use of power tools and hydraulic rescue tools to perform activities such as opening or removing doors to provide access to patients as well as stabilizing vehicles and performing hazardous assessment.
(3)
Heavy rescue: $1,259.
(a)
Operations include any technical rescue procedures, including but not limited to water and ice rescue, rope rescue, confined space rescue, high-angle rescue, trench rescue or structural collapse rescue. Motor vehicle rescue that includes the use of power tools and hydraulic tools to perform operations such as partial or full roof removal, front/dash displacement, third door access and separating vehicles from one another.
(4)
Technical rescue: There shall be a fee charged for any technical rescue response. Technical rescue includes rope rescue, trench rescue, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue, and water rescue. Fees for technical rescue services shall be calculated using the following guidelines.
[Added 6-25-2019 by Ord. No. 2019-44]
(a)
Manpower. All manpower fees shall be figured on a per person rate based on that responders assigned position.
[1]
Chief: Contracted salary rate figured at an overtime rate of 1 1/2 times the hourly rate.
[2]
Officers: Top contracted salary figured at an overtime rate of 1 1/2 times the hourly rate.
[3]
Firefighters: Top contracted salary rate figured at an overtime rate of 1 1/2 times the hourly rate.
[4]
Emergency medical technician: Top contracted salary rate figured at an overtime rate of 1 1/2 times the hourly rate.
(c)
Equipment. A fee shall be charged at replacement cost plus 10% for any damaged equipment or equipment that has to be placed out of service after an incident.
(d)
Contracted services. A fee shall be charged for permit-required confined space rescue/recovery operations and standby services. Any municipality or industrial business that operates or has the potential to operate in permit-required confined spaces shall be assessed an annual service fee as described below.
B.
As per Ordinance No. 2001-41 the above fees will increase 3% annually.
The Fire Department and Comptroller's Office shall establish a third-party billing program to collect the aforesaid fees. Any applicable charges for rescue services rendered to a person shall be billed to said person and/or said person's insurance carrier.
The Fire Department has the duty to rescues, notwithstanding the ability to pay or lack of insurance of the recipient of said rescue services. The Fire Department shall not refuse nor delay any emergency service to any person, firm, organization or company based on the ability to pay or lack of insurance.