Township of Cranford, NJ Article I Establishment, Organization and Administration

§ 40-1 Department established; composition.

The Fire Department of the Township as heretofore established is hereby reestablished and shall consist of:

A. Paid fire personnel.

B. Volunteer or call fire personnel.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Original § 28-2, Department under control of Commissioner appointed by Township Committee, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 11-29-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-24.

§ 40-2 Number of personnel.

The paid and volunteer personnel of the Fire Department shall consist of as many officers and members as may be provided for in the annual Township budget.

§ 40-3 Appointments and promotions.

All appointments and promotions within the Fire Department shall be made by resolution of the Township Committee.

§ 40-4 Rank of personnel. [1]

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35; 11-29-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-24]

Regular firefighters shall rank as follows:

A. Chief.

B. Battalion Chief.

C. Administrative Lieutenant.

D. Lieutenant.

E. Firefighter.

[1] Editor's Note: Throughout this chapter, "fireman" and "firemen" were amended to "firefighter" and "firefighters," respectively, at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

§ 40-5 Duties of Chief.

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35; 11-29-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-24]

The duties of the Chief shall be to:

A. Respond to and effectively direct the extinction of fires and prevent unnecessary damage by fire or water.

B. Prescribe the duties and assignments of all members and officers.

C. Summarily suspend any member of the Fire Department for flagrant violations of ordinances, statutes or rules and regulations of the Fire Department pending charges pursuant to the provisions of § 40-11 and the rules and regulations of the Fire Department.

D. Give general supervision to fire prevention regulation and compliance therewith throughout the Township and possess and maintain all licenses so requested by the State of New Jersey, including Fire Protection Inspector and Fire Inspector.

E. Ensure the preservation and readiness of all the Department's equipment, apparatus and supplies and submit an annual inventory thereof as of December 31 of each year.

F. Make a record of all fires to which called, including the place, origin, character and estimated value of property destroyed, and submit monthly and annual reports of the same to the Township.

G. Keep abreast of developments in the field of fire prevention and firefighting and initiate and supervise meetings, drills and instruction of Department personnel.

H. Prepare and publish standing orders and regulations and routines governing the Department, including standards for uniforms.

I. Investigate and examine all applicants for appointment to the Department.

J. Recommend to the Township Committee desirable changes and additions to the material or personnel of the Department.

K. Have general cognizance over fire hydrants, their situation, condition, tests and service rendered by the water company.

L. Post in advance schedules of duty assignments and vacation periods.

M. Keep a true and detailed record of the response to fires of call firefighters and submit such record with his certification of the amount of pay due each of such firefighters at the end of each calendar year. In addition to general alarms, credit shall be given to call firefighters for still alarms and for attendance at drills, parades and change of hose and for special duties directed by the Chief.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. II).

N. Recommend personnel for promotion and appointment to duty commensurate with the interests of the Fire Department.

§ 40-6 Superior officer to act in absence of Chief.

In the absence of the Chief of Fire, his duties shall devolve upon the superior officer appointed by the Chief of Fire.

§ 40-7 Battalion Chief.

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35]

A. The duties of Battalion Chief shall be to:

(1) Preserve order and discipline and enforce strict compliance with the rules and regulations of the Department and the orders of the Chief.

(2) Ensure that the apparatus committed to his care and the firehouse and all articles in or belonging to the same are kept neat, clean, sanitary and in order for immediate use.

(3) Make every effort to improve his knowledge and techniques with respect to fire prevention, firefighting and first aid.

(4) Implement an active comprehensive training program reviewed and approved by the Chief of the Fire Department, including pre-fire planning of local hazards, evaluation of operations, attention to the water supply system, administration of personnel matters and all other areas of concern assigned to him by the Chief of the Fire Department.

(5) Have full knowledge of the various reports, policies, systems, methods and goals of the Department.

(6) Understand the reason for evaluations of personnel and implement the evaluations in an impartial and professional manner and work to effect improved performance of all personnel in his charge and to maintain a high level of morale and commitment to the Fire Department.

(7) Serve as safety officer at all times and eliminate all unnecessary hazards from the environments in which his personnel function.

(8) Subject to direction from higher command, have control of all personnel, including off-duty Battalion Chief on call-back, all Lieutenants and all paid and call firefighters under his command at all emergencies and, further, shall have complete charge of company fire headquarters or such other quarters to which he may be assigned.

B. In the absence of the Chief or an Acting Chief, the Battalion Chief on duty shall assume all of the responsibilities of the Chief when in charge of the operations of the Department.

§ 40-8 Lieutenants.

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35]

Fire Lieutenants shall perform the following duties:

A. They shall have control of all members under their command and have complete charge of company fire headquarters or such other quarters to which they may be assigned.

B. When situations arise where, in the judgment of the Lieutenant when acting as Battalion Chief or in command of his platoon or members detailed thereto, the presence or advice of his superiors is necessary or desirable, the Lieutenant shall immediately notify such superior.

C. Lieutenants, when in command of the company, shall be guided by all of the rules and regulations specified for Battalion Chiefs in the current rules and regulations of the Fire Department.

D. In addition to the foregoing, Lieutenants shall perform such duties as may be prescribed by general orders, administrative policies or other directives of the Chief of the Fire Department.

§ 40-9 Firefighters.

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35]

The duties of firefighters shall be to:

A. Make prompt and willing response to the orders of their superior officers.

B. Give strict attention to their assigned duties.

C. Conduct themselves at all times with decorum.

D. Adhere strictly to the provisions of this article and of such rules and regulations as are duly issued by the Chief under the authority conferred upon him by this chapter.

E. Devote themselves to study and improvement in all aspects of the fire-fighting profession.

§ 40-10 Uniform and protective clothing; taking apparatus outside corporate limits.

[Amended 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35; 11-29-2016 by Ord. No. 2016-24]

A. The uniform of all members of the Fire Department shall consist of a coat, pants, shirt, service hat, fatigue cap, overcoat, NFPA-approved turnout gear and badge. These shall be of uniform color and weight and designed as prescribed by the Chief.

B. The Chief shall procure and issue to personnel such articles of uniform as may, in his opinion, be necessary and within the limit or amount prescribed by the annual budget for paid and call members respectively.

C. Members shall wear their uniforms at such times and occasions and in such manner as may be prescribed by the Chief.

D. No apparatus shall be taken beyond the corporate limits of the Township without expressed orders from the Chief or, in the absence of the latter, from the Battalion Chief on duty.

§ 40-11 Rules and regulations.

A. The Chief of Fire, subject to the approval of the Township Committee, shall promulgate and from time to time review and enforce the rules and regulations which shall constitute a manual of fire discipline, practice and procedures for the better administration of the work of the Fire Department and for the discipline, training and efficiency of the Fire Department.

B. The Fire Department's rules and regulations and the amendments and supplements thereto are hereby adopted by this reference and made a part of this chapter with the same force and effect as though set forth in full herein.[1]

[1] Editor's Note: The Fire Department Fire Manual, adopted 11-24-2015 by Ord. No. 2015-35, as amended, is on file at the Township offices.

§ 40-12 Suspensions.

The Chief of the Fire Department is hereby given authority to suspend any member of the Department who shall willfully disobey any provision of this article or any rule or regulation of the Fire Department or commit such action as, in the opinion of the Chief, adversely impacts upon the Department, pending trial on charges in accordance with the provisions of law.