[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 1]
There is hereby established a Fire Department for the Borough
of Bristol under the control of the Council and under the direction
of the Mayor as herein provided.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 2]
The said Department shall consist of a Chief, two Assistant
Chiefs, such full-time paid firemen and part paid volunteer firemen
as the Council may from time to time authorize and such volunteer
firemen as may from time to time with the approval of the Council
and subject to the limitations herein provided be elected to active
membership in such volunteer fire companies in the Borough as are
recognized and approved by the Borough.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 3]
The Council shall designate one or more volunteer fire companies
in the Borough as recognized and approved by the Borough and shall
have power at any time to revoke such designation. Such companies
so recognized and approved are hereinafter referred to as "volunteer
fire companies." Such companies shall within 30 days after such designation
by resolution accept the provisions of this Part and agree to comply
with its terms, and if at the expiration of said period any such company
shall have failed to adopt such resolution its designation shall thereupon
become void. The volunteer fire companies recognized and approved
by the Borough shall afford to any companies not so recognized and
approved a reasonable opportunity to consolidate their equipment and
membership with the companies so recognized and approved, to the end
that the volunteer fire companies recognized and approved by the Borough
shall include all of the volunteer firemen of the Borough.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 4]
All active members of the Borough-approved volunteer fire companies
now or hereafter elected shall be members of the Fire Department and
volunteer firemen therein. Provided, that the name of each active
member now or hereafter elected shall be presented by the Secretary
of the company to the Council and his election confirmed by the Council
before he shall become a member of the Fire Department; and, provided
further, that the Council may at any time limit the number of members
of the Fire Department from any or all of the volunteer fire companies.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 5; as amended by Ord. 573, 6/8/1959,
§ 1]
The Chief and two Assistant Chiefs of the Fire Department shall
be appointed by Borough Council, and shall serve at the pleasure of
Borough Council.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 6]
The full-time paid firemen shall be appointed by the Council.
Their compensation shall be fixed from time to time by the Council.
So far as possible the paid firemen shall be appointed from among
those volunteer members of the Fire Department who have demonstrated
especial ability in fighting fires. The part paid volunteer firemen
shall be appointed by the Chief, subject to the approval of the Council
from among the volunteer members of the Fire Department.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 7]
The Council shall from time to time make such rules and regulations
for the government and management of the Fire Department, not inconsistent
with this Part, as it may deem necessary or proper.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 8]
Subject to the rules and regulations of the Council, the Chief,
Assistant Chiefs, full-time paid firemen and part paid volunteer firemen
shall be under the direction of the Mayor, as to the time during which,
the place where, and the manner in which they shall perform their
duties.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 9]
Subject to the rules and regulations of the Council and under
the direction of the Mayor, the Chief shall have full and complete
authority and control over the Fire Department and the members thereof
in the performance of their duties as firemen at fires and elsewhere,
and he shall assign to each member the duties to be performed by him.
It shall be the duty of the Chief to see that all of the apparatus,
equipment and supplies of the Fire Department are at all times in
readiness for instant use, and that the fire houses are maintained
in proper condition. He shall report monthly to the Mayor for transmission
to the Council all accidents and losses caused by fires and the causes
thereof, if known. He shall include in his reports his recommendations
for the regulation and improvement of the Fire Department. The Assistant
Chiefs shall assist the Chief in the performance of his duties and
in his absence shall act as Chief in his place, in the order of their
election.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 10]
The Mayor may, for cause, and without pay, suspend any officer
or paid or part paid member of the Fire Department until the succeeding
regular meeting of the Council, at which time the Council may discharge,
suspend or reinstate such member. The Borough Council may, for cause,
suspend or discharge any member of the Fire Department. Any volunteer
fireman who is expelled from the volunteer fire company of which he
is a member shall be removed from the roll of volunteer members of
the Fire Department.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 11]
All salaries and compensation of members of the Fire Department
and all other expenses of maintaining the Department shall be paid
by the Borough.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 12]
The Fire Department created by this Part shall be the only Fire
Department recognized by the Borough.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 13; as amended by Ord. 1005,
7/14/1986; and by Ord. 1295, 9/9/2013]
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate any provision
of this Part, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Ord. 1/10/1927, § 14]
The rules and regulations adopted by the Council for the government
and management of the Fire Department shall not extend to or regulate
the internal management of the volunteer fire companies in their corporate,
financial, social or other non firefighting activities.
[Ord. 515, 8/13/1956; as amended by Ord. 1005, 7/14/1986;
and by Ord. 1295, 9/9/2013]
It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with any rope
or other barrier placed by authority of the Fire Chief or other person
in authority at any fire within the Borough of Bristol, or for any
person to refuse to leave the enclosed space at any fire when ordered
to do so by the Fire Chief or other person in authority, or for any
person to refuse to obey any lawful order of the Fire Chief or other
person in authority. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions
of this section, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a magisterial district judge in the manner provided for the enforcement
of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure,
shall be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $1,000 plus costs
and, in default of payment of said fine and costs, to a term of imprisonment
not to exceed 90 days. Each day that a violation of this Part continues
or each section of this Part which shall be found to have been violated
shall constitute a separate offense.
[Res. 2/10/1958, § 1]
1. The duties of paid members of the Fire Department of the Borough
of Bristol are hereby defined as follows:
A. Under the supervision and control of the Mayor and the Chief of the
Department (and subordinate officers properly designated), to do and
perform any and all lawful work in the preventing and combatting of
fires, maintenance of fire equipment, aid and rescue work, and the
like, as well as assistance in any and all disasters.
B. Under the supervision and control of the Borough Manager, at such
times and in such manner as will not cause any substantial interference
with the performance of duties under paragraph .A above, any and all
routine housekeeping and maintenance duties in and about the fire
station and municipal building and grounds, including cleaning and
maintaining windows, walls and floors, painting, snow removal, upkeep
of grounds and the like.
[Ord. 909, 6/12/1978]
The Office of Fire Marshal of the Borough of Bristol is hereby
established. The Fire Marshal duties shall consist of the investigation
of fire occurring within the Borough of Bristol and the preparation
of reports and supporting documentation concerning such fires. In
addition, the Fire Marshal shall participate in fire prevention educational
programs. The Fire Marshal shall operate at all times under the direct
supervision of the Fire Chief of the Borough of Bristol or under the
supervision of the Assistant Fire Chief if the Fire Chief is not available.
The Fire Marshall shall be appointed by the Borough Council and shall
serve at the pleasure of Borough Council.