[Amended in entirety 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-39. History includes Ord. No. 2017-63; Ord. No. 2020-1
[Added 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-39]
As used in this chapter:
Means a member of the Princeton fire department who is a
volunteer and not a member of any of the three fire companies described
below in this article.
Means the office within the department designated to serve
as Princeton's local fire code enforcing agency pursuant to law.
Means a paid member who shall be appointed to serve as the
ranking officer of the department, and the department head responsible
for all fire prevention, fire suppression and protection operations
in the municipality.
Means a member of the Princeton fire department who is a
volunteer and member of one of the following individual three fire
companies: "Princeton Hook and Ladder Company," "Mercer Engine Co.
No. 3" or "Princeton Engine Co. No. 1."
Means a permanent, full-time or part-time, paid employee
of the Princeton fire department, and shall not include an associate
or regular member as defined herein.
Means the fire department of the Municipality of Princeton.
Means the Standard Operating Guidelines of the department.
Shall mean any regular member or associate member.
[Added 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-39]
(a)
The Princeton fire department is hereby established, and continued,
to provide fire protection to the municipality of Princeton and serve
as Princeton's local fire code enforcing agency pursuant to law.
(b)
The department shall consist of volunteer members and career members.
(c)
All volunteer members and career members performing firefighting
responsibilities shall provide fire protection to Princeton, subject
to the general control and management of Princeton. This chapter and
the Princeton fire department standard operating guidelines (SOGs)
shall take precedence over the individual company constitutions, bylaws
and any other rules or guidelines the individual companies may have
in place. Each company within the department shall be entitled to
receive a stipend to be funded through the department budget, upon
the approval of a purchase order by the Princeton administrator.
(d)
The bureau of fire safety shall be within and part of the fire department
and perform duties as the local fire code enforcing agency pursuant
to law, and as more specifically set forth in Chapter 14 of the "Code
of the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, 1974." The bureau of fire
safety shall be comprised of career firefighters as described below
in subsection 8-3(c) and such other personnel as the department and
administrator shall determine necessary.
[Added 12-18-2023 by Ord. No. 2023-39]
(a)
Fire chief.
(1)
The fire chief shall serve as the head of the department and its
ranking officer, and shall be in full charge of the volunteer members
and career members.
(2)
Council shall appoint the fire chief, who shall be qualified as set
forth in this chapter and serve as a career member.
(3)
The chief shall:
a.
Make, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the control,
discipline and disposition of the department and its officers and
all volunteer members and career members;
b.
Have jurisdiction over the control, extinguishment, and prevention
of fires;
c.
In all cases where fire threatens life or damage or destruction of
property within Princeton, take prompt and efficient measures and
use the means of the department to extinguish the fire, and at such
times and occasions have the sole and absolute control and command
over all the fire apparatus and all volunteer members and career members
of the department at such fire; and
d.
Within the appropriations of the annual budget, assign personnel,
maintain the headquarters and acquire and maintain equipment and apparatus.
(4)
The individual appointed to serve as fire chief shall possess the
following minimum qualifications to serve as chief:
a.
Fire Officer I Certification;
b.
Instructor Level I Certification;
c.
Minimum three years as Career Supervisor;
d.
IMS Level III Certification;
e.
ICS 100, 200 and 300 (minimum) Certifications;
f.
Minimum Awareness Level in: Motor Vehicle Extrication, Swiftwater
Rescue, Ice and Confined Space Course; and
g.
CEVO 3 Course Completion.
(b)
Volunteer members.
(1)
There shall be firefighters assigned as available among the ranks
of the regular members and associate members. The firefighters shall
meet all the qualifications and training requirements as set forth
in this chapter and departmental policy.
(2)
There shall be an assistant chief assigned to the entire department
subordinate only to the fire chief and fire official. The fire chief,
with the consent of the administrator, shall appoint the assistant
chief from among the volunteer members. Prior to appointment of the
assistant chief, the fire chief shall consult with the presidents
of the three volunteer fire companies.
(3)
Any additional officers or line officers from among the volunteer
members shall be appointed and serve in accordance with the SOGs,
including but not limited to volunteer captains and lieutenants appointed
by the department.
(c)
Career members.
(1)
In addition to fire chief, the following titles shall be maintained
from among the career members: fire official and firefighter(s). There
shall be one fire official and a sufficient number of firefighters
as determined by council as necessary to serve the department.
(2)
Career members serving as firefighters shall be appointed by council,
in consultation with the fire chief and administrator.
(3)
The fire official shall serve as the head of the bureau of fire safety
and be appointed by council. The fire official shall be under the
direction of the fire chief. The fire official shall have all qualifications
necessary to serve in that capacity as required by applicable law
and regulation, and shall hold the title Fire Official UFD at all
times. The fire official shall also serve as a firefighter, and shall
have the qualifications to serve in that capacity as required in this
chapter. The fire official shall perform such duties as assigned including
those outlined in this subsection and chapter 14 of the "Code of the
Borough of Princeton, New Jersey, 1974."
(4)
Council shall appoint a sufficient number of fire inspectors to perform
the duties and responsibilities of the bureau of fire safety. As of
the effective date of this chapter, all individuals appointed to serve
as fire inspectors shall also be qualified to and serve as firefighters.
Any fire inspectors serving prior to the effective date of this chapter
who do not serve as paid firefighters shall be permitted to maintain
their positions and not be required to serve as firefighters.
(5)
The fire chief and other career members shall receive such compensation
as shall be prescribed by council in the annual salary ordinance.
(d)
Department chain of command.
(1)
The chain of command of the department shall be as follows: upon
the occurrence of an incident, the first arriving officer shall establish
command until a higher ranking officer arrives on the scene. At this
time, the higher ranking officer shall be briefed on the incident
and may become the incident commander. The same procedure shall occur
upon the arrival of each higher ranking officer until the arrival
of the fire chief.
