[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough of Oaklyn 3-8-2022 by Ord. No. 3-22. Amendments noted where applicable.]
There is hereby authorized and established the Borough Fire Department which shall be a volunteer company within the Borough exclusively authorized to engage in firefighting activities within the Borough.
The location of the Borough Fire Department shall be 221 West Clinton Avenue, Oaklyn, New Jersey 08107.
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Borough Fire Department unless said individual is at least the age of 18 years, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Borough and/or of any municipality with a contiguous border, and of good moral character. Said person shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a firefighter evidenced by a certificate of physical examination from a licensed New Jersey practicing physician. New members shall be admitted in accordance with bylaws adopted by the Borough Fire Department. The Borough Council may review and approve exceptions at the recommendation of the Oaklyn Fire Department.
Every person seeking to join the Borough Fire Department shall make application to the Borough, through the Borough clerk, to join the Borough Fire Department. Approval of said applicant's membership by the Borough Council shall be required and thereafter his/her name shall be entered on a roll of firefighters maintained by the Borough Clerk.
A. 
Within the Borough Fire Department, there shall be the position of Chief and there shall be an Assistant Chief. The initial appointment of the Chief shall be made by the Director of Public Safety. After appointment, the Chief shall appoint an Assistant Chief subject to approval by the Borough Council. Within 45 days of appointment, the members shall appoint other officers deemed required for the efficient management of the department subject to final approval by the Director of Public Safety. No appointment made by the Chief or members shall be deemed effective until approval by resolution of the Council. The initial terms of all officers shall expire two years from December 31 next following their appointment. Appointment of officers thereafter shall be in the following manner: on or before December 1 in the year prior to the expiration officers' terms, the list of appointed officers by the Fire Chief and the names of officers selected will be forwarded to the Borough Council no later than December 15 of that year.
B. 
Each and every officer of the Borough Fire Department may be removed by majority vote of the Borough Council, for good cause, after being given appropriate notice and opportunity for a public hearing consistent with the laws of the state and the Borough.
The equipment of the Borough Fire Department shall be such as may from time to time be acquired and determined by the Borough Council, in their opinion, to be proper for the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the Borough.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief of the Borough Fire Department to take full command and control of all Borough fire apparatus at all fires, or in going to or returning from the same, and to give directions and provide leadership. He/she shall have sole and entire command of fires and alarms and over all members of the company, apparatus and equipment belonging to the same and any persons aiding or assisting at fires and drills. He/she shall order the department out for drill or inspection at such reasonable time and place as he/she may designate and whenever he/she may deem it to be necessary for the efficiency of the department.
It shall be the duty of the firefighters to operate all equipment, defend and endeavor to save life and property from fire in the Borough, and defend elsewhere when an occasion should arise and to properly clean and repair all equipment to the best of their ability.
In the case of a fire alarm or scheduled drill, in the absence or disability of the Fire Chief, the next ranking officer shall assume command and have the responsibilities of the Fire Chief at that time.
The Fire Chief shall prepare and submit to the Borough Council, for its regular meeting each month, a report. This shall include fire alarms, fire drills, the value of property involved, the amount of loss and also the name, rank and address of any officer or firefighter injured in the line of duty, including the date, time and place of his/her condition. In reports of mutual aid calls, the value of buildings and loss are not required.
A. 
Established. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95, there is hereby established an auxiliary to the Borough Volunteer Fire Department, to be known as the "junior firefighter's auxiliary."
B. 
Eligibility; permission required. No person shall be eligible for membership in the junior firefighter's auxiliary who is less than 16 or more than 18 years of age. Applicants for membership shall be required to obtain permission to join the auxiliary from their parents or guardians. Such permission shall be in writing and acknowledged or proved in the manner required by law for deeds to real estate.
C. 
Membership limited. The maximum limit of members of the auxiliary shall be 20 for the Fire Department at any given period.
D. 
Application; probationary period. All applicants to the auxiliary must present a duly executed application form, and said applicant shall not be approved until after acceptance by the Fire Department and subsequently by the governing body of the municipality. After the applicant has been approved for membership in the auxiliary, he/she shall be placed upon a six-month probationary period, during which time he/she shall be observed by appropriate members of the Fire Department for his/her interest, activity and behavior. Before being given permanent status in said auxiliary, the Fire Department shall review the report of the probationary period.
E. 
Medical examinations. All applicants must have properly certified medical examinations, including chest x-rays, prior to their acceptance into the probationary period.
F. 
Training requirements. The rules and regulations for the training of the auxiliary shall be as set forth in the state safety basic training manual. The training subjects to be covered are as follows:
(1) 
Oil burners and electrical services.
(2) 
Resuscitators and inhalators.
(3) 
Portable hand tools.
(4) 
Basic first aid.
(5) 
Scott and M.S.A. air packs.
(6) 
Application of fire streams.
(7) 
Driver's education for those at least 17 years of age.
(8) 
Proper nozzles.
(9) 
Hose laying and advancing.
(10) 
Portable hand extinguishers.
(11) 
Ventilators and ladders.
(12) 
Fire-pump operations.
G. 
Duties.
(1) 
Junior auxiliary members will be educated, drilled, and observed for appropriate firefighter knowledge and upon demonstration of proficiency in skills will be permitted to respond and operate at emergency scenes under supervision.
(2) 
No junior firefighter shall be required to perform duties which would expose him/her to the same degree of hazard as a regular member of the volunteer Fire Department.