A.
The fire departments are hereby authorized and directed, by their officers and authorized representatives, to ascertain what insurance coverages may be applicable and available under any given circumstance, and to take all necessary and affirmative steps to apply for and receive reimbursement from any insurance carriers where a property owner and/or vehicle owner/operator is or may be insured to reimburse the fire departments for any cost and/or expense incurred for services, supplies, and/or equipment used for or provided to the property owner, and/or the vehicle owner/operator by the fire departments.
B.
Under no circumstances shall any property owner within the Township ever receive a bill from the fire departments for fire protection or other services provided by the fire departments except in cases of multiple false alarms and fires intentionally set by the property owner.
C.
This chapter shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose to compensate and/or reimburse the fire departments from insurance proceeds only for costs and/or expenses incurred while providing service.
D.
The Township authorizes the fire departments to recover the costs including, but not limited to, firefighting, vehicle rescue, and material used and expended; the costs of the use of the fire apparatus, squad rescue equipment and tankers; the costs of hazardous situation abatement material involving any fire, safety, and rescue incidents; or operation and hazardous abatement incidents, including vehicular accidents, fires, and environmental incidents within the Township or any other area in which the fire departments are in agreement with to provide such services.
E.
The reimbursement rates for the aforementioned tools, equipment, and materials shall be set by the fire departments from time to time and shall be only applied to the recovery of costs arising out of incidents that occurred subsequent to the setting of rates. The rates shall be kept on file in the Township Building.
F.
The costs and fees shall be recovered directly by the fire departments by direct billing of fire departments or by an attorney, collection service, or agency contracted with by the fire departments. The fire departments shall also be authorized to collect the costs and fees associated with any attorney or collection service or agency contracted with by the fire departments, and the fire departments shall be authorized to collect the reasonable interest and administration fees for collecting the costs and fees.
G.
In the event that any insurance carrier fails to pay any bill or invoice within 30 days of the mailing or delivery of such notice of charges, the fire departments or any attorney or agency contracted with by the fire departments who mailed or delivered the bill or invoice may enforce the provisions of this chapter by filing a civil action of law in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of any amount due to the fire departments together with statutory interest, court costs, collection fees, and reasonable attorney's fees. The remedies provided herein shall be in addition to any other relief, remedies, or penalties that may be appropriate or provided by law.
H.
The Township shall not be responsible for any aspect of the recovery of costs under this chapter.