[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
The Phoenixville Fire Department is a department within the municipal government of the Borough of Phoenixville established pursuant to Section 1202 of the Pennsylvania Borough Code, 8 Pa.C.S.A. § 1202, as amended. The Department, under the supervision of the Chief, shall use a combination of the services provided by volunteers as set forth in § 7-302 and career personnel to provide fire prevention/suppression and emergency medical services, which combination shall be at the discretion of the Chief. The Department is responsible for providing emergency services within the Borough.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
1. 
Phoenix Hose, Hook & Ladder Co., No. 1 is the Company chartered in the Borough and authorized to provide emergency services in the Borough and recognized as the official Company of the Borough.
2. 
Notwithstanding the Borough's right to establish minimum requirements and administrative guidelines for any volunteer providing emergency services within the Borough, the Company establishes and controls its own bylaws, membership requirements, policies or procedures, officers, discipline, service or training requirements, and other rules or regulations established by the Company.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
Any volunteer fire company or emergency services provider, as a precondition to its operation in the Department, shall enter into an agreement with the Borough, which agreement shall implement the terms and intent of this chapter. The agreement shall be in writing and subject to Borough Council approval.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
1. 
The career personnel include the Chief and other officers as may be determined and approved by Borough Council and not subject to Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations.
2. 
Captains, Lieutenants, and any career personnel other than those identified in § 7-304, Subsection 1, above, shall be working supervisors and subject to Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations.
3. 
The Department career personnel shall consist of no less than two employee firefighters, which two employee firefighters shall not be subject to the Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations.
4. 
In its sole discretion, Borough Council may hire a third or more employee firefighter (2) as Department career personnel to, which Borough Council shall approve by formal action at a public meeting. Such third or more employee firefighter(s) shall be subjected to Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
1. 
The Department, under the supervision of the Chief, shall provide emergency medical services through its career personnel (full-time and part-time). The personnel providing emergency medical services are required to meet minimum requirements and administrative guidelines recommended by the Chief and promulgated by the Borough Manager.
A. 
The Department shall provide Basic Life Support (BLS) Quick Response Service within the Borough of Phoenixville.
B. 
The Department shall provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) services within the Borough of Phoenixville.
C. 
The Department may provide mutual aid BLS and/or ALS services to neighboring municipalities.
D. 
The Department shall provide BLS and/or ALS services within the Borough of Phoenixville by either:
(1) 
Contracting with a BLS and/or ALS service provider through an agreement.
(2) 
Designating the Department as a BLS and/or ALS service provider.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
1. 
Department Personnel's Authority Involving an Emergency Incident. When the Department is responding to and/or engaged in an emergency incident, Department personnel, when displaying their badge and/or wearing equipment identifying them as Department personnel, shall have the right-of-way and authority to control access to and movement around the incident scene as they determine necessary to protect property and public safety, and to facilitate safe and efficient Department, police and emergency service operations in connection with the incident.
2. 
Unlawful Interference with Department Operations. No person shall interfere or allow interference, in any way, with any Department personnel and/or equipment engaged in and/or responding to an emergency incident. No person, without proper authority and/or authorization, shall cross any fire line or enter the area of Department operations at an emergency incident. No person shall disobey the proper order of any Department personnel when such order is issued in connection with an emergency incident.
3. 
Fines and Penalties. Any person who violates the provisions of this § 7-306, upon conviction thereof, shall be subject to a fine of up to $600 and costs of prosecution, and in default of payment of such fines and costs, to imprisonment for not more than 10 days.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
The Department and, to the extent that the Borough in conjunction with the Department elects to contract or otherwise have service agreements with non-Department organizations for the provision of related services, contracted non-Department service emergency service providers, including but not limited to emergency medical service (EMS), dive rescue and water recovery or other operations, are all hereby authorized to recover the reasonable cost of firefighting materials, hazardous abatement equipment and abatement materials involved in any hazardous materials incident, environmental incident or safety and rescue incident or operation, including vehicular accidents from the property owner and/or person(s) causing the need for such emergency services, as authorized by law. In addition to the aforementioned reasonable costs, such Department or non-Department organizations shall be authorized to collect reasonable interest as well as a reasonable administrative fee for collecting the same and any and all additional fees authorized by any statute, case law or common law.
[Ord. No. 2022-2356, 11/1/2022]
The Fire Department will be subject to the control and direction of the Borough Manager in accordance with Chapter 1, § 1-206, of the Code of Ordinances of the Borough of Phoenixville.