[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township of Spring 2-25-2002 by Ord. No. 279; amended in its entirety 6-11-2012 by Ord. No. 393 (Ch. IX, Part 3, of the 2013 Code of Ordinances). Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The purpose of this chapter is to establish and recognize the Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services (the "Fire Rescue Service"), comprised of the Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services and the Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association of the Township of Spring as the official fire rescue service of the Township, created by the merger of the Lincoln Park Fire Company, Community Fire Co. of Vinemont, West Wyomissing Fire Department Firefighters, Inc. and West Lawn Fire Company No. 1; to provide for the governance and command structure of the Fire Rescue Service, to set forth authorized activities of the Fire Rescue Service and its members and employees and to provide for appropriations to the Fire Rescue Service.
The Township hereby creates the Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services, having an address at 2301 Monroe Avenue, West Lawn, Pennsylvania 19609. Attention: Fire Chief, and establishes the same as the officially recognized provider of firefighting, rescue, emergency medical services quick response and fire protection services in the Township following a chain of command as specified in the Fire Rescue Standard Operating Procedures. No other organization(s) dedicated to the fighting of fires, rescue services and/or the provisions of fire protection services are authorized to operate in the Township, except for those operating under a mutual aid agreement or other similar agreements for the provision of said services or otherwise authorized by state or federal law.
A. 
The following former fire companies are recognized as the Legacy and Charter members of the Fire Rescue Service:
(1) 
Lincoln Park Fire Company.
(2) 
Community Fire Co. of Vinemont.
(3) 
West Wyomissing Fire Department Firefighters, Inc.
(4) 
West Lawn Fire Company No. 1.
B. 
Each one of the above companies has served as an integral part of the consolidated firefighting entity to be now known as the "Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services."
[Amended 10-26-2015 by Ord. No. 417; at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
The Fire Rescue Service shall be governed by a command structure as set forth in the "Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services Standard Operating Procedures," as hereafter amended from time to time:
A. 
Fire Rescue Service shall be managed, directed and supervised by the Fire Chief (the "Fire Chief"), who shall be appointed by the Township Board of Supervisors. Except for non-operational, administrative matters, for which the Fire Chief shall report to the Township Manager, the Fire Chief shall report directly to the Board of Supervisors.
B. 
The Deputy Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Township Board of Supervisors, and shall perform the duties as assigned by the Fire Chief.
C. 
The Fire Chief may appoint other officers as needed to assist with management of fire rescue operations.
The Fire Rescue Service is hereby authorized to provide:
A. 
Such services to the Township as may be necessary for the protection of property and persons situate therein, which include, but are not limited to, extinguishment and prevention of personal injury and death from fire, protection of property from damage and/or destruction by fire, response to motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents and other dangerous situations.
B. 
Nonemergency and public service functions, including, but not limited to, water removal from properties after storms, and assistance in the removal, abatement and/or prevention of damage or injury to persons or property, whether due to natural causes or man-made situations.
C. 
To conduct and participate in such training activities or drills, either within the Township or outside of the Township, as may be deemed necessary by the Fire Chief and his staff to maintain proficiency in providing service.
D. 
The Fire Rescue Service may respond to calls and provide services to municipalities outside of the Township as set forth in applicable mutual aid agreements and/or intergovernmental cooperation agreements, contracts for providing services and/or in response to requests for emergency services.
The rules and regulations of the Fire Rescue Service shall be those contained in the "Township of Spring Fire Rescue Services Standard Operating Procedures," as hereafter amended from time to time, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference as though the same were set forth at length.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
All resources necessary for the maintenance and operation of the Fire Rescue Service in the Township shall be determined and allocated by the Township Board of Supervisors, upon recommendation of the Manager and Fire Chief. The foregoing provisions relating to allocation of resources for the benefit of the Fire Rescue Service shall not include monies paid by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to the Township and which are exclusively reserved and dedicated for the use and benefit of the Volunteer Firefighters Relief Association of the Township of Spring.
If any sentence, clause, or section of this chapter is for any reason found to be unconstitutional, illegal or invalid, such unconstitutionality, illegality or invalidity shall not affect or impair any of the remaining provisions, sentences, clauses or sections of this chapter. It is hereby declared as the intent of the Board of Supervisors that this chapter would have been adopted had such unconstitutional, illegal or invalid sentence, clause, or section thereof not been included herein.