[Amended 12-28-1970; 11-3-1977 by Ord. No. 12-1977; 12-28-1989 by Ord. No. 10-1989; 8-19-1991 by Ord. No. 14-1991; 10-7-1993 by Ord. No. 34-1993; 11-4-1993 by Ord. No. 36-1993; 3-21-1994 by Ord. No. 6-1994; 4-7-1994 by Ord. No. 4-1994; 2-3-2000 by Ord. No. 2-2000; 4-4-2002 by Ord. No. 6-2002; 6-5-2003 by Ord. No. 14-2003; 5-30-2024 by Ord. No. O13-2024]
There shall be established in the City of Gloucester City a Fire Department. This Department shall, in accordance with this article of the Administrative Code and in compliance with all pertinent statutes, rules and regulations governing municipal Fire Departments, be responsible:
A. 
To enact policies and procedures to prevent, extinguish, and control fire and hazardous conditions.
B. 
To enact and enforce policies and procedures to identify and rectify circumstances that may be related to the ability to prevent, extinguish and control fires and hazardous conditions.
C. 
To enact policies and procedures to rescue, safeguard and educate the public as to prevention, extinguishment and control of fire and hazardous conditions.
D. 
To enact policies and procedures to issue violations to correct circumstances that hinder the Department in the prevention, extinguishment and control of fire and hazardous conditions and to create billing procedures for the collection of funds for the provision of services or violations.
The Gloucester City Fire Department shall consist of a minimum of one station and be geographically located as listed below:
A. 
At least one station shall be located to provide for efficient response to all portions within the City Limits.
B. 
Any other station as may be available shall be located where possible and be subject to the conditions of this ordinance.
A. 
There shall be a Director of Fire appointed by the Common Council in accordance with the rules and regulations of the City of Gloucester City. The Director shall be the ranking officer of the Department and will also be in full charge of the Fire Department. The Director shall make, administer, and enforce rules and regulations for the control, discipline and disposition of the Department and its officers and employees. He shall have exclusive jurisdiction of the control, extinguishment, and prevention of fires. He shall, within the appropriations of the annual budget, assign personnel, maintain the headquarters and acquire and maintain equipment and apparatus.
B. 
There shall be a Fire and Emergency Medical Services staffed with sufficient personnel to safely operate under the terms of this ordinance and departmental standard operating procedures. All personnel shall be appointed by the Council in accordance with the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel including the provision that each fire fighter shall have and maintain a valid emergency medical technician certification to be appointed and remain a member of the Department. There shall be an amount of personnel as authorized by this ordinance and limited annually only by the appropriations of the final adopted budget of the City.
(1) 
There shall be four supervisory officers, if eligible and appointed through the promotional procedures of the New Jersey Department of Personnel. These shall be in the title of Battalion Chief. At those times when there are no eligible employees to be permanently promoted to Battalion Chief, an employee meeting the requirements and appointed to the position of Fire Lieutenant shall serve in this position until such time as a promotion to Battalion Chief shall be available. The supervisory officer shall be the shift supervisor and have full responsibility for all personnel, for the purpose of daily operations of the Department. The supervisory officers shall be in command behind the Director of the Department as specified in the hierarchy section of this ordinance.
(2) 
There shall be a fire fighter appointed to a title as set by the New Jersey Department of Personnel as the EMS Training Officer, who shall be certified as required by the New Jersey Department of Health. This staff position reports to the Supervisory Officer for fire operations.
(3) 
The following titles shall be maintained within the career service division:
(a) 
Fire fighter.
(b) 
Fire Prevention Specialist UFD.
(c) 
Fire Lieutenant.
(d) 
Battalion Chief.
(e) 
Deputy Fire Chief.
(f) 
Director of Fire.
C. 
There shall be a Division of Emergency Management. Council shall make the appointment according to the terms of this ordinance, the City Code and in consultation with the Director of Fire and pursuant to the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel. The employee shall, in a timely manner acquire and maintain all certifications and training certificates as specified under the State of New Jersey regulations in a timely manner. The EMC shall report to the Director of Fire on all fire duties and the Mayor and Common Council or New Jersey State Police, through the designated procedures.
(1) 
The EMC shall coordinate investigations and emergency responses to situations that have the potential to become environmental/health hazards to the City and perform related emergency prevention work.
(2) 
The EMC shall plan, organize and develop varied emergency management programs and procedures within the municipality and perform related work as required.
(3) 
The EMC shall assist with directing and integrating the practice exercises of the municipality with that of the County and State Emergency Management organizations.
(4) 
The EMC shall manage the environmental cleanup activities through the City and represent the City on environmental issues.
(5) 
The EMC shall manage the Emergency Operations Center and coordinate all agencies involved in the abatement of an incident, whether caused by nature, chemicals or some other disaster.
(6) 
The EMC shall maintain and update all annexes to the City Emergency Management Plan and be the liaison between the City and the County, State, and Federal FEMA representatives.
There shall be in the Department a Division of Fire Prevention. This office shall be manned by a Fire Prevention Specialist UFD who shall serve under the direction of the Director of Fire and perform such duties as assigned, including those outlined in this section and as a fire fighter under the command established in this ordinance.
A. 
Staffing:
(1) 
The appointment to this position shall be made by the Common Council under the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel.
(2) 
The employee in this position shall maintain all requirements remain a career fire fighter in Gloucester City as well as the licensing required to perform such life, safety and inspection duties required under the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs.
B. 
Duties:
(1) 
Under the direction of the Director of the Department, perform all inspections as required in the Uniform Fire Code of New Jersey (N.J.A.C. 5) as Life Hazard Uses and Non-Life Hazard Uses.
(2) 
Perform all inspections as encoded in the local fire prevention standards per Chapter 48 of the ordinances of the City of Gloucester City.
(3) 
Establish and implement programs for the instruction and investigation of business establishments in fire safety practice.
(4) 
Report findings and violations to the Fire Official, detailing infractions and recommendations.
(5) 
Coordinate and take reports from fire fighters conducting neighborhood inspections to issue violations and/or recommendations to situations found during block inspections.
(6) 
Maintain files of inspections and findings.
(7) 
Coordinate and implement programs with schools, business organizations, and civic organizations to promote fire awareness and safety, including participation in scheduling and reviewing fire drills and demonstration of proper utilization of equipment and procedures.
(8) 
Coordinate with the Emergency Management Coordinator to establish and conduct tests of emergency awareness programs.
(9) 
Perform special duties at events where congregations of people may dictate special arrangements.
(10) 
Inspect fire hydrants or coordinate inspections with fire fighters and utility division.
(11) 
Perform as a fire fighter or Emergency Medical Technician where needed in response to alarms.
(12) 
Perform other various tasks as may be directed by the Director of Fire in conformance with the description of this title.
A. 
The chain of command of the Gloucester City Fire 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, he shall be briefed on the incident and will become the incident commander. The same procedure shall occur upon the arrival of each higher ranking officer until the arrival of the Director of the Fire Department.
B. 
The following shall be the hierarchy for the Department during fire suppression activities: The chain of command of the Gloucester City Fire 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, he shall be briefed on the incident and will become the incident commander. The same procedure shall occur upon the arrival of each higher ranking officer until the arrival of the Director of the Fire Department.
C. 
The following shall be the hierarchy for the Department during fire suppression activities:
(1) 
Director of Fire.
(2) 
Deputy Fire Chief.
(3) 
Battalion Fire Chief.
(4) 
Captain.
(5) 
Lieutenant.
(6) 
Fire Prevention Specialist UFD (career).
(7) 
Fire fighter (career).
Members of the Gloucester City Fire Department and all staff positions established by this ordinance shall be subject to the orders and administration of the Director of Fire.
A. 
The Director of Fire shall have the power to take disciplinary action after a review of the infraction or violation of this ordinance, the City's Personnel Policy as provided in accordance with the standard operating procedures and/or any departmental policies. The Career employees shall be disciplined in accordance with the regulations of the New Jersey Department of Personnel and any pertinent contractual provisions. The Fire Committee of the Common Council shall have the right to hear any appeal of action taken by the Director of Fire.
Any apparatus, equipment or gear in need of repair or maintenance shall be reported to the on-duty ranking officer for action. The ranking officer shall take action in accordance with departmental policies. Certain responsibilities may be assigned by the Director of Fire to maintain an effective and efficient policy on the maintenance of departmental property.
Any member having completed 20 years of service to the Department, who is in good standing, may be presented for life membership. This shall include the recommendation of the Director of Fire. The Fire Committee and the Chief shall review all other cases. Once approved, the Council may pass a resolution declaring the life member status of the person presented.
A. 
The Deputy Fire Chief shall be the Departmental Training Officer. Training Instructors may be appointed from the ranks of the employees of the Department. The Training Officer shall coordinate all training and be assisted by other department personnel.
B. 
All EMS training shall be handled by the FF/EMT assigned by the Director of Fire to perform such duties as Administrative Aide listed above.
All career personnel and officers shall be appointed in accordance with the New Jersey Department of Personnel requirements for entry and promotion.
The annual salaries provided by ordinance for the members of the Department shall be in lieu of any and all fees, commissions, emoluments of any kind paid to or received by any such member. All members of the Department of Fire shall be required to account for and pay any fees, commissions, or emoluments to the Treasurer of the City.
All members of the Department of Fire shall be required to serve on such shifts and for such hours and for such times as may be assigned by the Director of Fire.