[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of
Ridley as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 135.
[Adopted 3-19-1975 as Ch. 10 of the 1975 Code]
The Board of Township Commissioners may appoint officers, known as "fire
police," from each fire company within the Township of Ridley, who shall be
residents of the said Township, in the number specified by the Board of Commissioners.
No such policeman shall at the same time hold any public office other
than Constable or Health Officer.
Said policemen shall not be entitled to any compensation whatsoever
for their services performed except as provided under the provisions of the
Act of the General Assembly of June 28, 1935, P.L. 477, Section 1, as amended
by the Act of May 14, 1937, P.L. 632, Section 1,[1] which provides for compensation for any fireman injured in the
performance of his duties and who by reason thereof is temporarily incapacitated
from performing his duties.
[1]
Editor's Note: 53 P.S. § 637.
The President, with the approval of the Fire Chief of each fire company,
shall recommend to the Board of Township Commissioners the names of the persons
to be appointed as fire police, which appointments shall be for a period of
one year beginning from the first Monday of each year and until their successors
are duly appointed and qualified.
Such policemen shall only act during the progress of a fire in the Township
of Ridley and, in relation to such fire, shall only act while they are upon
the scene or adjacent to and in actual participation in extinguishing, regulating
and controlling any such conflagration.
Such policemen may, while on such duty as aforesaid, without warrant
and on view, arrest and commit for hearing any and all persons guilty of a
breach of the peace, riotous or disorderly conduct or who may be engaged in
the commission of any unlawful act tending to imperil the personal security
or endanger the property of the citizens, or violating any of the ordinances
of the Township of Ridley in relation to fires and fire protection, for the
violation of which a fine or penalty is imposed.
Such fire police shall obey the orders of the Captain of Police and
such special orders given by the Fire Chief in charge of such fire.
Said fire police, when on duty, shall wear a badge or shield with the
words "Township of Ridley Fire Police."
A.
The fire police may not charge or accept any fee or other
compensation for any services rendered or performed by them of any kind or
nature whatsoever pertaining to their office or duties as fire police, except
public rewards.
B.
Such fire police may not participate in any Police Pension
Fund of the Township police of the Township of Ridley,[1] nor are they subject to and under the control of, nor shall the
Township of Ridley be bound by, in relation to said fire police, any civil
service act or ordinance in relation to the Township police.
The Board of Commissioners may make such regulations as may be deemed
proper, from time to time, relative to the supervision and control of such
Township fire police, by enacting rules and regulations in relation thereto,
which rules and regulations may be submitted by the Fire Department, approved
by the Police Committee of the Township of Ridley and finally enacted by resolution
of the said Township Commissioners.
[Adopted 3-7-1979 by Ord. No. 1473]
Pursuant to the authorization provided in Section 1502, Subsection XVI,
of the First Class Township Code,[1] the position of Fire Marshal is hereby created. The Fire Marshal
shall be appointed by the Board of Commissioners for a term of one year. A
nominating committee consisting of the Public Safety Committee, the Police
Captain and the Fire Department shall submit three names and resumes to the
Board of Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners shall make a selection
from among the three candidates.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 56516.
The Fire Marshal shall have the following duties, powers and responsibilities:
A.
To act as the administrative head of the Fire Department,
although he shall not have fire-fighting responsibility.
B.
To designate, with the approval of the Fire Department,
one or more persons as his authorized assistants to assist in the performance
of his duties. These assistants shall be residents of the Township of Ridley.
C.
To prepare, submit and manage the budget for the Fire
Department, which shall be submitted annually to the Board of Commissioners
for review.
D.
To coordinate the activities of the fire companies within
the Township and to act as a liaison with other fire companies outside of
the Township.
E.
To act together with the coordinator as a liaison with
the Board of Commissioners and to cooperate with the Township Manager in resolving
differences between the Fire Department and other Township departments.
F.
To submit an annual report to the Board of Commissioners
and the Township Manager regarding the Fire Department's activities,
including the making of recommendations for improvements in fire protection
for the Township.
G.
To investigate fires which occur within the Township
in order to determine the causation thereof. In the absence of the Fire Marshal,
the responsibility to inspect fires shall be delegated to his assistants or
deputies. The Fire Marshal shall keep records of all inspections and fires
and shall inform the Fire Chiefs of inspections in their areas.
I.
To assist fire-fighting units by surveying buildings
and recording their construction, occupancy, hazards and fire protection systems.
He shall advise the area fire company of this information and shall arrange
for familiarization tours.
J.
To consult with the insurance services offices and to
convey to the Fire Department and to the Board of Commissioners the requirements
for fire protection which are acceptable to the insurance rating authorities.
K.
To enforce all laws and ordinances relating to the prevention
of fires, the storage and use of explosives and flammables, the installation
and maintenance of private fire alarm systems, the adequacy of exits in case
of fire from all buildings and other places in which people reside, work or
congregate for any purpose.
L.
To keep all records of all inspections and fires on file
in the Township Manager's office.
M.
To order immediate evacuation of any building if, in
his opinion, an immediate fire hazard exists. Such a building shall be kept
closed until all violations and/or hazardous conditions have been corrected.
The Fire Marshal or his assistants may, at all reasonable hours and
at least once yearly, enter any public building or any private building used
for any business, commercial or industrial purpose, or any apartment or converted
home with two or more apartments, for the purpose of making any inspection
or investigation.
The yearly compensation for the office of Fire Marshal shall be set
by the Board of Commissioners.
A.
Each volunteer fire company shall operate under its own
bylaws, which shall be in accordance with generally accepted standards for
similar organizations. This chapter shall not be deemed to restrict the internal
organization of the volunteer fire companies.
B.
The Fire Chief and his subordinate officers of each volunteer
fire company shall be in command of their companies at fires. They shall also,
under the direction of the training officer, train, the members of their companies.
C.
The Fire Chiefs and their subordinate officers shall
continue to be responsible for the maintenance, efficiency and conduct of
their respective companies.
A.
Any person, firm or corporation who shall violate this
chapter by failing to cooperate with the Fire Marshal in the reasonable exercise
of his duties shall be subject to a fine not exceeding $1,000, plus costs
of prosecution, and in default of payment thereof shall be liable to imprisonment
for a period not exceeding 30 days.
[Amended 11-16-1988 by Ord. No. 1639[1] ]
B.
Each day's violation shall constitute a separate
offense.
C.
The application of the above penalties shall not be held
to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions. The cost for the
removal of such conditions shall be the responsibility attain restitution
in the manner provided by law.
