[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough of Berlin as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-19-1973 by Ord. No. 73-3]
There is hereby authorized and established the Berlin Fire Department to be composed of companies as the governing body may authorize and approve, which approval shall be in writing, duly adopted by resolution of said governing body and filed in the office of the Borough Clerk.
A. 
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Fire Department of the Borough of Berlin, or any unit thereof, unless said individual is at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the Borough of Berlin and of good moral character.
B. 
He shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a fireman evidenced by a certificate of physical examination from a licensed New Jersey practicing physician.
Once each year the names of the men elected as Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief, who were elected at the annual election of the Berlin Fire Department, shall be submitted to the governing body for review and any action deemed appropriate. At the same time, a list of the names of appointed Fire Captains and Lieutenants shall be submitted. All said appointments to the Fire Department shall be for the calendar year of appointment. Each and all of said officers may be removed by a majority vote of the said governing body, for good cause, after being given appropriate notice and an opportunity for a public hearing.
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall make application to the company or unit which he desires to join, and upon his election to membership by a vote of a majority of the unit present and voting, he shall become a member in good standing of said Fire Department after approval of his membership by the governing body, and thereafter his name shall be entered on a roll of firemen maintained by the Borough Clerk.
The equipment of said Department shall be such as may be from time to time acquired and determined by the governing body, as in their opinion to be proper for the protection of life and property in said Borough.
It shall be the duty of the firemen to operate all equipment, defend and endeavor to save life and property from fire in the Borough and elsewhere when occasion should arise, and to properly clean and repair all equipment to the best of their ability.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to take full command and control of all Borough fire apparatus at all fires or in going to or returning from the same and to give directions. He shall have sole and entire command of fires and alarms and over all members of the Department, apparatus and equipment belonging to the same and any persons aiding or assisting at fires and drills. He shall order the Department out for drill or inspection at such reasonable time and place as he may designate and whenever he may deem it to be necessary for the efficiency of the Department.
In the case of a fire alarm or scheduled drill, in the absence or disability of the Fire Chief, the next ranking officer shall assume command and have the responsibilities of the Fire Chief at that time.
The Fire Chief shall prepare and submit to the governing body for its regular meeting each month a report. This report shall include fire alarms, fire drills, value of property involved, amount of fire loss, and also the name, rank and address of any officer or fire fighter injured in the line of duty, including the time, date, place and his condition. In reports of mutual aid calls, value of buildings and fire loss are not required.