[HISTORY: Adopted by the Township Council of the Township of Manchester by Ord. No. 89-365 (Sec. 2-43 of the 1996 Revised General Ordinances); amended in its entirety 12-16-2019 by Ord. No. 19-039. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire prevention — See Ch. 179.
Fire companies authorized and approved to perform fire suppression services with the Township of Manchester shall be limited to those fire companies that are designated by the Mayor and approved by resolution of the Township Council. All authorized fire companies shall be designated to be within the Division of Emergency Services and shall adhere to all established rules and regulations pertaining to the Division.
A. 
No person shall hereinafter become a member of any authorized Fire Department within the Township of Manchester or any unit thereof, unless above the age of 18, a citizen of the United States, of good moral character and a resident of the County of Ocean.
B. 
The person shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a fireman evidenced by a certificate to that effect by a practicing physician of the State of New Jersey, after physical examination for that purpose.
C. 
The person shall conform to all requirements for recognition as a member of the Division of Emergency Services.
D. 
Every member of the Fire Department shall comply with the ordinances of Manchester Township and the bylaws of each fire company with whom they become members.
E. 
Every person seeking to join any fire company designated to be within the Division of Emergency Services shall make application to the company or unit which the person desires to join. Each person seeking membership shall be obligated to complete any employment forms required by the Chief of Police. Thereafter, upon acceptance of any proposed member by any designated fire company in accordance with that company's rules and regulations, the membership application and all required forms pertaining to the potential member shall be forwarded for review by Chief of Police.
F. 
Exemption certifications may be issued to members of each volunteer fire company who shall have served seven years in active duty, under municipal control, as required by law.
A. 
Junior Firefighters’ Program to the volunteer fire departments in the Township of Manchester is hereby established pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95 et seq. and subject to the supervision of each fire company and each fire company’s Chief or Assistant Chief. The members of the program shall be known as junior firefighters.
B. 
Each volunteer fire company of the Township of Manchester may have a Junior Firefighters’ Program.
C. 
Junior firefighters shall meet all of the qualifications of regular firefighters, except that they need only have reached the age of 14 years and may not have yet reached their 18th birthday.
D. 
When a junior firefighter reaches the age of 18 and wishes to continue as a firefighter in the Township of Manchester, the junior firefighter must apply for full membership with a recognized Township of Manchester fire company.
E. 
A prospective junior firefighter, before being considered for membership as a junior firefighter, must obtain permission to join the program from their parent(s) or legal guardian(s) and must submit to the fire company said permission, in writing, and acknowledged or approved in the manner required by law for deeds to real estate to be recorded. Evidence of such permission shall be forwarded to the Chief of Police by the fire company.
F. 
Members of the Junior Firefighters’ Program shall be insured by the same coverage and in the same amounts provided for regular volunteer firefighters in the Township of Manchester.
G. 
Every person seeking to become a junior firefighter must apply and be selected in the same manner as regular volunteer firefighters.
H. 
Junior firefighters shall be trained for eventual membership in a recognized volunteer fire department in the Township of Manchester by the Chief or Assistant Chief and the regular members.
I. 
No junior firefighter shall be allowed to perform duties that would expose the junior firefighter to the same degree of hazard as a regular member of the fire department.
J. 
Junior firefighters shall not fight fires and shall not be required to perform duties which would expose them to the same degree of hazards as a regular active member.
K. 
A junior firefighter shall wear full turnout gear while riding fire apparatus and performing fire duties.
L. 
A junior firefighter may deliver such items such as hand lights, exhaust fans, axes and pike poles from the fire apparatus to the regular firefighters fighting fires, but only to those firefighters who are outside of a structure.
M. 
At the scene of a fire, a junior firefighter may roll hose or help repack hose onto the fire apparatus.
N. 
A junior firefighter may only ride in the jump seat or cab or the apparatus.
O. 
Under the instruction and at the direction of a line officer a junior firefighter during drills may perform certain duties such as holding waterlines, ladder work and practice rescue work and pumper operations.
P. 
A junior firefighter shall assist in keeping the fire apparatus, firehouses and grounds clean.
Q. 
Junior firefighters shall be subject to the provisions of all Township ordinances relating to the appointment, discipline and discharge of volunteer firefighters and emergency services volunteers.