[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council of the Borough of Tarentum
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-16-1982 by Ord. No. 82-10]
All members of Volunteer Fire Departments or volunteer fire companies
of the Borough of Tarentum, including any paid fireman who is a member of
a volunteer fire company and performs the services of a volunteer fireman
during off-duty hours, who shall be entitled to receive compensation in case
of injuries received while actively engaged as firemen; or while going to
or returning from a fire which the Fire Department or fire company attended,
including travel from and the direct return to a fireman's home, place
of business or other place where he shall have been when he received the call
or alarm; or while participating in instruction fire drills in which the Fire
Department or fire company shall have participated; or while repairing or
doing other work about or on the fire apparatus or buildings and grounds of
the Fire Department or fire company upon the authorization of the Chief of
the Fire Department or fire company or other person in charge; or while answering
any emergency calls for any purpose; or while riding upon the fire apparatus
which is owned or used by the Fire Department or fire company; or while performing
any other duties of such Fire Department or fire company as authorized by
the borough, shall be, and are hereby, declared to be employees of the borough.
Further, the Council of the Borough of Tarentum authorizes all members of
the Volunteer Fire Departments or companies within the Borough of Tarentum
to engage in the performance of any duty authorized by the chiefs of the Tarentum
Fire Department.
All members of volunteer ambulance corps of the Borough of Tarentum
shall be, and are hereby declared to be, employees of the borough who shall
be entitled to receive compensation in the case of injuries received while
actually engaged as ambulance corpsmen; or while going to or returning from
any fire, accident or other emergency which such volunteer ambulance corps
shall attend, including travel from and direct return to a corpsman's
home, place of business or other place where he shall have been when he received
the call or alarm; or while participating in ambulance corps of which they
are members; or while repairing or doing other work about or on the ambulance
apparatus or buildings and grounds of such ambulance corps upon the authorization
of the corps President or other person in charge; or while answering any emergency
call for any purpose by the ambulance corps of which they are members at any
time; or while performing any other duties of such ambulance corps as are
authorized by the borough. Further, the Council of the Borough of Tarentum
hereby authorizes members of the volunteer ambulance corps to engage in the
performance of any duties authorized by any officer or officers of any volunteer
ambulance corps within the Borough of Tarentum.
All members of volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of the borough
shall be, and are hereby declared to be, employees of the borough and shall
be entitled to receive compensation in the case of injuries received while
actually engaged as a rescue or lifesaving squad member attending to an emergency
to which that squad has been called or responded, including travel from and
the direct return to a squad person's home, place or business or other
place where he shall have been when he received the call or alarm; or while
participating in rescue and lifesaving drills in which the squad is participating;
or while repairing or doing other work about or on the apparatus, buildings
and grounds of such rescue and lifesaving squad upon the authorization of
the Chief or other person in charge; or while riding in or upon the apparatus
of the rescue and lifesaving squad and at any time while performing any other
duties authorized by the borough. Further, the Council of the Borough of Tarentum
hereby authorizes members of the volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads of
the borough to engage in the performance of any duty authorized by any officer
or officers of all volunteer rescue and lifesaving squads within the Borough
of Tarentum.
The Council of the Borough of Tarentum hereby authorizes members of
Volunteer Fire Departments or companies, volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer
rescue and lifesaving squads to perform the following duties, in addition
to the above-mentioned normal fire-fighting, rescue and emergency medical
duties:
A.
Participation in drills, practices, training sessions
and pre-fire planning activities authorized by the Fire Chief.
B.
Participation in community celebrations, ceremonial observances
and funerals for deceased fire fighters or other public figures where such
attendance is deemed appropriate and authorized, in writing, by the Fire Chief.
C.
While performing duties necessary to prepare the fire
station for use as a polling place for the primary and general elections,
including like services performed at other municipal or school district buildings
for said elections.
D.
Preparation for and responsible participation in parades
with the prior approval of the Fire Department or company, ambulance corps
and/or rescue and lifesaving squad, and written notice is provided to the
borough 30 days prior to the event.
E.
Any public service functions performed for the welfare
of the community as long as these activities are responsibly supervised and
are sanctioned by the Chief of the Fire Department or fire company or any
officer or officers of any volunteer ambulance corps or rescue and lifesaving
squads, and written notice is provided to the borough 30 days prior to the
function.
F.
Any and all public safety activities undertaken by any
and all Fire Departments or companies, ambulance corps or rescue and lifesaving
squad members to render care to the injured, prevent loss of life, provide
comfort and security to victims and limit or prevent damage to or loss of
property as circumstances may dictate.
G.
While rendering assistance to police officers where such
aid is specifically requested or is done without request to protect our citizens
from imminent danger.
H.
Participation in fire prevention inspections, post-fire
investigations, bomb searches and evacuations.
I.
While participating in public programs to promote health
and safety, to enlist new members, solicit community support or conduct fund-raising
activities, so long as the activity is specifically sanctioned by the Fire
Department or company, ambulance corps and/or rescue and lifesaving squad,
with written notice to the borough 30 days prior to the activity or event.
J.
While performing such other duties necessary for the
efficient operation of the above volunteer services as may, from time to time,
be authorized by the Council of the Borough of Tarentum.
It is the purpose of this article to ensure that all members of Volunteer
Fire Departments or companies, volunteer ambulance corps and volunteer rescue
and lifesaving squads of the Borough of Tarentum shall be entitled to receive
compensation under the Workers' Compensation Law of Pennsylvania[1] if such person is injured while engaging in any of the above-mentioned
activities.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 77 P.S. § 1 et seq.
[Adopted 8-10-1993 by Ord. No. 93-8]
In order to afford these volunteer and/or nonprofit companies governmental
immunity, Highland Hose, Eureka Hose, Summit Hose, and Eureka Community Ambulance
Service are hereby recognized and accorded the status of volunteer fire companies
and rescue company by the Borough of Tarentum and shall have such status in
doing any and/or all of the following items:
A.
Attendance at meetings.
B.
Education and training sessions.
C.
Fire-fighting and fire prevention activities.
D.
Automobile accidents.
E.
Hazardous waste incidents.
F.
Ambulance rescue and transport.
G.
Parades and other public functions.
H.
Any and all fund-raising activities, such as bingo, small
games of chance, carnivals, festivals, hall rentals.
I.
Any other activities authorized by the
officers or by the bylaws of the company or by the Borough of Tarentum, County
of Allegheny or the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania or any of its agencies, such
as the Liquor Control Board.
