[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors
of the Township of Chadds Ford 1-3-2005 by Ord. No. 106. Amendments
noted where applicable.]
The offices of Fire Marshal and Deputy Fire
Marshal are hereby created in Chadds Ford Township, such officers
to be appointed by and report to the Board of Supervisors.
The person(s) appointed to the office of Fire
Marshal or Deputy Fire Marshal shall be qualified by having proper
training and experience. Such experience may include prior experience
as a police officer with completion of PA Act 120 municipal training;
prior experience as a fire fighter who has held an officer's rank
of lieutenant or higher; completion of the training deemed appropriate
for arson investigation and/or safety inspections; or other qualifications
and/or experience deemed sufficient by the Board of Supervisors.
The person(s) appointed to the office of Fire
Marshal and/or Deputy Fire Marshal shall be appointed as soon as practicable
after the adoption of this chapter and shall serve at the pleasure
of the Board of Supervisors. Subsequent appointments shall be made
annually to serve until their respective successors have been duly
appointed and qualified. The aforesaid appointment was made for the
unexpired portion of the term. If for any reason the office of Fire
Marshal is not separately filled by appointment of, and with the approval
and consent of, the Board of Supervisors, any duly appointed Deputy
Fire Marshal shall perform the duties of the Fire Marshal until the
office of Fire Marshal is filled. If the offices of both Fire Marshal
and Deputy Fire Marshal are not filled, the Fire Chief shall be deemed
the ex officio Fire Marshal and shall have all the powers and duties
hereinafter given to or imposed upon the Fire Marshal.
Compensation of the Fire Marshal and Deputy
Fire Marshal shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Supervisors
pursuant to resolution.
A.
The Fire Marshal shall perform all duties and shall
have and exercise all powers prescribed by law. These duties and responsibilities
shall include, but not necessarily be limited to, the following:
(1)
Maintain liaison with and keep the Board of Supervisors
informed of the capabilities and needs of all fire companies serving
the Township, and serve as liaison between local, state and federal
emergency services departments, personnel and/or officials and Chadds
Ford Township;
(2)
Initiate, with the appropriate law enforcement officials,
investigate and take appropriate action on any suspicious fires where
criminal activity may reasonably by suspected, and submit written
reports on same to the Board of Supervisors in a timely fashion;
(3)
Maintain records of fire alarms, EMS and fire calls,
organized by type and location, and submit to the Board a monthly
report on all fires, investigations, inspections and other activities,
and provide a verbal report at the monthly Board of Supervisors meeting;
(4)
Assist the Township Building Inspector, when requested
by such officer, in inspections for violations of regulations where
firesafety or fire prevention matters are involved;
(6)
Monitor and inspect Township traffic light preemption
devices, fire hydrants, fire lanes, fire hazards and other fire-related
devices or conditions;
(7)
Monitor drought conditions to determine if water and/or
burning restrictions are warranted;
(8)
Ensure proper training for the Deputy Fire Marshal
and/or such other assistants to the Fire Marshal as the Board may
authorize;
(9)
Submit reports to the Board of Supervisors on Township
conditions or occurrences related to firesafety;
(10)
Respond and assist the Fire Department and emergency
services personnel on scene; and
(11)
Perform such other public safety duties as may be
assigned to the Fire Marshal by the Board of Supervisors.
B.
The Deputy Fire Marshal shall report to and assist
the Fire Marshal with the above duties and shall perform the duties
of the Fire Marshal in the Fire Marshal's absence.
Any person who shall violate any provision of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof in an action brought before
a Magisterial District Judge, be subject to a fine not more than $1,000
for each violation of this chapter.
