[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of West Donegal 4-12-2021 by Ord. No. 244-2021.[1] Amendments noted where applicable.]
[1]
Editor's Note: This ordinance superseded former Ch. 18, Fire
Company, which consisted of Art. I, Fireman's Relief Association,
adopted 10-15-1984 by Ord. No.
40-1984, and amended in its entirety 10-15-1984 by Ord. No. 47-1984 as Ch. 1, Part 3, of the 1984 Code of Ordinances; and Art. II, Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company, adopted 8-10-2015 by Ord. No. 218-2015]
The relief associations of Rheems Fire Company, also known as
Rheems Fire Department; Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company No.
1 of Elizabethtown, also known as Friendship Fire Department of Elizabethtown;
and Bainbridge Fire Company, also known as Bainbridge Fire Department,
are officially recognized as relief associations which have been formed
for the benefit of members and their families of each respective volunteer
fire company in case of death, sickness, temporary or permanent disability,
or accident suffered in the line of duty. The relief associations
of Rheems Fire Company, also known as Rheems Fire Department; Friendship
Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1 of Elizabethtown, also known as
Friendship Fire Department of Elizabethtown; and Bainbridge Fire Company,
also known as Bainbridge Fire Department, are designated as proper
relief associations to receive such funds as are due and payable to
the Township Treasurer by the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
from taxes on the premiums from foreign fire insurance companies.
There is annually appropriated from the Township Treasury all of the sum or sums of monies that may be in the future paid to the Township Treasury by the Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania on account of taxes paid on premiums by foreign fire insurance companies to the relief associations recognized in § 18-1 within 60 days of receipt in accordance with the Act of December 18, 1984, No. 205, as hereinafter amended, supplemented, modified or reenacted by the General Assembly of this commonwealth.[1] The Board of Supervisors shall establish and may periodically revise the percentage of such funds to be paid to each duly recognized relief association. It is the intent of the Township to allocate such funds among the relief associations recognized in § 18-1 considering factors which take into account services provided to and within the Township.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 895.701 et seq.
Within this article, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
The governing body of the Township.
Rheems Fire Company, also known as Rheems Fire Department;
Friendship Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1 of Elizabethtown, also
known as Friendship Fire Department of Elizabethtown; or Bainbridge
Fire Company, also known as Bainbridge Fire Department.
Rheems Fire Department; Friendship Fire Department of Elizabethtown;
and Bainbridge Fire Department.
West Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
The fire companies are hereby designated as the officially recognized
volunteer fire and rescue companies to provide first due response
for such portions of West Donegal Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania,
as the Board of Supervisors may establish from time to time.
The Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the fire companies
to perform the following activities and services:
A.Â
To provide such services as may be necessary for the protection of
property and persons situate in the Township, which include, by way
of example and not of limitation, the extinguishment of fires and
the prevention of loss of life and property from fire, automobile
accidents, medical emergencies, hazardous material incidents, and
other dangerous situations.
B.Â
To provide nonemergency and public services such as, by way of example
and not of limitation, removing water from property after storms;
assisting in the removal, abatement and prevention of damage or injury
to persons or property, whether through natural causes or man-made
situations; and directing traffic and parking at local events as requested
as and when authorized by the Fire Chief or the Board of Supervisors.
C.Â
To conduct and participate in such training activities and drills,
either within or outside of the Township, as may be deemed necessary
by the Fire Chief to maintain proficiency in providing services.
D.Â
To respond to calls and provide services to municipalities outside
the Township when so requested by such municipality or another fire
company or when directed to so respond by Lancaster County-Wide Communications.
E.Â
To request aid and services from the Northwest Regional Lancaster
County Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, other police
departments, other fire companies and/or other emergency service providers
when responding to emergencies within the Township.
A.Â
The Board of Supervisors hereby authorizes the members of the fire
companies to perform the following activities and services when so
requested or authorized by the Fire Chief or Board of Supervisors:
(1)Â
To engage in any type of drill, training, ceremony, practice, test
or parade as the fire companies in their sole discretion shall deem
appropriate.
(2)Â
To engage in fundraising activities for the fire companies as the
fire companies in their sole discretion shall deem appropriate. Such
fundraising activities may include, but are not limited to, auctions,
festivals, bingo, banquets, carnivals, barbecues, breakfasts, dinners,
sub and sandwich sales, and sale of refreshments at auctions or other
events.
(3)Â
To engage in the performance of any other duty or activity which
contributes to the mission of the fire companies as expressly authorized
by the fire companies.
B.Â
If any members of a fire company engage in such activities without
the express permission or authorization of the fire company, their
activities will be considered outside the scope of the members'
authorization and in direct violation of the members' defined
scope of duties.
The purpose of this article is to recognize the fire companies
as official first due response fire companies within the Township
and to state authorized activities for members of the fire companies
for governmental immunity purposes. It is the further purpose to recognize
Rheems Fire Company as resident in the Township and to state authorized
activities for members of the Rheems Fire Company for workers'
compensation purposes. It is the additional purpose of this article
to enable the families of members of the Rheems Fire Company to be
eligible for benefits under the Act of June 24, 1976, P.L. 424, No.
101, as amended, 53 P.S. § 891 et seq., commonly known as
the Pennsylvania State Death Benefit Act, and the Police Officer,
Firefighter, Correction Employee and National Guard Member Child Beneficiary
Education Act, Act 129 of 1998,[1] to the extent allowed by law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 24 P.S. § 7201 et seq.
The Board of Supervisors recognizes that other volunteer fire
companies and other emergency responders, including but not limited
to ambulance services and EMS, may provide assistance to the fire
companies in responding to emergencies within the Township. The Board
of Supervisors additionally recognizes that in certain instances a
volunteer fire company other than the designated first due response
fire company may arrive first at an emergency scene because such fire
company is responding to other emergencies, encountering traffic problems,
or as a result of geography. To the extent required or permitted by
law, the Township acknowledges the assistance of all other volunteer
fire companies and other emergency responders, including but not limited
to ambulance services and EMS, within Lancaster County and authorizes
such other volunteer fire companies and other emergency responders,
including but not limited to ambulance services and EMS, within Lancaster
County to provide such services within the Township and to the fire
companies.
