[Adopted 8-20-2007 by Ord. No. 21-07; amended in its entirety 4-18-2022 by Ord. No. 04-22]
There is hereby established a junior members program to the Washington Township Fire Department, to be known as "junior members or junior firefighters," which shall operate under and pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40A:14-95 et seq.
Any person who is a resident of the Township of Washington and is between 16 years and 18 years of age shall be eligible for membership as a junior member. No individual shall become a junior member unless written permission is obtained from such individual's parents or legal guardian. Said written permission shall be in a form approved by the Township Committee and shall be acknowledged or approved in the manner required by law for deeds to real estate to be recorded. Junior members shall also be required to obtain working papers from the New Jersey Department of Labor if applicable. The original written permission and working papers, if applicable, shall be retained by the Township Clerk, who shall forward a copy to the Department Chief.
Junior members shall be provided with the same insurance coverage as provided for the regular volunteer firemen of the Township of Washington.
The junior members program shall operate under the guidance of the fire company of which the junior firefighter is a member and shall follow that company's bylaws.
The Township Committee hereinafter establishes the following rules and regulations designed to govern the activities of the junior firefighters and to provide for the training of its members with a view toward their eventual membership in the Washington Township Fire Department:
A. 
No junior firefighter shall be required to perform duties which would expose junior firefighter to the same degree of hazard as a regular member of the Fire Department.
B. 
No junior firefighter shall be permitted to engage in firefighting or be in the immediate vicinity of a hazardous condition involving the handling of dangerous or poisonous acids or dyes or injurious quantities of toxic or noxious dust, gases, vapors or fumes.
C. 
A junior firefighter shall be on probation until the age of 18 years and may be expelled from the Junior Members Program for just cause.
D. 
A junior firefighter shall comply with the SOGs of the Washington Township Fire Department, as well as any bylaws of the company where the junior firefighter is assigned.
E. 
A junior firefighter shall obey the commands of the Fire Chief or any other officer of the Washington Township Fire Department.
F. 
It is important for the junior firefighter to understand that they are not privileged in any way while responding to an emergency or nonemergency call for the Fire Department.
G. 
The junior firefighter will obey all New Jersey Department of Motor Vehicle laws while responding, including, but not limited to, those prohibiting exceeding the posted speed limit, passing in a nonpassing zone, tailgating, not stopping at red traffic signals, not stopping completely at stop signs, not yielding to right-of-way as necessary, making a right turn on red when a "No Turn on Red" sign is posted, etc.
H. 
The junior firefighter should realize that when responding to an emergency call, a fire truck may be granted privileges by other drivers under certain circumstances (involving the use of lights and sirens) but that these privileges are not rights and that they do not apply to junior firemen.
I. 
The following rules should be observed at all times:
(1) 
No external identification lights, i.e., "blue" lights, are to be used.
(2) 
Junior firefighters should not use their headlights to alert other motorists that they are seeking to pass.
(3) 
Junior firefighters should not use the horn to signal their desire to pass or to be yielded a right-of-way.
(4) 
Junior firefighters should not use their hazard lights while responding to signal other drivers their desire to pass or to be yielded a right-of-way.
(5) 
Junior firefighters should not point, glare, or in any other way signal a driver who did not yield right-of-way to them. Other drivers are not obligated in any way to do so.
J. 
Training shall include, but not be limited to, instruction concerning industrial fire systems; breathing apparatus; municipal water systems; hydrants and alternate water sources; care, testing and handling of fire hoses; types and uses of hand-held fire extinguishers; procedures for handling alarms; radio procedures; care, cleaning and basic maintenance of apparatus; preparation of knots for hoisting equipment; safety measures for riding on apparatus; use of personal safety equipment and hand tools; theory of pumps and hydraulic fire systems and the use of ladders, including their care and testing. Actual use of the equipment shall be encouraged whenever it shall be deemed advisable by the Washington Township Fire Department, provided that a junior fireman shall not be exposed to any danger. Adequate supervision shall be provided, and all possible safety precautions shall be taken.
K. 
Junior firefighters may apply for an adult class of membership in the Washington Township Fire Department upon achieving the age of 18 years by completing the appropriate application forms in accordance with the Fire Department's procedures.
L. 
Subject to the approval of the Township Committee, these rules and regulations may be supplemented by the Washington Township Fire Department.