[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Borough Council of the Borough
of Berlin as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 11-19-1973 by Ord.
No. 73-3]
There is hereby authorized and established the Berlin Fire Department
to be composed of companies as the governing body may authorize and approve,
which approval shall be in writing, duly adopted by resolution of said governing
body and filed in the office of the Borough Clerk.
A.Â
No person shall hereafter become a member of the Fire
Department of the Borough of Berlin, or any unit thereof, unless said individual
is at least 18 years of age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of
the Borough of Berlin and of good moral character.
B.Â
He shall be physically fit to perform the duties of a
fireman evidenced by a certificate of physical examination from a licensed
New Jersey practicing physician.
Once each year the names of the men elected as Fire Chief, Assistant
Fire Chief and Deputy Fire Chief, who were elected at the annual election
of the Berlin Fire Department, shall be submitted to the governing body for
review and any action deemed appropriate. At the same time, a list of the
names of appointed Fire Captains and Lieutenants shall be submitted. All said
appointments to the Fire Department shall be for the calendar year of appointment.
Each and all of said officers may be removed by a majority vote of the said
governing body, for good cause, after being given appropriate notice and an
opportunity for a public hearing.
Every person seeking to join the Fire Department shall make application
to the company or unit which he desires to join, and upon his election to
membership by a vote of a majority of the unit present and voting, he shall
become a member in good standing of said Fire Department after approval of
his membership by the governing body, and thereafter his name shall be entered
on a roll of firemen maintained by the Borough Clerk.
The equipment of said Department shall be such as may be from time to
time acquired and determined by the governing body, as in their opinion to
be proper for the protection of life and property in said Borough.
It shall be the duty of the firemen to operate all equipment, defend
and endeavor to save life and property from fire in the Borough and elsewhere
when occasion should arise, and to properly clean and repair all equipment
to the best of their ability.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to take full command and control
of all Borough fire apparatus at all fires or in going to or returning from
the same and to give directions. He shall have sole and entire command of
fires and alarms and over all members of the Department, apparatus and equipment
belonging to the same and any persons aiding or assisting at fires and drills.
He shall order the Department out for drill or inspection at such reasonable
time and place as he may designate and whenever he may deem it to be necessary
for the efficiency of the Department.
In the case of a fire alarm or scheduled drill, in the absence or disability
of the Fire Chief, the next ranking officer shall assume command and have
the responsibilities of the Fire Chief at that time.
The Fire Chief shall prepare and submit to the governing body for its
regular meeting each month a report. This report shall include fire alarms,
fire drills, value of property involved, amount of fire loss, and also the
name, rank and address of any officer or fire fighter injured in the line
of duty, including the time, date, place and his condition. In reports of
mutual aid calls, value of buildings and fire loss are not required.
