Article
I: Purpose and Scope
The Hart County
Fire Department is designed to respond to emergencies anywhere
and anytime within Hart County when and where human life and or
property are threatened.
When other types of disasters occur, this department will respond
with actions limited only by its training and the availability
of related equipment. When required and when authorized by the
Hart County Fire Chief or the Assistant Fire Chief, Hart County
Fire Department will coordinate its efforts with those of other
emergency departments or agencies. The area served by Hart County
Fire Department will be within the jurisdictional boundaries of
Hart County; however when officially requested, we will respond
outside these boundaries only when the security of Hart County
citizens will not be jeopardized. Standing by with trucks and
personnel at the scene during burning off operations conducted
by private landowners will not be permitted except under unusual
circumstances. Special consideration shall be given to churches,
schools, hospitals, nursing homes, county properties, or any place
where the safety of a large number of people are involved. The
Hart County Fire Department will not become a participant in the
deliberate burning of property except for training purposes, or
when authorized by the county governing board
Article II: Organization
Hart County
Fire Department shall consist of an adequate number of officers,
firefighters and support personnel. Their selection and responsibilities
are set forth in the following sections.
Section A--County Officers
1. One (1)
County Fire Chief
The County Fire Chief shall be responsible for county wide operations,
coordination between individual fire stations, public relations,
coordination of related County operations, administration of policies
procedures and guidelines, budget and finances and shall have
the authority to delegate responsibilities to all personnel within
the Hart County Fire Department. (paid or volunteer)
2. One (1)
Assistant Fire Chief
The Assistant Fire Chief will assume responsibility in all areas
when and where the Fire Chief is unavailable and can be designated
to assist the Fire Chief in any area of involvement.
3. One (1)
Secretary-Treasurer for special account.
The Secretary Treasure will handle all special funds and keep
minutes of all general and officer meetings.
4. One (1)
Safety Officer
The department Safety Officer will be appointed by the Chief with
recommendations of the Station Commanders based on qualifications
and experience. Safety Officer must have the Incident Safety Officer
certificate.
Section B--Station Officers
Each of the
fire stations comprising Hart County Fire Department will have
the following officers
1. One (1)
Station Commander
Each Station Commander will be responsible for the proper operation
of their respective station. They will ensure the readiness of
equipment and personnel prior to an alarm, prior to leaving the
scene of an alarm and prior to departure from the station after
and alarm. The primary Station Commander will be in charge of
operations at the scene until relieved by the Chief or Assistant
Chief or designee.
2. Two (2)
Lieutenants, one day and one night.
Each Lieutenant will assist the Station Commander to carry out
the duties relating to the proper operation of the station. The
on duty Lieutenant will be in charge of emergency operations at
the scene until relieved by a higher ranking officer.
3. Two (2)
Squad Leaders, one day and one night.
Each Squad Leader will assist the Station Commander and / or the
Lieutenant to carry out the duties relating to the proper operation
of the station. The on duty Squad Leader will be in charge of
emergency operations at the scene until relieved by a higher-ranking
officer
4. One (1)
Training Officer
Each Training Officer will be responsible for coordinating training
classes with the County Fire Training Officer. The Station Training
Officer will stress personal safety, proper procedure and correctness
during any training session.
5. One (1)
Assistant Training Officer (optional)
The Assistant Training Officer will assist the Station Training
Officer with training evolutions as required.
6. One (1)
Water Supply Officer
The Water Supply Officer will be responsible for updating the
station master map with new roads and hydrants. They will also
maintain the hose test records during hose testing and keep up
the yearly maintenance of dry hydrants in their area.
Section
C—Elections
1. Elections
for County Officers will be held during the first Sunday in December
by special meeting of all Hart County Volunteers. The Hart County
Assistant Chief and Secretary-Treasurer will be nominated
and elected by personnel from all Hart County stations attending.
2. All Station
Officers will be nominated and elected by members of their respective
stations.
3. In all
elections nominations and seconds will be made from the floor.
Voting will be by secret ballot. In order to be elected the candidate
must receive a majority of the votes cast. When there are more
then two (2) nominated candidates for any one office, the two
(2) receiving the most votes will rerun until a majority winner
can be declared
Section
D---Qualifications
County Officers
1. 5 years with Hart County Fire Department
2. Module I from the State of Georgia
Station officers
1. 3 years fire experience
2. Module I from the State of Georgia
3. Past 90 day probation
Article
III: Membership
All members
must be in good standing within the community. All members shall
conduct themselves in an appropriate manner while representing
the Hart County Fire Department. New applicants for membership,
or former members wishing to rejoin, must submit a completed application.
Applicants less then eighteen years of age will not be considered
for membership. When a candidate submits an application for membership
a station committee, prior to the election of the new member,
shall investigate each new application. A new member must posses
a valid driver permit and must provide, at their cost, a copy
of their driving history from the DMV, along with a criminal history
check from the Hart County Sheriff Department. All applicants,
new or former members, shall understand the Hart County Fire Department
reserves the right to check with local law enforcement and \ or
their employer as to their fitness for membership. All new or
former members shall enter a (90) ninety-day trial period as explained
in the following section.
Section A – Trial Period for Membership
1. The trial
period shall be 90 days and shall begin with the applicant’s
approval date.
2. The applicant shall learn the location, care, and purpose of
all station equipment.
3. The applicant shall know the Rules, Regulations, By Laws, and
Standard Operating Procedures and Guidelines of the department.
4. The applicant shall know the proper use of the radio equipment
and dispatch procedures.
5. The applicant shall know how to safely drive fire vehicles
and obey the laws pertaining to emergency response as outlined
in O.C.O.G.
6. At the end of the 90 days the applicant shall have completed
the “New Member Check-off Sheet”.
7. The Chief, Assistant Chief and at least 3 Officers of their
respective station will at that time consider the applicant’s
fitness for membership.
8. Trial membership may be waived on the condition that the new
applicant has previous verifiable fire experience, has completed
the “New Member Check-Off Sheet” and is approved by
the Chief.
Section
B-- General Membership
1. A new member
will not be allowed the use of any emergency red light(s) on their
personal vehicle until satisfactory completion of the 101 class.
Upon completion of 101, the member may do so provided they have
read and signed the release form that will hold the Hart County
Fire Department and the Hart County Board of Commissioners harmless
from any damages resulting from the use of emergency red lights
in their personal vehicles while responding to an emergency. In
short, the use of emergency red lights in personal vehicles in
strongly discouraged by Hart County Fire Department. The member
must also make their own application to the State of Georgia Department
of Motor Safety for the issuance of a Emergency Vehicle Light
Permit, and must be updated yearly. Any member using an emergency
red light in their personal vehicle will follow all rules as outlined
in the O.C.G.A. Chapter 40.
2. New members shall be expected to pursue the completion of the
101 firefighter’s course. This course may be taken during
the trial period.
3. A maximum of 21 members per station will be allowed.
4. Department members who are called during a time of emergency
will respond. Reasons such as sickness, death in the family, work
requirements, lack of transportation, or family obligations will
be accepted as not responding.
5. Any member under the influence of alcohol or drugs is asked
not to report for duty. This includes over the counter or prescription
drugs that could impair judgment or alter performance.
6. Alcohol, drugs or the use thereof, will not be permitted in
or on department property.
7. Members shall conduct themselves in an appropriate manner while
representing the department.
Article
IV: Meetings
Section A-- Officer Meetings
Officer Meetings
will be held the first Monday in each month at a predetermined
time and place. These meeting apply to matters of finance, equipment,
personnel, and organizational matters. Officers from each station
shall attend these meetings.
Section B—Station Meetings
1. Station
meetings shall be scheduled weekly or less as deemed necessary
for the purpose of equipment maintenance, general improvement
of facilities or equipment, and training.
2. All members are expected to attend, an attendance record shall
be kept by each Station Commander.
3. A member shall attend a minimum of 50% of the meetings and
a minimum of 50% of fires as required for the Georgia Firefighters
Pension Fund. The Station Commander shall investigate any absenteeism
exceeding (3) three consecutive meetings.
4. If there is a general lack of cooperation on the part of the
member in question, that member will be asked to appear at a called
meeting of the Squad Leader, Lieutenant, Station Commander, Assistant
Chief, and Chief, for the express purpose of determining the members
fitness to continue as a member of the department. If there is
reasonable evidence to indicate the member in question is detrimental
to the well being of the Department or its members, that member
will be asked to resign. The member in question will be present
at this meeting, which is to be called by the Chief.
Article
V: Dress
Section
A—Uniforms
Dress uniforms,
when available, shall be worn by all members at general meetings,
fundraisers, public appearances or as designated by the Chief.
Dress uniforms shall consist of dark blue trousers, light blue
shirts, or if an officer white shirts. The shirt shall have the
proper department identification and insignia. Department T-shirts
may be worn to all weekly meetings and emergency incidents when
possible.
Section B--- Protective Equipment
Protective equipment will consist of department issued fire protective
coat, pants, boots, helmet, hood and gloves. This equipment will
be worn when engaged in any fire suppression operations on any
vehicle or structure fires. Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus
will be worn upon any exposure or entry into any toxic environment
or hazardous conditions. Wildland fire coats and pants will be
worn on grass, brush, or woods fires when provided. All equipment
issued will remain the property of Hart County Fire Department,
and will be returned to the Station Commander in good condition
and in working order upon termination. Any or all equipment that
was issued by the Hart County Fire Department can be requested
to be returned at any time.
Article
VI: Finances
Section
A—Station Funds
This fund
shall be used at the discretion of the station.
Section B---General Fund (County-wide)
This account
consists of all funds received by donations and special money
drives. These funds are to be spent as directed by Fire Department
Officers.
Section C---Special Account (County-wide)
All general
donations are to be deposited in the Special Account of the general
fund.
Article
VII: Dismissal
1. Willful
and flagrant violations of the Bylaws, Rules and Regulations,
or Standard Operating Procedures shall be grounds for dismissal
of any member, either on a permanent or temporary basis.
2. Actions that compromise the health or safety of other members
of the department, or of the public Shall be grounds for dismissal
of any member, either on a permanent or temporary basis.
3. Reckless driving or abuse of equipment may be grounds for suspension
or dismissal.
4. Members shall be held monetarily responsible for willful destruction
of department or station property.
5. Suspension or dismissal will be determined by a review board
consisting of the Chief, Assistant Chief, Station Commander, Lieutenant,
and Squad Leader, a majority ruling of 50% plus one will carry
the vote.. The Department Secretary-Treasurer shall be present
for recording of the minutes of the meeting. The member in question
will receive this hearing as soon as possible following the pronouncement
of the charges against them. The meeting will be called by the
Chief, who also has the option to immediately suspend the member
pending the Review Board hearing.
This document has been approved by a majority vote of all active
members present at the general meeting held on December 1, 2002.
Witnessed By:
Chief
Billy R. Vickery
Assistant Chief Jerry Byrum
Secretary/Treasurer David T. Ray
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©
2002-2005 Hart County Board of Commissioners