BC 1985 12 02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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341 118-23. A list of all members, their addresses, their telephone numbers, and social security numbers must be given to the fire marshal on or before July 1 of each year and within l0 days of the addition of new members. (c) Ail active members of a fire department in good standing shall have some identification, such as a card, badge or car plate to identify them as a "bona fide fire fighter". No one other than an active member or retired member in good standing shall be allowed to have this identification in his possession. (d) Each fire department shall maintain a Class 9 or better rating with the Insurance Services Office and shall have and maintain equipment as required by the North Carolina Department of Insurance for initial certification. These are minimum requirements; therefore, efforts should be made toward improving fire protection through equipment purchases and water supply development. Ail equipment specified shall be kept in good condition and operative at all times. Primary pumpers shall be subjected to an annual service test as prescribed by the ISO and records of the test filed with the fire marshal. (e) Each department shall carry liability insurance on its personnel and equipment, leaving the county free from any responsibility for damages or claims resulting from the activities of its fire fighters or from the operation of its equipment. Each fire department shall also carry workmen's compensation insurance on its active members in order to provide those members with the benefits of the Workmen's Compensation Act. A certificate of insurance for each department shall be on file at the fire marshal's office. (f) The fire department shall carry out an organized training program which shall provide a minimum of thirty-six (36) hours per year training. The training program shall include the training and qualifying of apparatus drivers. Written records shall be kept on all drills and include subject taught, instructor, hours, and members attending. (g) The fire chief for each department is responsible for stressing "safety" throughout the department and all phases of the department's activities. Emphasis shall be placed on safe driving of department owned apparatus and the fire fighter's personal automobile to emergencies, as well as on safe practices while fighting a fire. Only qualified drivers shall drive the fire apparatus and the names of qualified drivers shall be posted in the fire station and furnished to the membership of the department. Drivers shall operate apparatus with caution at all times and allow no one but active fire fighters to ride the apparatus when it is on call to a fire or other emergency. (h) The senior fire officer within whose area a fire emergency occurs is the authority on the fire scene or when a fire occurs outside a recognized fire district the senior fire officer of the first arriving department shall be the authority. Each fire department shall respond to the call of the fire marshal who shall have the authority to coordinate the activities of responding fire departments at the fire emergency. (i) The senior fire officer responsible for the fire emergency shall make a full investigation of each fire to determine, if possible, the cause of the fire. A report of the findings of this investigation shall be forwarded to the fire marshal within thirty (30) days of the fire on forms supplied by the fire marshal. If evidence shows the fire may be incendiary or if persons are injured or killed, the fire marshal and other necessary state and local officials shall be notified immediately. (j) The department shall furnish to the Board of County Commissioners an independent audit of receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year conducted by an accountant certified by the State of North Carolina. This audit, including a financial statement for the previous fiscal year and an auditors opinion, shall be submitted annually with the department's budget request. If the audit was completed more than 120 days before the budget request is due, an additional financial statement of fund balances and expected expenditures will be furnished with the audit.