(A) Billing for reimbursement authorized. The Fire Department is hereby authorized and directed, by and through its Fire Department officers, city administration, and authorized representatives, to ascertain what insurance coverages may be applicable and available under any given circumstance, and to take all necessary and affirmative steps to apply for and receive reimbursement from any insurance carriers where a property owner or occupant thereof is or may be insured to reimburse the Fire Department for any costs and/or expense incurred for fire, rescue, and medical services, supplies and/or equipment used for or provided to or for the benefit of the property owner or occupant or one who is involved in any other kind of accident or incident requiring emergency services by the Fire Department.
(B) Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS RECOVERABLE. Costs shall include a reasonable amount for the administrative cost of administering the billing program.
COSTS REIMBURSEMENT. A rate schedule of costs for the aforementioned tools, equipment, materials, and hourly rates for personnel shall be set forth by the Fire Department and reviewed/updated from time to time, and shall only be applied to the recovery of costs arising out of firefighting, other emergency services rendered, and incidents that occurred subsequent to the setting of the rate schedule in this section.
EXPENDABLE ITEMS. Any items used for an emergency response action which cannot be reused, replaced, or replenished without cost after use or employment in an emergency response action.
RATE SCHEDULE. The costs incurred by the city pursuant to the rate schedule in this section for recovery of costs for the Fire Department. A copy of the rate schedule shall be on file for review at the business offices of city located at 100 South Center Street, Corry, PA 16407 during normal business hours. The costs or expenses on the rate schedule may from time to time be adjusted by City Council.
RESPONSIBLE PARTY. A person who is responsible for causing an emergency response action.
SCOPE OF RECOVERABLE COSTS. Such costs incurred shall include those incurred by the Fire Department, its employees, agents, and contractors, including overtime costs for paid personnel and expendable items, but shall exclude costs to pay volunteer responders.
(C) Costs recovery.
(1) Any person or entity, as opposed to his, her, or its insurance company, shall be liable for the reimbursement of reasonable costs incurred by the city, as outlined in this section.
(2) In the event that any insurance carrier or person or persons should fail to pay any bill or invoice within 30 days of the mailing or delivery of such notice of charges, the city, attorney or the third-party billing agency who mailed or delivered the bill or invoice may, at the city’s exclusive option and direction, enforce the provisions of this section by turning over to a third-party collection agency or, if deemed appropriate, may be enforced by filing a civil action at law in a court of competent jurisdiction for the collection of any amounts due to the city, together with statutory interest, court costs, collection fees, and all associated reasonable attorney’s fees.
(3) The reasonable costs may be recovered from any identified insurance carrier or person or persons, directly by the city or by an attorney, or through a third-party billing service acting as a contracted authorized agent for the collection of such costs. In addition to the reasonable costs as set forth in the rate schedule, the city, attorney, or the third-party billing service shall hereby be authorized to collect, in addition to the reasonable costs, reasonable interest, legal, administrative and any other collection fees associated for collecting the said costs and fees.
(4) The city may, in its sole discretion, but shall not be obligated to, pursue collection efforts against individual person, firm, or entity in the event that the city reasonably determines that collection efforts will not be successful or that the costs of collections will exceed the amount due hereunder.
(D) Deposit of funds received. All funds received pursuant to this section shall be deposited in the general fund of the city.
(E) Reports to City Council. The Fire Chief shall forward to City Council each month if received from the approved third party billing service, a fire report itemizing all amounts billed and all funds actually received during the preceding calendar month. If no such accounting is received, the City Treasurer shall timely provide for the monthly budget session a list of all funds actually received during the preceding calendar month.
(F) Liberal construction. This section, which shall be referred to as the Fire and Emergency Services Billing Ordinance, shall be liberally construed to accomplish its purpose to reimburse the Fire Department from insurance proceeds or otherwise for costs and expenses incurred while providing fire and emergency services to the citizens of the city and surrounding communities.
(G) Emergency services not to be refused. Nothing in this section shall authorize any city department or city staff member to refuse or delay any rescue service to any person, firm, organization or corporation, due to the lack of insurance coverage or ability to pay for said rescue services.
(H) Rate schedule. The rate schedule is as follows (see also city fee schedule).
Billing List |
Billing List | |
Apparatus | |
Aerial/ladder: | $400 per hour |
Engine: | $350 per hour |
Rescue: | $300 per hour |
Squad/utility/support: | $150 per hour |
Tanker/tender: | $300 per hour |
Equipment/Service | |
Cribbing: | |
- Class B (each) | $200 |
- Passenger (each) | $100 |
- Trucks - Class A (each) | $500 |
Debris cleanup/removal | $250 |
Deodorizer (per use) | $25 |
Extinguisher (per use, any class) | $50 |
Fire line tape (per foot) | $0.25 |
Fire police services (per hour) | $100 |
Flares (each) | $8 |
Foam (per gallon) | $60 |
Gas/CO detector/heat gun (per use) | $50 |
Generator (per hour) | $50 |
Hand lights (per use) | $5 |
Hand tools (each) | $15 |
Hose (per 50’) | $25 |
Hydraulic rescue tools (each) | $200 |
IR camera (each) | $100 |
Ladders (per use) | $35 |
Latex gloves (per pair) | $2 |
Manpower (per man, per hour) | $30 |
Medical extrication (w/hydraulics) (per patient) | $1,500 |
Oil absorbent sheets (each) | $10 |
Oil booms (each) | $20 |
Oil dry (bucket) | $35 |
Portable pond (per use) | $150 |
Portable pumps (per hour) | $30 |
Power tools (each) | $50 |
Road closing/traffic control (per hour) | $100 |
Salvage covers (each) | $35 |
SCBA (each) | $50 |
Scene lighting (per hour per light) | $75 |
Stabilization struts (per use) | $50 |
Ventilation fans (each) | $50 |
Wetting agent (per unit) | $25 |
Administration Fees | |
Fire investigation | $100 |
Fire report | $50 |
Testimony fee in any litigation (per hour) | $60 |
(Ord. 1570, passed 6-19-2017)