(A) Volunteer and auxiliary. In addition to the Fire Chief and officers of the Fire Department, there shall be volunteer firefighters and auxiliary firefighters who may be referred to as members of the town Volunteer Fire Department. The volunteer firefighters and auxiliary firefighters shall be referred to jointly as the Town Volunteer Fire Department. There shall be such number of positions for both volunteer firefighters and auxiliary firefighters as are from time to time approved by the governing body. Auxiliary firefighters shall not be actual volunteer firefighters and shall act only in accordance with the adopted town policy pertaining to auxiliary firefighters.
(B) Appointment; training course.
(1) No person shall be accepted to the position of volunteer firefighter until he or she has taken a training course prescribed by the Fire Chief, and passed an examination indicating adequate knowledge of the matters taught in the course. Such test shall be prescribed by the Fire Chief, and matters covered shall include but not be limited to methods of firefighting, types of buildings, operation of equipment, first aid, treatment of smoke inhalation, administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR, and such other relevant items as shall be directed by the Fire Chief.
(2) In the case of any individual who has prior experience as a firefighter on a volunteer fire department or on a full time fire department, the Chief may waive any part of the course, but the applicant shall take the test.
(3) All auxiliary firefighters shall be exempt from taking the prescribed training courses and examination as delineated in division (B)(1) above. The Fire Chief shall be responsible for prescribing the training requirements, if any, for all auxiliary volunteer firefighters.
(C) In service training. Each volunteer firefighter shall take regular training at least once each month, on the subjects prescribed and in the manner prescribed by the Fire Chief. The Chief shall require a minimum number of hours of training each month for each volunteer firefighter. The minimum number of hours shall be the amount required, in the opinion of the Chief, to learn new techniques and to continue to maintain skills under old techniques. Auxiliary firefighters shall not be required to take any in service training, except as determined by the Fire Chief, but may voluntarily participate in training at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
(D) Compensation. Members of the Volunteer Fire Department shall not receive payment for time spent answering fire calls. Members should not be paid for time attending any required training or any other training in connection with service as a volunteer firefighter. Volunteer firefighters who are members of the Town Volunteer Fire Department shall have the option of the town contributing to the state’s Volunteer Firefighters’, EMT, Search and Rescue Pension Account in an amount to be determined annually by the Council. Auxiliary firefighters who are members of the Town Volunteer Fire Department shall not receive pay and shall not have the option of the town contributing to the state’s Volunteer Firefighters’, EMT, Search and Rescue Pension Account for their benefit.
(E) List of members. The Chief of the Fire Department shall maintain, in the office of the Town Clerk-Treasurer, an accurate list of the members of the Fire Department and shall report promptly any additions or withdrawals from the membership.
(Prior Code, § 6-2-5) (Ord. 2024-01, passed 4-4-2024)