THETIS ISLAND IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT

Fire Administration Bylaw No. 39

A bylaw to regulate the operation of the volunteer fire department within the Thetis Island Improvement District, and to establish the position and jurisdiction of the fire chief and assistant fire chief.

This bylaw replaces the District's Bylaw No. 3, passed by the Trustees on the 12th day of September 1983, and Bylaw No. 17, passed on the 8th day of November 1991.

The trustees of the Thetis Island Improvement District enact as follows:

1.  The fire department shall be known as the Thetis Island Volunteer Fire Department.

2.  The department shall consist of a fire chief, assistant fire chief, and such other personnel as may be recommended by the fire chief and approved by the trustees of the Thetis Island Improvement District.

3.  The chief and assistant chief shall be appointed by the Improvement District Board of Trustees and serve voluntarily in that office until a successor is appointed.

4.  The fire chief has management responsibility and authority for operation of the Fire Department subject to the direction and control of the Board to which he/she shall be responsible and in particular, he/she shall be required to carry out all fire protection activities, assistance response and such other activities as the Board directs including, but not limited to:

(i) First response to medical emergencies, and
(ii) Mutual aid to other fire services.

The fire chief also:

(a) Shall establish and maintain a fire department management structure;
(b) Shall establish and maintain an incident command system for management of emergency scenes or events;
(c) May make such orders and general rules as may be necessary for the efficient operation and the care and protection of department property and the proper conduct of its members;
(d) Shall review periodically the policies and procedures of the department and may authorize the members of the fire department to participate in the development and implementation of internal department procedures and policies, provided such do not conflict with statutes, regulations and/or bylaws pertaining to the operation of fire departments;
(e) Shall take all proper measures for the prevention, control and extinguishment of fires, and for the protection of life and property, and is empowered to enforce all bylaws respecting fire prevention, and exercise the powers and duties imposed on him by the British Columbia Fire Services Act;
(f) Is responsible for the enforcement of this bylaw and the fire regulations bylaw and department orders and general rules;
(g) Shall keep a permanent written record of all fire department assignments and activities and report all fires to the Fire Commissioner as required by the British Columbia Fire Services Act;
(h) Shall submit the annual cost estimates of the department for consideration of the Board of Trustees in its preparation of provisional and annual budgets
(i) Shall attend meetings of the trustees on request, and submit a report of activities; and
(j) Shall, in advance of the Annual Meeting of the Improvement District, submit a written annual report of the years' activities and include recommendations for improvement of the department.

5. The assistant chief shall report to the fire chief of the department on the activities assigned to him/her, and carry out orders of the fire chief, and in the fire chief's absence, has the powers of, and shall perform all the duties of the fire chief.

6. The Thetis Island Fire Department serves only within the boundaries of the Thetis Island Improvement District, except to an area, municipality or fire protection area with which an agreement has been entered into to provide protection, or as requested or authorized by the B.C. Fire Commissioner.

7. The fire chief may make routine expenditures for regular maintenance and upkeep of the department. Accounts of these expenditures must be presented to the Treasurer within seven (7) days. All extraordinary expenditures of maintenance, improvements or alterations, and all expenditures for additional or replacement equipment, machinery or property must be presented for prior approval to the trustees.

8. Any member of the fire department may be suspended or discharged by the fire chief at any time he/she may deem such action necessary for the good of the department. Any member so discharged or suspended by the chief may within seven (7) days appeal in writing to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall within two (2) weeks, hold a hearing, and shall either order that the member so suspended or discharged be reinstated, or that the action of the fire chief be upheld. The decision of the Board of Trustees shall be final and binding on all parties concerned.

This Bylaw may be cited as the Fire Administration By-Law No. 39.

Introduced and given first reading by the trustees on  6th day of  April, 2004.

Reconsidered and finally passed by the trustees on the 6th day of April, 2004.

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Secretary of the Trustees	Chairman of the Trustees

I hereby certify that this is a true copy of Bylaw No. 39.
 
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Officer