Bridgeton pioneer., 1914-07-30
PROPOSED
FIRE ORDINANCE
A Lengthy Document Is
Proposed.
GIVES CHIEF POWER.
City Council Is Now Discussing
the Permanent Organiza-
tion of Firemen.

The proposed ordinance creating
and controlling the Bridgeton Fire
Department, is a lengthy document
and carries everything out in detail.
The proposed ordinance puts the en-
tire responsibility of the department
in the hands of the chief. The high
lights of the ordinance are as follows:
Department known as Bridgeton
Fire Department.
Consists of Chief, 1st and I'd. assis-
tant Chiefs, two engineers, 2 drivers
and IS hosemenL
Commissioner of PUBLIC Safety ex-
elusive power to appoint all officers
and subordinates.
All officers and members of the
present department continue in re-
spective capacities under new ordl-
nance
Members must be citizens of United
States, resident of Bridgeton and must
be 21 years of age.
All members must take oath before
City Clerk or Mayor.
The duties of the Chief of the De-
partmenr are specifically set forth in
the ordinance and attempt is made
to make the Chief solely responsible
Among other things the ordinance
says, '"The Chief shall have and exer-
else supreme command of all snaem-
bers OF the fire department when such
members are on duty. He shall direct
them in the performance of their du-
ties and shall see that such duties
are promptly and efficiently execut-
ed"
The Chief is given entire charge of
the department headquarters and is
responsible for its condition.
He shall have at all times charge
anc supervision of fire apparatus and
equipment, fixtures and furniture.
He shall make at least once a
month careful inspection of all prop
erty of the department.
He shall keep a record of all fires
all boxes where alarms are turned in,
the firemen reporting, history of the
fire and the details of the loss.
The record book is to be presented
twice each month to the Public Safety
Commissioner.
Once a month the Chief makes re-
port to the Commissioner of Public
Safety.
The Chief shall keep a record of all
the members of the department.
The Chief is enjoined to make care
full inspection of property looking to
fire prevention. He must inspect all
theatres and picture halls looking for
fire protection.
The Chief grants permission for
members of the department to leave
town, not to exceed three days at any
tine.
The Chief is given power to order
drills and call meetings of the de-
partr1ent. He shall issue orders for
discipline and regulation.
The Chief shall be on duty six days
and six nights each week, and shall
devote his entire time to the discharge
OF the duties of the office. During the
absence of any driver he shall act as
substitute driver and perform all the
daties of such driver, in addition to
his duties as Chief.
The 1st Assistant Chief shall have
the full powers of Chief when the
latter is absent.
The I'd Assistant Chief shall be as
the 1st Assistant Chief.
The ordinance prescribes at length
duties of the drivers and the engineers.
The drivers are to act as Janitors
for the fire house. They must escort
visitors through the house. The driv-
ers are on duty six days and six
nights each week.
The duties of the hosemen are de-
scribed in several sections.
The ordinance also prescribes the
supplies furnished each fireman by
the city.
A long list of rules and regulations
are prescribed in the ordinance for