Fire Police in Pine Grove,Pennsylvania are Volunteer Fire Company members, sworn in by the Mayor of Pine Grove. We come under direct control of the Local Police or State Police(if no local dept is available). On Fire Scenes also under control of the Fire Chief.

History of Fire Police Officers:

The first fire police officers in the sate of Pennsylvania were appointed in Meadville, Crawford
County in 1896.These first fire police officers had no authority other than that which could be provided by their fire company and the municipality in which they
served.

No legal recognition or authority was granted to Special Fire Police officers in the Commonwealth of Pa until 1941.

The Commonwealth of PA in June of 1941 passed a law (Title 35) enabling Special Fire Police Officers to have the necessary police power to provide protection. Fire Police were legally created to act in emergency situations and then only when their fire department was involved.

Title 35 was amended in 1949, 1959 and again in 1980. (Act 74, 388, 209, 122) These changes widened the scope of authority of the fire police.

In 1949 the law was amended (Act 388) to give fire police power to act without fire company involvement, providing a request to do so was made by the
municipality.

In 1959 (Act 209) the law was again amended to allow fire police to use their police powers in any (non-emergency) public function conducted by or under the auspices of any volunteer fire company. Such services were contingent upon a request by the municipality. The provision for municipal request for such services, when the fire company was involved, was later removed
from the law.

The provision to allow fire police to use their police power in non-emergency events was later amended to authorize these officers to provide police services for organizations other than a volunteer fire company.

For fire police to perform this type of duty a request was and is, required. In 1980 (Act 122 - current law) was amended to prohibit at any time, the use of weapons by fire police officers.

While most people think that Fire Police are just firefighters, these amendments widened the scope of authority of Fire Police in PA, to have limited police powers. Although they have no authority to make arrests, they do have the right to detain someone, within reason. They have earned the right to wear their 'badge of authority'.

Fire Police will control the flow of traffic to ensure emergency vehicles have a quick, safe
entrance and egress to the incident. They may halt traffic, block a road or detour you in another
direction, because of the situation and the dangers involved. They are Not there to make you late for work, dinner, or a date. They are taking orders from the police authority in charge.

All Fire Police Officers are sworn officers of the law and when on duty shall display a badge of
authority and shall be subject to control of the chief of police of Pine Grove Borough,which we are serving, or if none, of a member of the Pennsylvania State Police. We are highly skilled and trained in are vocation and have a oath on file with our local municipalities. Disobeying a Fire Police Officer is the same as disobeying a Police Officer, Sheriff's Deputy or State Trooper and assaulting one is a felony.

MISSION/POLICY STATEMENT
 
            The Pine Grove North End Fire Department Fire Police Unit of the Pine Grove North End Fire Department is organized and activated for the purpose of providing safe passage for firefighters responding to an emergency/non-emergency events; such as parade’s, fundraiser’s, car cruise’s,  carnival’s, etc approved functions on request, providing security for the established fire ground area; providing traffic and crowd control services for their own protection and the protection of the company/community in action; to help those who are in physical danger; provide such services that by training and equipment to do, to the end that the citizens of this community may be secure from the danger of emergencies.
 
Standard Operating Procedures
 
These procedures shall be the standard of conduct for all members of the Pine Grove North End Fire Police Unit until changed by further regulations.
 
Fire Police Officers of Pine Grove North End Fire Department Fire Police Unit are subject to a call to duty from the Borough Council, The mayor or Chief Of Police, or toned out by the County Dispatch Center for emergencies.
 
There are three divisions of fire police:
 
First Line: The primary assignment of these officers is that of fire police. They will not be assigned other duties except in dire circumstances.
 
Second Line: These are firefighters with a secondary assignment as fire police. They will only be assigned as fire police when there are not enough first line officers. They may be assigned limited duty in non-emergency situations.
 
Reserve Status: These are fire police officers who choose to remain a member of the fire police unit but, for whatever reason, are unable or unwilling to train and participate in active responsibilities.
 
Fire Police Authority
 
Special Fire Police are authorized, in the State of Pennsylvania, under Act 122, Fire Police Law, and title 35, Health and Safety.
 
Pursuant to section 1202, such officers are nominated by their volunteer fire company, but are officially appointed by the Board of Supervisors, or Mayor of a Borough. Further all Special Fire Police shall be subject to the control of the chief or police or his officer, or the Pennsylvania State Police in the absences of a regular police agency, when they are requested by the police agency and the fire company does not respond.
 
Overall Command:
 
Overall command of fire police officers rests with:

A)    The Fire Chief on all fire scenes.
B)     The local or State Police Authority in charge of the accident.
C)    The Fire Chief/Captain of Fire Police/Other Agencies in charge of non emergency events.
 
In all circumstances, authority shall delegate downward through normal, internal chain of command within the fire police unit.
 
Chain of Command:  

The Pine Grove North End Fire Department Fire Police Unit is organized as a unit of the fire suppression team, with an elected/appointed Fire Police Captain in charge of the day to day activities.
There are an additional number of fire police officers whom are designated as “First Line” (Primary responsibility) and “Second Line” (firefighters also serving as fire police).
 
For Purposes of these procedures only, the term “commander” shall mean Captain, Lieutenant’s, or Sergeant. The term “officer” shall mean the regular fire police officers and shall also refer to second line officers when serving in that capacity and the term “officer in charge” (OIC) shall mean the person in charge of the particular incident.
 
Equipment:

According to Act 122, a badge, hat (Fire Helmet “Fire Police” Rocker identification and or a eight point cap, but now we have ball caps with “Fire Police” on them. (Subject to change) and flashlight, equipped with a red luminaire cone will be provided to each fire police officer. Additional equipment to be issued shall include but not limited to portable radio, uniform, raincoat, protective vest, and other equipment as required. (Updated list to follow shortly). ****Hopefully in future be able to issue out cones, other equipment used to assist in traffic control/regulation.****
 
Each Officer is responsible to furnish belt and shoes preferably black.
 
It is the responsibility of the individual fire police officer to assure that all equipment is clean and in good working order.
 
Any problems with the equipment should be reported to the designated person as soon as possible.
 
All equipped damaged or lost in the line of duty will be replaced by the fire company. If lost or damaged otherwise, the officer shall replace it at his/her own expense.

1)      Call to Duty:
Fire Police are called to duty with the company in the same manner as the company, except for non-emergency events. Shall be activated via alpha pager via county dispatch, all available fire police officers should make certain they understand the nature and location of the call.
 
When responding, it is preferred that protective clothing(reflective safety vest, rain coat, jumpsuit, etc) be put on first, so that upon arrival at the duty post, all fire police will be immediately available for service.
 
Proper Protective Gear shall be worn by all personnel when on the scene, including the required badge of authority.
 
Fire Police may also be called to duty by the Mayor, Chief of Police or State Police, the fire chief and/or fire police captain.
 
If called through the fire police captain, he will inform the fire chief immediately.
 
2)      Response:
When responding to an alarm:
All first line fire police are authorized to proceed directly from there location to the emergency scene in their private vehicles/ unless able to pick up the Squad/ Fire Police Unit to better serve the nature of the call. More Details to follow with this Procedure.
 
All vehicles so used must have operating blue lights. (Supplied by yourself not the company)
 
The Captain and 1st Lieutenant may use red lights and must use a siren. All lights must be registered with the fire chief. ONLY 1 Lieutenant may equip a personal vehicle with red lights and siren. This is in accordance with PA Vehicle Code 4571, as well as Penn Dot Vehicle Code Regulations Title 67, section 102.
 
In accordance with Section 4572 of the vehicle code, the fire chief must register all vehicles bearing blue lights with the State Police sub-station. Also give the authorization for the fire police officers to use a blue/red lights and sign the waiver form produced by the company.
 
No officer, except the captain and lieutenant with fully equipped emergency vehicles, is authorized to break any speed limit. No use of four way flashers only at the post maybe used.
 
No officer, who has consumed alcoholic beverages within an eight hour period prior to the call, shall respond to a call in their personal vehicle or any company owned vehicle.
 
Fire Police Officers who do not have their hat, badge, and flashlight (during hours of darkness) should not respond to a call.
 
3)      At Emergency Scene
A Fire Police Officer arriving at the emergency scene before the fire company will look for endangered or injured persons. If qualified and certified to do so, he/she will begin to apply first aid if needed. Upon arrival of emergency medical personnel, he/she will turn first aid duties over to them. If the Fire Police Officer is not qualified or certified to render first aid he/she should so advise the injured person and indicate that help is on the way. He/she will then assume traffic or crowd control duties or report (by radio) to the captain, lieutenant, or sergeant for assignment.
 
When an officer has assumed a post or has been assigned one he/she will remain there until relieved.
 
Personal Vehicles should never be used to physically block traffic, but should be parked on the shoulder of the road, or other suitable location.
 
At night, leave vehicle parking lights on rather than headlights so as not to blind approaching drivers.
 
The Fire Police Lieutenant will check each officer on post every 20 minutes or less (by radio or in person) if there has been no contact with the officer during this time. ****************See below Radio Frequencies********************
 
 
 
Low Band Fire Radio Frequencies
Channel 1 46.50 Tremont Twp/Tremont Borough/Dispatched on this channel
Channel 2 46.48 For Fire Police Only calls in our borough, township, mutual aid calls except for above listed Borughs/Twsp call on channel 1. No Fire Police to call enroute to fire calls. Officers may call Incident Commander for assignments and give out on our Fire Police Channel 5.
Channel 3 46.24
Channel 4 46.28
Channel 5 46.32 Fire Police Channel
Channel 6 46.08
Channel 7 46.18
Channel 8 46.36
 
4)      Traffic Control:
All personnel shall wear a vest at least class 2 retroflective material/standards for the safety of themselves while engaged in traffic control. Check the scene to determine the situation and what is actually needed by the police officer on the scene of an accident/ fire chief or line officer of the fire scene to ensure traffic control.
 
Cover intersections at either end of the scene, to close the road or regulate one way traffic, if necessary.
 
 
Appropriate hand signal shall be used while engaged in traffic control. All hand signals shall comply with accepted methods adopted by this organization.
 
The use of flares is restricted to only those members specifically trained in there use.
 
Flashlight(s) with Red Luminary cone shall be used while engaged in traffic control during hours of darkness.
 
Traffic Control signals given through the use of flashlight(s) shall comply with those adapted by this organization.
 
 Provide Crown Control at the scene if necessary also.
 
5)      Rerouting Traffic:
Personnel shall not reroute traffic unless instructed to do so by the Fire Police Captain, Lieutenant(s), Sergeant, Fire Chief, or Local/State Police Officers.
 
Establish the most practical detours necessary and feasible.
 
All Fire Police Officers shall respond to motorist questions and concerns in a                  friendly and courteous manner.
 
When and where possible, flares should be used to guide motorist being rerouted for easy return to familiar roadways.
 
Fire Police Officers should never return caustic remarks with those of there own.
 
6)      At secure from Duty Signal:
Fire Police on duty at the emergency scene, will leave the scene ONLY when the last piece of equipment has departed.
 
If Fire Police are assigned to duty when this company is only assisting another they will remain on duty until relieved by the fire chief of the assisted company.
 
This is the same procedure where a local or state police officer requests fire police to remain on duty. This police officer will terminate the duty tour.
 
The Captain, the Lieutenant(s), or Sergeant will not leave the emergency scene area until all fire police on duty have been accounted for and relieved, unless arranged otherwise with the duty officers.
 
When authorized vehicles (electric com, Water Company, etc.) remain at the scene when the fire company returned to station, the Lieutenant(s)/Sergeant will inform the persons in charge of these vehicles that the fire police control is being terminated.
 
7) Non-Emergency Operations:
No member of this fire police organization shall participate in any activity that is not sanctioned by the Fire Police Captain, Fire Chief, and the Municipality.
 
When member of this fire police organization are requested and properly authorized to participate in non-emergency activities, they shall wear full and complete dress uniforms.
 
Baseball hats are never permitted to be worn with the dress uniform but with our Fire Police Logo on now is acceptable due to no other hats available at this time. (Still in Discussion Mode) (Update to Follow)
 
7)      General Procedures:
When flares are used at any emergency scene, they shall be moved to the side of the road and rendered harmless before the officer shall leave the scene.
 
Fire Police Officers shall receive their instructions from the Fire Chief of the company unless the emergency does not involve a fire or the fire police are called to duty by the police officers and the firefighters are not requested.
 
At a minimum, all members of this fire police organizations shall receive Basic Fire Police Course 16 hrs Training, Advanced Fire Police Course 16 hrs Training, Legal Concepts of Fire Police 16hrs Training, Communications and Listening Skills of Fire Police 16hrs Training, Non-Emergency/Emergency Response to Fire Police Training both 16hrs course and after this date (9/1/2007) will be asked within a reasonable time to go and test for Fire Police Officer Certification Levels, in order to be considered for First Line Fire Police Duty. Also high importance to have the Highway Scene Safety/Traffic Control Course also.
 
Second Line Fire Police and Reserve Status Fire Police must at least maintain the Basic Fire Police Course 16hrs and along with all Fire Police Officers shall attend a yearly refresher training program which will be hosted by our department yearly. This will be obtained via in house or out of house training.
 
All Fire Police Officers will be sworn in by the mayor and not lose that authority until revoked, in order to retain their active status as a member of the fire police unit.
 
All disciplining of fire police officers shall be with the approval of the fire chief and Coaches Record form filled out with incident and attached in personnel file.
 
Any fire police officer disputing such discipline shall present the facts to the company President for discussion and resolution at a company meeting.
 
No member of this fire police unit shall accept personal payment for services rendered as a fire police officer.
 
Any monetary remuneration for the fire police service shall be accepted as a donation to the fire police unit for use in buying company/members equipment/gear.