Helper Fire Department
Policies and Procedures

1. ATTENDANCE: (Calls)

All members will be required to make all fire calls, unless they are working,sick,
or have a valid excuse. Members are required to make all EMS calls on thier assigned
shifts. Members who do not make at least 40% of all calls in any one year may be
dismissed from the department by the Chief. Members who have misses their
assigned EMS shifts two months in a row may be dismissed by the Chief.

All members will be required to attend all meetings and training. If a member is
working, sick, or has a valid excuse, they will be excused. He or She will be shown on
the rolls as absent, but excused. Two unexcused absents in a year will lead to probation
for a term designated by the Chief. Probation can lead to dismal from the department.
Any member who does not attend at least 75% of all fire training meetings may be
dismissed from the department by the Chief.

All members will be required to receive proper training by a designated member
of the fire department that may act as a training officer. If a member does not receive this
training, being of his own fault, he will be terminated from the department after a three-
month period. All new firemen are prevented from driving any of the fire department
equipment, until he has trained and shown themselves to be competent to operate each
vehicle. He/she must be competent, both physically and mentally.

All new members, as of January 1, 2006, are required to become Firefighter I
Certified with the Utah State Fire Academy and be registered, as such, with the same
within two years of their hire date or they will be terminated. ALL existing Members
must attend and make every effort to become Firefighter I within two years of January 1,
2006 or they may be terminated.

The Helper City Fire Department will hold training sessions at least once a
calendar month that if a member attends, will lead to a certification/re-certification
opportunity with the Utah State Fire Academy within 1 year of starting the program.
These training sessions will be taught by members of the department and/or other
Firefighters as deemed necessary by the training officer.

All new members will be required to become Emergency Medical Technicians
and be certified as such, with the State of Utah Bureau Emergency Medical Services.
A new member must take the first available course. If this is not done in a one year period,
through fault of their own, he/she will be terminated.

All EMT's will be required to obtain CME hours. These CME (Continuing
Medical Education) hours are taught once a month at the Helper Fire Station.
Additionally Members may qualify for CME hours as outlined in the BEMS Certification Standard.
If a member loses his EMT's status with the State of Utah, for any reason,
they will be immediately terminated from the department.

All members when attending an EMT course or Firefighter 1 course outside the
department will pay for the complete cost of the course from his or her own personal funds.
When EMT or Firefighter 1 status is obtained, the department will
re-imburse that individual for tuition and books needed for that course.

All members while attending an EMT / Firefighter 1 class will conduct themselves
in a manner not to bring bad reflection on themselves or the Helper City Fire Department.
The member will travel to site of a course, on his/her own recognizance and the department will not
be responsible for injuries that might be received in travel. The department also will not
be responsible for travel costs. They SOLEY rest upon the member for any associated costs.

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4. Safety:


All members will always govern themselves, that they do not create a safety hazard to
themselves, their fellow EMT’s / Firemen, or to the public. If a member disregards safety,
they may be removed from the department at the discretion of the Fire Chief.

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5. EQUIPMENT:


All members will treat all fire equipment and apparatus with due respect for its
Continued use. All city property and equipment will be shown the same respect.
All equipment given to the department member is for his use only. It will not be
given to anybody, or loaned to anybody. The department will replace all equipment that
is destroyed or rendered unusable, through performance on the department.
However, any equipment rendered useless through negligence, will be replaced by the
department member through his or her own personal funds.

All equipment, Identification cards, etc., will be returned to fire department upon
termination or resignation of a fire department member.

They also understand and agree by signing this document that for any equipment
not turned in they will be charged with current replacement cost. They also agree by
signing of this document, that the city and the department will charge them
with all court costs and fees that might be needed to obtain said equipment,
and that they will be responsible for such costs.

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6. AUTHORITY:


All members will be governed and under the direction of the Fire Chief. If the
Fire Chief is not present; his assistant chiefs will be in command. If none of the above is
present at a call, the captain will assume command. If any of the above
are not present, the senior trained and/or certified fire department member will assume
command. It is further understood that all members are under of the authority
of the mayor first and foremost.

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7. GRIEVANCES:


All grievances must be submitted to one of the department’s officers. That officer
will forward the grievance to the fire chief, who in turn will rule on the grievance. If the
fire person making the grievance so wishes, he may request that he be heard in a board
consisting of the fire chief and the two fire chiefs. That decision will be final and binding.

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8. OFF DUTY AND GENERAL PERFORMANCE:


All members understand fully by signing this document that each member will be
Governed by state laws. It is further stated that they must obey all laws while going to
any calls in their own personal vehicle, The Helper City Fire Department Discourages
this and asks that individuals meet at the Fire Station and travel in official fire department apparatus.
They further understand and agree that any injuries, traffic accidents, or such, while responding to calls,
will not be the responsibility of the department, or the city. They further agree not to hold the city
or any of its agents liable or responsible.

Members also agree to conduct themselves properly in public so that it will not
bring shame to the department or the city, by their actions.

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9. RESIDENCY:


All members of the fire department must live in the Helper City Limits.
Current members working for the department and living out of Helper City Limits will retain their position.
A member can work out of town, to be construed to mean normal working shifts

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Therefore, let it be known and resolved, that this document has been
prepared and written to be a guide and policy for all of its members. This document
supercedes any other document, or verbal agreement that might have been in the past.

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For a print version click this link: Helper Fire Dept. Policies  | Helper Fire Home Page