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338 <br />If the deficiency occurs in a department which has previously met the requirements of the North <br />Carolina Fire Insurance Rating Bureau, the Fire Commissioner shall notify the bureau as to the <br />conditions that exist in the department causing the deficiency. <br />Section 6. Each fire department desiring to qualify for financial assistance under this resolution <br />shall meet the following minimum standards: <br />(a) A rural volunteer fire department shall, be incorporated under the laws of the State of <br />North Carolina. A municipal fire department shall be organized under an ordinance of the governing <br />body of'.the incorporated city or town. <br />(b) Each fire department shall have a fire chief, an.assistant fire chief, and other necessary <br />officers and men, with a minimum of nineteen active members. A list of all members and their addresses <br />and telephone numbers must be given to the Fire Commissioner on or before January 1 of each year. <br />(c) All active members of a fire department in good standing shall have some identification, <br />such as a card, badge, hat, or car plate to identify them as "bona fide firemen." No one other <br />than an active member of the department in good standing shall be allowed to have this identification <br />in his possession. <br />(d) Each fire department shall have as minimum equipment that equipment specified by the <br />North Carolina Fire Insurance Rating Bureau as necessary for Grade 9-A Communities. The equipment <br />shall be kept in good condition and operative at all times. The Fire Commission shall have authority <br />to accept 'minor deviations from the specified equipment, when such minor deviations will not affect <br />the ability of the department to fight fires. <br />(e) Each department shall carry liability insurance on its firemen and equipment, leaving <br />the county free from any responsibility for damages or claims resulting from the activities of its <br />fireman or from the operation of its equipment. Each department shall also carry workmen's compensa- <br />tion insurance on its active members, in order to provide those members with the benefits of the <br />Workmen's Compensation Act. <br />(f) Each fire department shall carry out an organized training program, which shall be <br />specified by the Fire Commission. The training program shall include the training and qualifying <br />of fire truck drivers. Each department shall participate in a.minimum of one drill each month, and <br />each firs truck shall be operated at least once each week. <br />(g) The fire chief of each department is responsible for stressing "safty" throughout the <br />department and throughout all phases of the department's activities. Emphasis shall be placed on <br />the safe driving of the firemen's own automobiles to the scene of the fire, as well as on safe <br />practices while fighting a firm. Only qualified drivers shall drive the fire truck, and the names <br />of qualified drivers shall be posted at the fire station and furnished to the membership of the <br />department. Drivers shall drive with caution at all times, and they shall allow no one but active <br />members of the fire department to ride the track when it is on call to a fire or to other emergency. <br />(h) A proporly manned telephone shall be available at all times during the day and night to <br />receive fire alarms and notify members of the fire department in the event of fire or other emergency. <br />Each member of the fire department shall be furnished a copy of the names and telephone numbers of <br />all departments within the county, and each department shall maintain an up-to-date list of the names <br />and telephone numbers of all members of each department within the county. An electric siren or <br />air horn shall be mounted within the community for the adequate notification df all firemen, and it <br />shall be installed so that it can be operated from a public place and so that it will be audible to <br />a majority of the active members of the department. <br />(i) Each fire department shall respond to the call of the Fire Commissioner. It shall be <br />the duty of the Fire Commissioner to take such steps as are necessary to make sure, in the event of <br />such a call, that the district of a.department answering a call shall not be left unprotected. <br />(j) The fire chief within whose area the fire is being fought will be the final authority <br />at the scene of the fire, or where a fire occur, in an area outside of the area of any organised <br />department, the fire chief of the department first arriving at the scene of the fire shall he the <br />final authority. A fire chief, otherwise responsible, may grant permission to another person more <br />qualifieu to assume the direction of fighting the fire, or dealing with the emergency, if such other <br />person is willing to accept the responsibility. In such cases, other persons working under the <br />direction of the fire chief shall be immediately informed of the change of authority. <br />(k) The fire chief, or the senior officer of the department having responsibility presont at <br />the scene, shall make a full investigation of each fire to determine, if possible, the cause of the <br />fire. If any evidence of arson develops, the Fire Commissioner, and other local and state authorities, <br />shall be notified. <br />(1) All fire chiefs are responsible for keeping adequate and accurate records of all fire <br />cal]s,as well as other records and reports that may be required. A regulation fire record book shall <br />be maintained by each department. The fire chief will also be responsible for filing with the Fire <br />Commission any additional reports which are required by the Fire Commission or by the North Carolina <br />?ire Insurance Rating Bureau. <br />(m) Each department shall designate a traffic section, composed of at least one captain <br />and three members, who shall be trained in the proper handling of traffic.