This is the exact embedded text of the captured official document.
Snapshot 81a4af261e86 · verified 2026-06-08 ·
original document ·
archived snapshot ·
unofficial consolidation, the official version is held by the municipal clerk.
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER
BYLAW NO. 731, 2020
Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020
PAGE 1 OF 5
*************************************************************************************
A bylaw to continue the operation and regulation of a fire department.
NOW THEREFORE, the Council of the Village of New Denver, in open meeting assembled, enacts as
follows:
1. CITATION
1.1.
This Bylaw may be cited for all purposes as "Village of New Denver Fire Department
Bylaw No. 731, 2020".
2. DEFINITIONS
2.1. In this bylaw:
Administrator means the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Village of New
Denver
Apparatus means any vehicle provided with machinery, devices, equipment or
materials for fire protection and assistance response as well as vehicles used to
transport fire fighters or supplies;
Council means the Council of the Village of New Denver;
Equipment means any tools, contrivances, devices or materials used by the Fire
Department to combat an incident or other emergency;
Fire Chief means the Member appointed by Council, as head of the Fire Department;
Fire Protection means all aspects of fire safety including but not limited to fire
prevention, fire fighting or suppression, pre-fire planning, fire investigation, public
education and information, training or other staff development and advising;
Incident means a fire or a situation where a fire or explosion is imminent;
Mayor means the Mayor of the Village of New Denver;
Member means any person or Officer that is duly appointed by the Fire Chief or
Council as a member of the Fire Department;
Officer means a Member appointed by Council and given specific authority to assist
the Fire Chief in their duties
3. ADMINISTRATION
3.1.
Council shall determine the remuneration for all members of the Fire Department.
3.2.
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by a resolution of Council.
3.3.
The Fire Chief may recommend to Council the appointment of a qualified person or
persons as a Deputy Chief or Deputy Chiefs for the Department.
3.3.1. The Deputy Chief shall report to the Fire Chief and carry out the orders of the
Fire Chief and, in the absence of the Fire Chief, has all the power and shall
perform the duties of the Chief.
3.4.
Other Officers and Members, as the Fire Chief deems necessary, may be appointed
by Council
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER
BYLAW NO. 731, 2020
Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020
PAGE 2 OF 5
3.5.
A person is qualified to be appointed a volunteer Member of the Department for fire
fighting duties who:
i. Is of legal age;
ii. Is of good character;
iii. Passed tests as may be required by the Fire Chief; and
iv. Is medically fit to be a member.
3.6.
A person appointed as a volunteer Member of the Department for fire fighting duties
shall be on probation for a period of at least three months during which period he
shall take such special training and examinations as may be required by the Fire
Chief.
3.7.
A person is qualified to be appointed as a Junior Volunteer Member of the
Department for training purposes only, who:
i. Is at least 16 years of age;
ii. Has not reached 18 years of age;
iii. Is of good character;
iv. Has passed tests as may be required by the Fire Chief; and
v. Is medically fit to be a member.
3.8.
A Junior Volunteer member is authorized to attend the scene of an incident, on the
direction of the Fire Chief or designate, for assistance purposes only but is not
authorized to fight fires.
4. DUTIES & AUTHORITY OF THE FIRE CHIEF
4.1.
The Fire Chief may appoint Officers to act as Fire Chief on their behalf.
4.2.
The Fire Chief shall have the management, control and supervision of the Fire
Department and the care, custody and control of all buildings, apparatus and
equipment of the Fire Department and shall be directly responsible to the
Administrator for efficient management of the Fire Department and the condition of
all buildings, apparatus and equipment under their control.
4.2.1. The Fire Chief, or in their absence the senior ranking member present, shall
have control, direction and management of all Fire Department apparatus,
equipment and manpower assigned to an incident and where a member is in
charge they shall continue to act until relieved by a senior officer.
4.3.
The Fire Chief may from time to time make such rules and regulations for the proper
and efficient administration and operation of the Fire Department and for the
discipline of its members and may vary, alter or repeal such rules and regulations as
they shall from time to time deem fit and necessary.
4.3.1. All members of the Fire Department shall comply with all rules and
regulations from time to time made pursuant to Section 4.3 and any failure to
comply with the said rules and regulations by a member of the Fire
Department shall be dealt with and disposed of by the Fire Chief in such a
manner as he shall deem fit.
4.4.
The Fire Chief or their designate shall take all proper measures for the prevention,
control and extinguishment of fires and for the protection of life and property and
exercise the powers and duties imposed upon them by the Fire Services Act.
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER
BYLAW NO. 731, 2020
Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020
PAGE 3 OF 5
4.5.
The Fire Chief shall be required to carry out all fire protection and assistance
response activities and such other activities as Council directs including but not
limited to:
i.
Rescue operations
ii.
Medical emergencies
iii.
Other incidents
iv.
Pre-fire planning
v.
Disaster planning
vi.
Public services
4.6.
The Fire Chief or any members of the Fire Department authorized by Council, may at
any reasonable time enter any premise for the purpose of fire prevention
inspections.
4.7.
The Fire Chief or any member of the Fire Department authorized by Council may
require an owner or occupier of real property to undertake any actions for the
purpose of removing or reducing any thing or condition that person considers is a fire
hazard or increases the danger of fire.
4.8.
The Fire Chief or any other member in charge at a fire is empowered to cause a
building, structure, or thing to be pulled down, demolished or otherwise removed if
they deem it necessary to prevent the spread of fire to other buildings, structures or
things.
4.9.
The Fire Chief or any other member in charge at an incident is empowered to enter
premises or property where the incident occurred and to cause any member,
apparatus, or equipment of the fire Department to enter, as they deem necessary, in
order to combat, control or deal with the incident.
4.10. The Fire Chief or the member in charge at an incident is empowered to enter, pass
through or over buildings or property adjacent to an incident and to cause members
of the Fire Department and the apparatus and equipment of the Fire Department to
enter or pass through or over buildings or property, where they deem it necessary to
gain access to the incident or to protect any person or property.
4.11. The Fire Chief or the member in charge of an incident may request persons who are
not members to assist in removing furniture, goods and merchandise from any
building on fire or in danger thereof and in guarding and securing same and in
demolishing a building or structure at or near the fire or other incident.
4.12. The Fire Chief or the member in charge of an incident is empowered to commandeer
privately owned equipment which they consider necessary to deal with an incident
4.13. The Fire Chief, or the member in charge at an incident may at their discretion
establish boundaries or limits and keep persons from entering the area within the
prescribed boundaries or limits unless authorized by the Fire Chief or member in
charge.
4.13.1. The Fire Chief of the member in charge at an incident may request peace officers
to enforce restrictions on persons entering within the boundaries or limits outlined
in Section 4.13
4.14. The Fire Chief may obtain assistance from other officials of the municipality as they
deem necessary in order to discharge their duties and responsibilities under this
bylaw.
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER
BYLAW NO. 731, 2020
Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020
PAGE 4 OF 5
4.15. The Fire Chief shall provide a Fire Department Report to Council on an annual basis.
5. REGULATIONS & PROHIBITIONS
5.1.
No persons shall enter the boundaries or limits of an area prescribed in accordance
with Section 4.13 unless they have been authorized to enter by the Fire Chief or
member in charge.
5.2.
No person at an incident shall impeded, obstruct or hinder a member of the Fire
Department or other person assisting or acting under the direction of the Fire Chief
or the member in charge.
5.3.
No person shall damage or destroy Fire Department apparatus or equipment.
5.4.
No person at an incident shall drive a vehicle over any equipment without permission
of the Fire Chief or member in charge.
5.5.
No person shall falsely represent themselves as a Fire Department member.
5.6.
No person shall obstruct or otherwise interfere with access roads or streets or other
approaches to any fire incident, fire hydrant, cistern or body of water designated for
fire fighting purposes.
5.7.
The Fire Department shall not respond to a call with respect to a fire or emergency
outside the municipal limits except:
i.
With permission from the Administrator or Mayor; or
ii.
For emergencies where response is on behalf of Emergency Management BC or
the BC Wildfire Service; or
iii.
By the express authorization of a written contract or agreement providing for
the supply of fire fighting and assistance response services outside the
established boundaries.
6. PENALTY
6.1.
Every person who violates any of the provisions of this bylaw, or who suffers or
permits any act or thing to be done in contravention or in violation of any of the
provisions of this bylaw, or who neglects to do or refrains from doing anything
required to be done by any of the provisions of this bylaw, or who does any act or
thing or omits any act or thing thus violating any of the provisions of this bylaw, shall
be deemed to have committed an offense, and upon a summary conviction is liable
to imprisonment for a term of not more than six (6) months or to a fine of not more
than two thousand, five hundred dollars ($2,500) or to both fine and imprisonment.
7. REPEAL
7.1.
Village of New Denver Fire Bylaw No. 575, 2004 is hereby repealed.
8. GENERAL
8.1.
Any enactment referred to herein is a reference to an enactment of British Columbia
and regulations thereto, as amended, revised, consolidated or replaced from time to
time.
8.2.
If any part, section, sentence, clause, phrase or word of this bylaw is for any reason
held to be invalid by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, the invalid
portion shall be severed and the decision that it is invalid shall not affect the validity
of the remainder which shall continue in full force and effect and be construed as if
the bylaw had been adopted without the invalid portion.
THE CORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE OF NEW DENVER
BYLAW NO. 731, 2020
Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020
PAGE 5 OF 5
9. EFFECTIVE DATE
9.1.
This bylaw shall take effect upon adoption.
READ A FIRST TIME this 10th day of November, 2020.
READ A SECOND TIME this 10th day of November, 2020.
READ A THIRD TIME this 10th day of November, 2020.
RECONSIDERED AND FINALLY ADOPTED this 24th day of November, 2020.
MAYOR
CORPORATE OFFICER
Certified to be a true copy of "Village of New Denver Fire Department Bylaw No. 731, 2020".
CORPORATE OFFICER