PROBATIONARY STATUS GUIDELINES

(Probation Status For Fire Ground Operations)

1.         The Probation Status for fire ground operations is different from the one-year membership probationary period outlined in the Fire Company By-Laws.

2.         The Fire Chief will place anyone approved to membership into the Upper Leacock Fire Company on a probation status for fire ground operations.

3.         All Probationary Members WILL display a stripe on their helmet for an amount of time determined by the Fire Chief.

4.         The probationary period varies from each member depending on the following circumstances;

-                     Past experiences

-                     Attendance

-                     Certifications

-                     Individual performance during training exercises and fire ground operations.

5.         Probationary members that currently have or receive certification in the Essentials of Firefighting course SHALL have their probationary period of time shortened.

6.         The Training Officer will monitor all probationary members closely during training exercises. All probationary members will be paired up with an experienced fire company member that will serve as a helper or mentor to the new member.

7.         The Fire Company training officer and Chief Officers will periodically evaluate each members probationary status and make recommendations to the Fire Chief, so that he can make the decision when a member is to be taken off their probationary status.

8.         Probationary members are to refrain from riding the first piece of apparatus out to fire calls UNLESS no other senior members show up or you are instructed otherwise by a Line Officer. Probationary members are to refrain from riding the Officer's seat to any piece of apparatus UNLESS the driver of that piece of apparatus instructs you otherwise.

9.         Probationary members are to refrain from entering any burning structure to perform firefighting tasks UNLESS you have prior experience and you have been authorized to do so, OR the Officer in Charge directs you to do so at the time of the incident.

10.       Probationary members should refrain from operating any and all rescue equipment, and power equipment UNLESS you are under direct supervision of the Training Officer at training or a Line Officer at the scene of a fire call. The Fire Chief has the authority to grant certain probationary members permission to operate the above-mentioned equipment as he sees fit.

11.       Probationary members are REQUIRED to furnish the Chief Officers or Training Officer with any fire fighting related training certificates. The Deputy Chief will place all the certificates in each member's personnel file.

12.       Probationary members are REQUIRED to have their Membership Checklist kept up to date by a Chief Officer. They are also REQUIRED to complete all skills outlined on the Probation Qualification Checklist and make sure that the Training Officer keeps their record of completion of those skills up to date. Probationary members are expected to complete the Probation Qualification Checklist within one year from the date you were approved as a member. Probationary members that are not responders are exempt and will not be required to complete the Probation Qualification Checklist. (This exemption would apply to Social Members, Fire Police, Drivers, etc.)

13.       The Fire Chief has the authority to grant an exemption to a probationary member from completing the Probation Qualification Checklist during circumstances when an experienced firefighter has joined our Fire Company from another Company.

14.             A Chief Officer or his/her designee, is responsible for the following;

-                     Issue Probationary Members a set of turnout gear

-                     Issue Probationary Members a pager

-                     Review all apparatus and equipment on each piece of apparatus with probationary members

-                     Develop a personnel file for each new member

-                     Will review all Fire Company by-laws, SOG manuals, and other important information with Probationary Members

15.       Probationary members are permitted to participate in all Fire Company functions such as but not limited to; training, fund raising events, fire calls, parades, and special events, etc.

16.       Probationary members may be sworn in and approved as Fire Police for Upper Leacock Township.

17.       It is the responsibility of each probationary member to notify the Fire Chief in the event that they are unable to perform certain tasks at any Fire Company function for whatever reason.

18.       Probationary members are entitled to certain privileges such as Blue Light usage, assigned turnout gear, assigned pager, issued a fire house key, etc. These are privileges and must be authorized by the proper authority. (Fire Chief authorized Blue Light, pager and assigned turnout gear privileges and the Board of Trustees authorizes privileges concerning firehouse keys.)

19.       When a probationary member is taken off probation for purposes of fire ground operations this does not take them off the one-year membership probationary period as outlined in the By-laws.

PROBATION QUALIFICATION CHECKLIST

Members Name_________________   ID Number _____

Description of Skills ___________________________________Date completed Observer Initials

Training Officer's Approval ____________________ Date________

Approved by membership vote on:   __________________

President:      ____________________

                                                Ted Burkhart

Secretary:      ____________________

                                                Pam Huber