§ 11-335. Volunteer Firefighters and Volunteer EMS Care Providers.

(a)

Except as otherwise provided herein, prior to appointment to the capacity of a volunteer firefighter or EMS care provider, whether of the junior or active class designation, each applicant thereto shall establish compliance with the minimum qualifications as follows:

(1)

Age. Such applicant shall have attained an age of not less than eighteen (18) years.

(2)

Application. Such applicant shall have furnished a completed application form as prescribed from time to time by the Fire Commission, which application form shall require the recordation of such information as is reasonably necessary to demonstrate that the applicant possesses the qualifications required by this Section.

(3)

Medical standards. Such applicant shall meet or exceed such medical standards as are established by the Fire Commission, which medical standards shall be based upon reasonable tests and examinations necessary to ascertain that the applicant's physical and mental health is adequate to insure that the applicant is able to perform in firefighting or rescue operations without the threat of injury to self, other firefighters or EMS care providers, or members of the general public.

(4)

Background investigation. Such applicant shall have authorized the conduct of, and successfully completed, a background investigation as may be determined, required, and administered by the applicable designated organization, which background investigation may include an investigation of the applicant's character, including an examination of the applicant's criminal history.

(b)

Upon appointment to the capacity of junior or active firefighter, each such person appointed shall comply with each of the several training requirements set forth below; and any failure thereafter of any person to meet such requirements shall result in automatic termination of active status until such time as the same requirements shall be satisfied.

(1)

Not later than twelve (12) months after the month of appointment, each junior or active firefighter shall either enroll in the Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course or in the Firefighter I certification course conducted in accordance with Standard 1001, or any equivalent course of study.

(2)

Not later than thirty (30) months after the month of appointment, each junior or active firefighter shall have satisfactorily completed the Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course and obtained the Firefighter I certification in accordance with Standard 1001, or any equivalent course of study.

(3)

For purposes of this Section 11-335(b), in the case of any volunteer firefighter who may attain the active class designation by operation of the conversion from the junior class in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-334(c), the month of appointment shall be determined and deemed to be the month during which they were first appointed to such junior class designation.

(c)

Upon appointment to the capacity of Active Volunteer EMS Care Provider, each such person appointed shall comply with each of the several training requirements set forth below; and any failure thereafter of any person to meet such requirements shall result in automatic termination of active status until such time as the same requirements shall be satisfied.

(1)

Not later than eighteen (18) months after the month of appointment, each Active Volunteer EMS Care Provider shall have completed and obtained a Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course certification, or any equivalent course of study.

(2)

For purposes of this Section 11-335(c), in the case of any Volunteer EMS Care Provider who may attain the active class designation by operation of the conversion from the junior class in accordance with the provisions of Section 11-334(c), the month of appointment shall be determined and deemed to be the month during which they were first appointed to such junior class designation.

(d)

Restrictions.

(1)

No Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active Volunteer EMS Care Provider shall be eligible to operate, or ride as a passenger upon, any apparatus until such time as they shall have satisfactorily completed the Prince George's County Volunteer Recruit School, or any equivalent course of study.

(2)

No Active Volunteer Firefighter may be permitted or authorized during emergency operations to enter a burning building or other structure until such time as they may have completed and obtained the Firefighter I certification provided at Section 11-335(b)(2) hereinabove; provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing limitation, an Incident Commander acting on site at any such fire may direct, authorize, or permit such Active Volunteer Firefighter to enter such building or structure in the event such Incident Commander shall have first determined the subject fire is placed under control.

(3)

No Active Volunteer Firefighter or Active EMS Care Provider shall be eligible to serve as a primary EMS care provider on any medical emergency apparatus until such time as they shall have obtained a Maryland Emergency Medical Technician course certification, or any equivalent course of study.

(CB-82-1994)