§ 14-105. Personnel and property of volunteer companies; release of members of volunteer fire companies from employment in emergencies.

(a)

The membership of the various volunteer fire companies shall have and retain control of the personnel and all of the property of each such company except when actually at the scene of a fire, or in transit to and from the same, or when actually engaged in preparation and training for fighting fires at which times they shall be subject to the orders of the Chief or his representative. No one exclusive of membership shall have any jurisdiction over the internal affairs of any volunteer company. Engines shall be maintained in operating repair at all times.

(b)

Release of members for emergencies.

(1)

The City and any person, firm or corporation located within the City which employs ten (10) or more persons at any one (1) location shall allow any active member of a Danbury Volunteer Fire Company, as defined in C.G.S. § 7-314, to leave his place of employment without loss of pay, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation to respond, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., to an emergency to which his volunteer fire company is responding. No such employer shall:

a.

Discharge, discipline or reduce the wages, vacation time, sick leave or earned overtime accumulation of any employee because such employee is a member in a volunteer fire company; or

b.

Require refusal to respond to an emergency as a condition of continued employment. The requirements of this subsection shall not be altered by any collective bargaining agreement.

(2)

Any such member who participates pursuant to this subsection shall register with his volunteer fire company. Each Danbury-based volunteer fire company shall maintain a list of their members who are employed within the City and who are available to respond to an emergency between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

(3)

The services of a member of a volunteer fire company who leaves a place of employment pursuant to this subsection to respond to an emergency shall be provided in accordance with any internal operating procedures established by his volunteer fire company.

(4)

Any member of a Danbury Volunteer Fire Company who responds to an emergency pursuant to the provisions of the subsection shall be entitled to receive all benefits payable under the provisions of C.G.S. §§ 7-314 and 7-314a.

(Code 1961, § 8-4; Ord. No. 57, 1-4-1966; Ord. No. 488, 9-7-1994)

State law reference

Leaves for service as volunteer firefighter, C.G.S. § 7-322b.