Definitions

-Chain of Command:  The line of authority from the fire chief through a single subordinate at each level of command.

-County (or town or district):  The physical area within the defined boundaries of the county (or town or district).

-Demotion:  A change in a member’s employment status to a position of lesser responsibility or lesser classification.

-Department: Within this manual, the word “department” will refer to The Vegreville Fire Department.

-Dismissal:  The act of terminating the service of a member.

-E.M.S.:  Emergency Medical Services.

-Fire Code:  Ordinance governing fire prevention as adopted by the county, district, town or province.

-Gender:  Within this manual, the words “he” and “his” will refer to both genders.

-Immediately:  This shall be constructed to mean “as soon as possible and practicable”.

-Inspection:  The periodic exam of personnel, stations, or apparatus for appearance, readiness, fitness for duty, and attention to duty according to standards set out in the rules and regulations manual, standard operating guidelines and general orders.

-Insubordination:  The willful disobedience of any order, lawfully issued by a superior officer, or any disrespectful, mutinous, insolent, or abusive language toward a superior officer, or senior firefighter.

-Members:  A collective term applied to all persons on the department’s payroll.

-Order:  An instruction or directive, either written or oral, issued by a superior officer to a subordinate or group of subordinates in the course of his duty.

-Personnel:  Fire department employees.

-Probationary period:  The initial 6 months of a new appointee’s service, beginning with the date of employment.

-Promotion:  A change in a member’s employment status to a position of greater responsibility or higher classification.

-Rank:  A grade of official standing.  Each class of members of the department constitutes a rank.

-Resignation:  The act of voluntary termination of a member’s service.

-Standard Operating Guidelines Manual (S.O.G.’S):  A written collection of administrative policies, operational guidelines, and rules and regulations authorized by an order of the fire chief.

-Shall and Will:  The words “shall” and “will” as used herein indicate that the action referred to is mandatory.

-Special duty:  Any duty that requires a member to be excused from his regular duties.

-Superior officer:  Any member with supervisory responsibilities, either temporary or permanent, over members of a lower rank.

-Suspension:  An action taken whereby a member is denied the privilege of performing his duties as a consequence of dereliction of duty, breach of discipline, misconduct, or violation of regulations.  Suspension is either the first step in the disciplinary process or the penalty assessed.