Professional Conduct and Discipline
The Burbank Fire Corps Program (BFCP) is a well-respected part of the Burbank community.
This has been achieved due to the dedication and commitment of our members, who
continually strive to be a resource to the City of Burbank.
You represent the BFCP to new members, to the public, and to
those to whom we render our services. It is important to portray a positive
image.
As a volunteer with the BFCP, you are expected to comply
with the following:
- Dial
911 for all emergencies.
- Know
you are not a Firefighter. You are trained to function as an extension of
the fire department's non-hazardous support function or in response to CATASTROPHIC disasters, when such
circumstances exist or when directed by emergency services officials.
- When
disaster occurs, your first responsibility is to ensure your own safety
and the safety of your family.
- You
can then respond to the assigned assembly point(s) to join with other
BFCP members.
- You
shall not respond or “self-dispatch” to any incidents on your own.
- Do not
represent yourself as a firefighter or other official member of the City
of Burbank beyond that of an official volunteer supporting the City of
Burbank or the Burbank Fire Department.
- Do not
self-deploy to local events (fires, accidents, etc.). If you happen to
come across such an incident as a “Good Samaritan” you may take
appropriate action as a Good Samaritan, but not under the color of
authority as a BFCP member.
- Confine
your actions to the guidelines of your training and stay within the scope
of your training and certification.
- Confine
your actions to your physical, and resource limitations, when responding
as a member of BFCP. Such limitations may be determined by, but not
limited to, equipment available, physical abilities, knowledge, authority
and hazards.
- Conduct
yourself with professionalism, dignity, and pride, and act appropriately
and responsibly at all times while assisting others.
- Treat City
of Burbank personnel, Fire Department Staff, fellow BFCP members,
visitors, other volunteer program participants, guests, and the public with
respect and courtesy.
- Treat
all property with respect.
- Be
sensitive to the diversity of BFCP members and those we serve and assist.
- Direct
anyone looking for official statements from BFCP to the Emergency
Management Coordinator, Coordinator/Deputy Coordinator of Volunteer
Operations or BFCP Chief of Staff.
- Respect
the privacy of persons served by BFCP and hold, in confidence, all
sensitive, private, and personal information.
- Hold, in confidence and keep private,
information you become aware of in your position as a BFCP volunteer. In your position as a volunteer with the
BFCP, you may be aware of information that has not yet been released to
the general public or you may be aware of administrative information that
until such time as information is made public is to be held in confidence
and kept private.
- In
dealing with an incident or other such scene, direct all information
inquiries to the Public Information Officer (PIO). If no PIO is assigned, direct inquiries
to the Fire Department (or other agency which may be the lead agency for
the incident or scene).
- Keep
BFCP leadership informed of any progress, concerns, or problems with tasks
to which you have been assigned.
- Partake
of no alcohol or drugs while responding as the BFCP and do not report for
duty while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. NOTE, that although recreational marijuana has been legalized in California, for purposes of the BFCP program, no-member may report while under the influence of marijuana or have just recently used marijuana including any edible products or marijuana derivatives such as oils or other products.
- You
are forbidden to carry guns, batons, chemical spray (e.g. pepper spray) or
other weapons (you may have multi-purpose tools, reasonable knife, etc.
that is justified to carry out your role as a BFCP volunteer unless
otherwise prohibited by law). You have been trained for immediate disaster
response and there is no need, place or legal authorization for you to
carry any items deemed to be a weapon. To do so will jeopardize your own
safety and the continued existence of the BFCP in Burbank.
- You
shall not authorize the use of, or use for the benefit or advantage of any
person, the name, emblem, endorsement, services or property of the BFCP,
without the written approval of the BFCP Coordinator of Volunteer
Operations, Deputy Coordinator of Volunteer Operations or Emergency Management Coordinator. This includes, but is not limited to identification
card, uniform, documents, developed forms, procedures or presentation
materials.
- You
shall not accept, or seek on behalf of any other person, any money or
gifts offered as a result of your affiliation with the BFCP unless
carrying out authorized tasks associated with the collection of sanctioned
donations.
- You
shall not use your participation in BFCP to promote any partisan politics,
religious matters or positions on any issue.
- You
should avoid inappropriate conduct that would jeopardize program
effectiveness. Such behavior
includes, but is not limited to, the following:
A. Offensive
or profane language or gestures
B. Public
criticism of a BFCP team member, its leaders, the BFCP, the City of Burbank
(and agents), the Burbank Fire Department
C. Jeopardizing
another team member's safety
- BFCP
members may not purchase or consume alcoholic beverages while visibly in
uniform. Further, BFCP members will
not engage in social activity in a bar or other establishment where the
primary business of that establishment is the sale and/or consumption of
alcoholic beverages while visibly in uniform.
- BFCP members may not use tobacco products
while on duty or otherwise visibly in uniform. (BFCP members who are off-duty in
transit immediately to/from a BFCP event may engage in the use of tobacco
products only if the BFCP member is wearing an outer garment that covers
all distinguishing markings that associates the person as a BFCP member or
may otherwise cause the member to appear on-duty). Furthermore, any volunteers attending
any event or meeting not in uniform, shall follow all applicable smoking
laws and/or prohibitions.
- BFCP
members will be held to a high standard of moral turpitude both on and off
duty.
- BFCP
members will always act above reproach and carry themselves in a
professional manner while maintaining a high standard of conduct,
integrity and concern for department, program and public interest. A BFCP member’s conduct must command the
trust, respect and confidence of the department, program and public.
It is the responsibility of each and every BFCP member to
report violations of the BFCP Professional Code of Conduct or any other action
that may be questionable. Any member,
who knowingly conceals, fails to report or otherwise misrepresents an action
described within this section or any other questionable action, may be in
violation of conduct unbecoming a BFCP volunteer.
The BFCP is committed to a policy of fair representation and
will not discriminate on the basis of race, ethnicity, age, disability, gender,
color, religion, sexual orientation, geography, or group affiliations.
Volunteers will adhere to these same standards in the course of their duties. |