This bill mandates that the deployment of career fire fighters in New Jersey must adhere to the standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), specifically NFPA 1710 (2020 edition). It requires that the governing body of a municipality or the board of fire commissioners, in the case of a fire district, ensure that fire-fighting personnel are organized and deployed for rescue, fire suppression, and related activities in accordance with these national standards. This is intended to enhance the safety of fire fighters and prevent local authorities from compromising safety standards due to budgetary or political pressures.

Additionally, the bill amends existing legislation to clarify the definition of a "career fire department" and establishes the requirement for the Commissioner of Community Affairs to create rules for a mandatory incident management system for the fire service. It also stipulates that the commissioner, in consultation with the fire safety commission, will develop a technical implementation guide to ensure compliance with NFPA 1710. These changes aim to standardize fire fighter deployment practices across the state, thereby improving overall fire service effectiveness and safety.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 52:27D-25