Current through Register Vol. XLI, No. 50, December 13, 2024
Section 87-6-2 - DefinitionsAs used in this Rule, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
2.1. "Certification" refers to the State Fire Commission's formal acceptance and approval of a new, local fire department to carry out fire fighting, fire suppression and rescue operations in this State, pursuant to the procedures for application, review and approval that are set forth in this rule. Certification of new fire departments also constitutes the initial, formal recognition of that department.2.2. "Commission" means the West Virginia State Fire Commission.2.3 "Dual Response Area" refers to an area, defined by a mutual aid agreement or designated by the Commission, in which more than one local fire department may respond or may be called upon for initial response to a fire, threat of fire, or public emergency. The term "dual response area" is not mutually incompatible with the designation of a "first due area" and a dual response area may overlap, or comprise all or a portion of, a designated first due area.2.4. "Fire Department" and "Local Fire Department" means an organization, constituted as either an administrative department of a local government authority or an independently-chartered corporation, that is established for the principal purpose of fighting and preventing fires. For the purposes of this Rule, the term "fire department" shall also include those entities, so organized, using the name "fire company" or referred to as a fire company within the West Virginia Code.2.5. "Fire Protection District" means a geographical area established by the Commission, within fire protection boundaries approved by the Commission, for the administration of fire protection and emergency response programs.2.6. "First Due Area" means a fire protection district for which the Commission has assigned primary responsibility to a local fire department to provide fire protection and rescue services.2.7. "ISO" refers to a national organization, ISO Properties, Inc., also known as the Insurance Services Office, that provides research, products, programs, and information on matters of insurance and risk management.2.8. "Mutual Aid Agreement" is an agreement between a local fire department and another fire department, or governmental authority having jurisdiction over such other fire department, for the common protection of people and property from fire, for the reciprocal provision of emergency and rescue services and for the reciprocal use of equipment and personnel for these purposes.2.9. "Recognition" refers to the State Fire Commission's formal acceptance and acknowledgment of the current qualifications of a local fire department to carry out fire fighting, fire suppression and rescue operations in this State.2.10. "State Fire Marshal" refers to the West Virginia State Fire Marshal and representatives duly authorized by the State Fire Marshal to act on his or her behalf.