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Auxiliary Fire Service
AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE ACT

CHAPTER 35:54

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Act
51 of 1979

Current Authorised Pages
Pages Authorised

(inclusive) by L.R.O.
1–11 ..

L.R.O. UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

2 Chap. 35:54 Auxiliary Fire Service

Note on Subsidiary Legislation

This Chapter contains no subsidiary legislation.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Auxiliary Fire Service Chap. 35:54 3

CHAPTER 35:54

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE ACT

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTION

1. Short title.
2. Interpretation.
3. Establishment of Auxiliary Fire Service.
4. Appointment of members.
5. Oath or affirmation.
6. Revocation of appointment.
7. Resignation.
8. Retirement.
9. Power of Chief Fire Officer.

10. Responsibilities of the Chief Fire Officer.
11. Powers and responsibilities of members.
12. Clothing and equipment to be provided.
13. Duty to return clothing and equipment.
14. Offences and penalties.
15. Regulations.

FIRST SCHEDULE.
SECOND SCHEDULE.
THIRD SCHEDULE.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

MINISTRY OF LEGAL AFFAIRS www.legalaffairs.gov.tt

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

4 Chap. 35:54 Auxiliary Fire Service

CHAPTER 35:54

AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE ACT

An Act to provide for the establishment and control of an
Auxiliary Fire Service and for matters connected
therewith and incidental thereto.

[31ST DECEMBER 1979]

1. This Act may be cited as the Auxiliary Fire Service Act.

2. In this Act—
“Auxiliary Fire Service” means the Auxiliary Fire Service of

Trinidad and Tobago established by section 3;
“Chief Fire Officer” and “Deputy Chief Fire Officer” means the

persons appointed to the offices of Chief Fire Officer and
Deputy Chief Fire Officer respectively under the Fire
Service Act;

“Fire Service” means the Fire Service established by section 3 of
the Fire Service Act.

3. (1) There is hereby established an Auxiliary Fire Service
to be known as the Auxiliary Fire Service of Trinidad and Tobago.

(2) The Auxiliary Fire Service shall consist of First
Division Officers and Second Division Officers (hereinafter
together referred to as “members”).

(3) The officers of each Division of the Auxiliary Fire
Service are those set out in the Second Schedule and such other
offices as the President may by Order prescribe from time to time.

4. (1) The Minister acting on the advice of the Chief Fire
Officer may in writing appoint such persons as he thinks fit to be
First Division Officers of the Auxiliary Fire Service.

(2) Subject to the approval of the Minister, the Chief Fire
Officer may in writing appoint such persons as he thinks fit to be
Second Division Officers of the Auxiliary Fire Service.

51 of 1979.

Commencement.

Short title.

Interpretation.

Ch. 35:50.

Establishment of
Auxiliary Fire
Service.

Second
Schedule.

Appointment of
members.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Auxiliary Fire Service Chap. 35:54 5

(3) Applications for appointments shall be made in
writing, on the form prescribed in the First Schedule, to the Chief
Fire Officer who shall, in the case of persons seeking appointments
as First Division Officers, forward their applications to the Minister.

(4) Each application must be accompanied by a medical
certificate and a certificate of good character.

5. Every member shall, before entering upon his duties under
this Act, take and subscribe the oath or affirmation of office and of
secrecy set out in the Third Schedule before a Justice of the Peace.

6. The appointment of any member may be revoked at
any time—

(a) by the Minister, in the case of a First Division
Officer; and

(b) by the Chief Fire Officer, in the case of a Second
Division Officer.

7. A member may resign by giving one month’s notice in
writing to the Chief Fire Officer who shall, in the case of an officer
in the First Division, transmit the notice to the Minister.

8. (1) Subject to subsection (2), the compulsory retiring age
shall be—

(a) in the case of a First Division Officer, sixty
years; and

(b) in the case of a Second Division Officer, fifty-
five years.

(2) The retirement age of a First Division Officer may
be extended with the approval of the Minister on the
recommendation of the Chief Fire Officer for periods not
exceeding five years in the aggregate.

9. Where the Minister is of the opinion that additional
personnel is required for the preservation of good order, the
protection of persons or property or the performance of any other
duty exercisable by members of the Fire Service, he may, on the
advice of the Chief Fire Officer, call out members of the Auxiliary
Fire Service for duty on a full-time, part-time or temporary basis.

First Schedule.

Oath or
affirmation.

Third Schedule.

Revocation of
appointment.

Resignation.

Retirement.

Power of Chief
Fire Officer.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

6 Chap. 35:54 Auxiliary Fire Service

10. Subject to any special or general directions of the Minister,
the Chief Fire Officer shall be responsible for the command and
superintendence of the Auxiliary Fire Service.

11. Every member shall, when called out for duty, have,
exercise and enjoy the same powers, authority, privileges and
immunities and shall perform the duties and have the
responsibilities of a member of the Fire Service.

12. The Chief Fire Officer or any other officer in the Fire
Service authorised for the purpose in writing by the Chief Fire
Officer (hereinafter referred to as “an authorised officer”) shall
provide each member with such clothing and equipment as may
be prescribed; the cost of which clothing and equipment shall be
defrayed from funds provided by Parliament for the purpose.

13. (1) A person who ceases to be a member shall, within
one week of his ceasing to be a member, return to the Chief Fire
Officer or an authorised officer the clothing and equipment with
which he was provided by virtue of section 12.

(2) A person who ceases to be a member and who fails or
refuses without reasonable excuse to return, within the period
specified under subsection (1), the clothing and equipment with
which he was provided is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of five hundred dollars.

14. (1) A member who—
(a) when called out for duty fails or refuses to perform

any duty assigned to him or to carry out any lawful
order given to him; or

(b) sells, lends, pledges or otherwise disposes of or
wilfully damages any clothing or equipment with
which he was provided,

is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five hundred dollars
and to imprisonment for six months.

Responsibilities
of the Chief Fire
Officer.

Powers and
responsibilities
of members.

Clothing and
equipment to be
provided.

Duty to return
clothing and
equipment.

Offences and
penalties.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Auxiliary Fire Service Chap. 35:54 7

(2) A person who impersonates, or in any other manner
pretends to be, a member is liable on summary conviction to a fine
of five hundred dollars and to imprisonment for six months.

(3) No prosecution shall commence for an offence under
subsection (1)(a) without the express approval of the Director of
Public Prosecutions.

15. (1) The Minister may make such Regulations as he
considers necessary for giving effect to the provisions of this Act,
for prescribing anything that is required by this Act to be prescribed
and by such Regulations may provide for—

(a) the organisation of the Auxiliary Fire Service;
(b) the establishment of different ranks in the

Auxiliary Fire Service and the precedence and
command to be had or exercised by the members
of each rank;

(c) the training of members;
(d) the conditions of service, promotion, demotion,

resignation, suspension or dismissal of members;
(e) the remuneration and payment of allowances to

members and the rates at which and the conditions
upon which such allowances shall be paid to
members of the different ranks;

(f) the grant of benefits to members who are injured
while in the execution of their duties and the rates
at which and the conditions upon which such
benefits shall be granted to members of the
different ranks;

(g) the grant of pensions or gratuities to members
who, consequent upon injuries received in the
course of their duties, are permanently
incapacitated or whose earning power has been
considerably impaired and the rates at which and
the conditions upon which the pensions or
gratuities shall be granted to members of the
different ranks;

Regulations.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

8 Chap. 35:54 Auxiliary Fire Service

(h) the grant, subject to such conditions as the
Minister may impose and at such rates as may be
specified, of a pension or gratuity to the widow,
children or other dependants of any member who
dies from injuries received as a result and in the
course of the performance of his duties without
his own neglect or default;

(i) the control of the use of transport used by
members for the purpose of carrying out their
duties under this Act;

(j) the discipline of the Auxiliary Fire Service and
the procedure to be followed in cases of breaches
of discipline; and

(k) the prescription and supply of clothing and
equipment for the use of members.

(2) Regulations made under subsection (1)(e), (f), (g) and
(h) shall be subject to negative resolution of Parliament.

(3) For the purposes of subsection (1)(h) “child” includes—
(a) a posthumous child;
(b) a stepchild or illegitimate child born before the

date of the injury and was wholly or mainly
dependent on the deceased member for support; and

(c) a child who was legally adopted before the date
of the injury and was wholly or mainly dependent
on the deceased member for support.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Auxiliary Fire Service Chap. 35:54 9

FIRST SCHEDULE

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AUXILIARY FIRE SERVICE
APPLICATION FOR ENLISTMENT—

*FIRST/SECOND DIVISION

1. Full name and address .......................................................................................
2. Date of birth ........................ 3. Place of birth ................................................
4. Name and occupation of father and mother .......................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................
5. Schools attended (with dates) ............................................................................
6. Standard of education reached ...........................................................................
7. Examinations passed or courses taken ...............................................................

............................................................................................................................
8. History of employment ......................................................................................

............................................................................................................................
9. Record of service (in the Fire Service) ..............................................................

............................................................................................................................
10. Present occupation ............................. 11. Pay ............................................
12. Married or single ............................... 13. No. of children ..........................
14. Height (in bare feet) .......................... 15. Weight .......................................
16. Chest: (a) normal ........................... (b) expanded ...................................
17. Special qualifications ........................................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................
18. Details of any games played ..............................................................................

............................................................................................................................

............................................................................................................................
19. Names, occupations and addresses of any two respected members of the

community who can testify to your good character:
(a) .........................................................................................................
(b) .........................................................................................................

I, .................... ....declare that to the best of my knowledge
the answers given above are true and correct.

................................... ...................................................
Date Signature of Applicant

*Strike out status not applicable.

Section 4.

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

10 Chap. 35:54 Auxiliary Fire Service

NOTE:
1. Some physical requirements are as follows:

(a) Minimum height, 168 cm in bare feet;
(b) Minimum chest measurement, normal 84 cm;
(c) Arms and legs, not deformed;
(d) Feet, not flat-footed.

2. Set out any additional facts in support of application above.

SECOND SCHEDULE

A. The offices in the First Division of the Auxiliary Fire Service—
Divisional Fire Officer.
Assistant Divisional Fire Officer.

B. The offices in the Second Division of the Auxiliary Fire Service—
Fire Station Officer
Fire Sub-Station Officer
Fire Sub-Officer
Fireman.

THIRD SCHEDULE

OATH OF OFFICE AND OF SECRECY

I, (A.B.), solemnly and sincerely swear that I will faithfully and honestly
fulfil the duties that devolve upon me by reason of my employment in the service
of the Auxiliary Fire Service and that I will not without due authority in that
behalf, in any manner whatsoever publish or communicate any facts or
information being facts or expressions of opinion based on such facts that come
to my knowledge by reason of such employment.

So help me God:

Signature ............................................

Sworn before me at ........................., this .......... day of ........................... 20.......

............................................................................
Justice of the Peace

Section 3.

Section 5.

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L.R.O.

LAWS OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Auxiliary Fire Service Chap. 35:54 11

AFFIRMATION OF OFFICE AND OF SECRECY

I, (A.B.), solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will faithfully and
honestly fulfil the duties that devolve upon me by reason of my employment in
the service of the Auxiliary Fire Service and that I will not without due authority
in that behalf, in any manner whatsoever publish or communicate any facts or
information being facts or expressions of opinion based on such facts that
come to my knowledge by reason of such employment.

Signature ............................................

Affirmed before me at ........................., this .......... day of ....................... 20.......

............................................................................
Justice of the Peace

UNOFFICIAL VERSION


UPDATED TO DECEMBER 31ST 2014

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