State of New Jersey
Executive Order #53

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, the people of the State of New Jersey rely upon the courageous men and women of the fire departments of this State to protect them from the pervasive danger presented by fire and other emergencies; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey has a compelling interest in guaranteeing that the fire departments of the State, both career and volunteer, are adequately trained and equipped to respond to catastrophic damage and loss; and

WHEREAS, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 have demonstrated the need for greater cooperation and superior channels of communication between municipal fire departments and State, county and federal agencies to ensure the ability of the State's fire departments to respond to a catastrophic event or terrorist attack; and

WHEREAS, the fire departments of this State could benefit from more efficient, more economical, and safety sensitive training; and

WHEREAS, the fire departments of the State of New Jersey could benefit from group purchasing;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. There is hereby established the Governor's Fire Service and Safety Task Force, hereinafter referred to as the Task Force.

  2. The members of the Task Force shall consist of:

    • The Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs, or her
      designee
    • The Attorney General, or his designee
    • The Director of the Division of Fire Safety
    • The President of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, or his designee
    • The President of the New Jersey Firemen's Benevolent Association, or his designee
    • The President of the New Jersey Association of Fire Districts, or his designee
    • The President of the New Jersey State Fire Chiefs Association, or his designee
    • The President of the New Jersey State Association of County Fire Marshals, or his designee
    • The President of the Professional Fire Chiefs Association, or his designee
    • The President of the New Jersey State Firemen's Association, or his designee
    • The President of the League of Municipalities, or his designee

  3. The Chairperson of the Task Force shall be the Director of the Division of Fire Safety.

  4. The purpose of the Task Force will be to examine how fire departments can foster greater cooperation and improve interdepartmental communication with the state, county and federal agencies in order to respond to a major disaster, to examine the current delivery of fire protection and the operational readiness of New Jersey's Fire Service, and to develop and recommend a Statewide plan to affect a more efficient, more economical, and safety sensitive operation.

  5. Specifically, the Task Force will study the following aspects of fire
    department performance:

    • Interdepartmental communication
    • Major emergency response
    • Training

  6. The Task Force will consider making recommendations with regard to potential remedies, including:

    • Interdepartmental training exercises to prepare for major emergency response
    • Group purchasing
    • Methods and technology to improve interdepartmental communication
    • Departmental efficiency studies

  7. The Task Force may request assistance from any department, division, office or agency of the State. Any department, division, office or agency of the State is hereby required to cooperate with the Council and furnish it with information and personnel assistance to the extent necessary to achieve the goals of this Order.

 

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this
day of in the Year of Our Lord, Two
Thousand and Three, and of the
Independence of the United States,
the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Michael R. DeCotiis

Chief Counsel to the Governor