Any organized fire company in North Carolina, holding itself ready for duty, may, upon compliance with the requirements of its constitution and bylaws, become a member of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, and any firefighter of good moral character in North Carolina, and belonging to an organized fire company, who complies with the requirements of the constitution and bylaws of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, may become a member of the Association. Any county fire marshal office may, upon compliance with the requirements of its constitution and bylaws, become a member of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association, and any employee of a county fire marshal office of good moral character whose sole duty is to act as a fire marshal, deputy fire marshal, assistant fire marshal, or firefighter of the county, who complies with the requirements of its constitution and bylaws, may become a member of the North Carolina State Firefighters’ Association. (1891, c. 468, s. 6; Rev., s. 4396; C.S., s. 6061; 1925, c. 41; 2004-199, s. 22(c); 2014-64, s. 1(e); 2016-51, s. 6.)