Bakersfield Municipal Code Ch. 2.32 Fire Department Reserves

Sections: 2.32.010 Established. 2.32.020 Fire chief—Authority and control. 2.32.030 Fire chief—Establishment of rules and regulations—Application to reserves. 2.32.040 Membership—Method of appointment. 2.32.050 Membership—Removal or resignation. 2.32.060 Membership—Size regulation of force. 2.32.070 Identification card and insignia. 2.32.080 Impersonation prohibited—Penalty. 2.32.090 Uniform. 2.32.100 Reimbursement of expenses.

A fire reserve, hereinafter called “reserves,” is established as a voluntary organization composed of persons appointed by the fire chief, hereinafter called the “chief,” to serve gratuitously as a unit of the fire department and to assist members of the regular department in suppression of fires and other emergencies within the city under conditions which make it impracticable to furnish adequate fire protection by means of regular firefighters. (Prior code § 3.40.010)

A. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the chief shall have complete authority and control over the reserves.

B. He or she may appoint as members thereof any persons whom he or she deems to be qualified and he or she may reject any applications for membership.

C. He or she shall provide for the training of candidates for membership and for the further training of members in all fields of fire department activity and for that purpose may assign such members to various fire department duties.

D. Membership in this organization is open to both men and women.

E. Whenever the male gender is used in this chapter, it includes both male and female. (Prior code § 3.40.020)

reserves.

A. In order to effectuate the purpose of the reserves, the chief may, by order, establish rules and regulations to govern the reserves, including the fixing of specific duties of its members and the providing for the maintenance of discipline.

B. He or she may change the orders from time to time.

C. All rules, regulations, special orders, general orders and any other regulatory documents shall pertain to reserve firemen as may be reasonably applied. (Prior code § 3.40.040)

A. No person shall become a member of the reserves until he has taken the training and he or she is able to meet all other requirements prescribed by the chief.

B. When so qualified and selected, he or she shall then be sworn in by the chief, or by the chief’s representative, as a member of the reserves. (Prior code § 3.40.030)

The membership of any person in the reserve may be terminated by the chief at any time, and any member may resign from the reserves at any time upon notifying the chief in writing of his or her resignation. (Prior code § 3.40.060)

Subject to the provisions of Section 2.32.010, the chief may, by order, diminish or expand the membership of the reserves as may be required. (Prior code § 3.40.070)

A. An identification card, badge, and such other insignia or evidence of identification as the chief may prescribe, shall be issued to each member who must carry the card at all times.

B. Each member must surrender all city property issued to him or her upon the termination of his membership. (Prior code § 3.40.050)

It shall be a misdemeanor, punishable by imprisonment for not to exceed six months or by fine not to exceed five hundred dollars, or both, for any person, not a member of the reserves:

A. To wear, carry to display a reserve identification card, badge or insignia;

B. In any manner to represent himself to be connected with the reserves. (Prior code § 3.40.080)

The uniform for members of the reserves shall be similar to the uniform worn by members of the regular fire department with an identifying insignia to be prescribed by the fire chief. (Prior code § 3.40.090)

The fire chief may, in his discretion, authorize reimbursement of any person in the reserves for mileage at the standard city rate and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in the course of duties as a member of the reserves. (Ord. 3294 § 1, 1990)