Article II — Fire Department

3. For state law requiring cities to establish a fire department, see Gov. C, § 38611. As to interfering with firemen, see H. & S. C., § 13006.

A fire department for the city is hereby established. The fire department shall be under the charge of a chief, who shall have had previous training and experience as a fireman. The other members of the fire department shall consist of paid firemen or such companies of volunteer firemen as the city council may determine. The city council shall fix and pay the compensation of the chief and other paid firemen.

(Ord. No. 160, § 1.)

(a)

The fire department shall consist of a chief, two assistant chiefs and such other officers as the city council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the fire department.

(b)

The chief shall be appointed by the city council for an indefinite period of time and his tenure of office shall depend upon his good conduct and efficiency. The chief shall be technically qualified by training and experience and shall have ability to command men and hold their respect and confidence.

(c)

The chief shall be held accountable to the city council only, and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the city council may require. All other department and company officers shall be accountable to the chief.

(d)

The assistant chiefs and all other department and company officers shall be appointed by the chief, with the approval of the city council. Such officers shall be accountable to the chief, and subject to removal by him with the consent of the city council.

(Ord. No. 160, § 2.)

(a)

The chief of the fire department shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the department, and shall be responsible to the city council for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the fire department.

(b)

The chief, with approval of the city council, shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms.

(c)

The chief, or a qualified member of the department, shall at least once a month conduct suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the city, fire prevention, water supplies and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire.

(d)

The chief is hereby required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires,

(e)

The chief is hereby empowered to enter any buildings and premises, not used for dwelling purposes, at any reasonable hour, for the purpose of making inspections relating to fire hazards and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any fire hazards that may be found.

(f)

Any person so served with a notice to abate any fire hazard or hazards shall comply therewith and promptly notify the chief.

(g)

The chief shall see that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and minor equipment, personnel and other information about the work of the department.

(h)

The chief shall report monthly to the city council the condition of the apparatus and equipment; the number of fires during the month, their location and cause, and date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all runs made; and the number and names of members responding to each fire or other runs and any changes in membership.

(i)

The chief shall make a complete annual report to the city council within one month after the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in subsection (g) of this section, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the department.

(Ord. No. 160, § 3.)

The volunteer membership of the fire department shall consist of such persons as may be elected by the volunteer members of the fire department with the approval of the fire chief and the consent of the city council, and shall be able-bodied, male citizens, preferably property owners, whose business activities are normally within the confines of the city and who have telephones in their homes. Determination of whether candidates for election are able-bodied shall be made by the chief after a medical and physical examination has been made in a manner prescribed by the chief and approved by the city council.

(Ord. No. 160, § 4; Ord. No. 217, § 1.)

(a)

The members of the volunteer fire department may elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, to be known as social officers. Such officers may be elected in any manner and for any term the membership may decide upon, and their duties shall be to arrange for and manage any or all social functions sponsored by the department.

(b)

The functions and duties of such social officers shall in no wise interfere with those of the regular department officers who are charged with responsibility for all fire service activities of the department.

(Ord. No. 160, § 8.)

(a)

The fire department shall be equipped with such apparatus and other equipment as may be required from time to time to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire.

(b)

Recommendations of apparatus and equipment shall be made by the chief, and after approval by the city council shall be purchased in such manner as may be designated by the city council.

(c)

All equipment of the fire department shall be safely and conveniently housed in such places as may be designated by the city council. Such places shall be heated during the winter season.

(d)

Suitable arrangement of equipment shall be provided for citizens to turn in an alarm, and for notifying all members of the fire department so that they may promptly respond.

(e)

No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority take away or conceal any article used in any way by the department.

(f)

No person shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any apparatus or equipment belonging to the fire department, unless accompanied by or having the special permission of an officer or authorized member of the department.

(g)

The city council may enter into agreements or contracts with nearby incorporated communities or governing bodies of other organizations to provide the members of such communities or organizations with fire protection or to establish a mutual aid system.

(h)

No apparatus shall be hired out or permitted to leave the city, except in response to a call for aid at a fire in a neighboring community, without the consent of either the city council, mayor, city fire commissioner or fire chief.

(Ord. No. 160, § 5.)

(a)

Each member of the fire department shall be issued a badge designating his rank.

(b)

Each member of the fire department driving an automobile in response to a fire alarm shall be issued a suitable insignia to be attached to the automobile.

(Ord. No. 160, § 6.)

All regularly appointed members of the fire department are hereby given the necessary special police powers for the purpose of enforcing observance of all sections of this chapter.

(Ord. No. 160, § 7.)