Grass Valley Municipal Code Ch. 2.24 Fire Department

The fire department of the city shall consist of a fire chief, a first assistant fire chief, a second assistant fire chief, a rescue squad captain, a board of fire delegates and such companies of volunteer firemen as now compose the fire department or may be admitted.

(Prior code § 9-3)

A. A hose or engine company shall be composed of not more than twenty-five nor less than fifteen members, all of whom shall be eighteen years of age or older.

B. The officers of a company shall consist of a president, captain, first and second lieutenants, secretary, treasurer and steward.

C. The city council shall have the power to order work and supplies for the fire department, to distribute the same and to locate all hydrants and company houses to be built; provided, that all work done and supplies furnished shall be under the supervision of the city council and the fire chief.

D. All bills for work done or supplies furnished of any kind for the fire department shall be certified to as being correct by the board of delegates prior to being presented to the city council, unless otherwise ordered by the city council.

(Prior code § 9-4)

A. There shall be elected annually, on the third Saturday in December, the fire chief and the first and second assistant fire chiefs, each of whom shall be from a different company, and a rescue squad captain.

B. No later than the first Thursday after the first Monday in December, each company shall nominate and certify to the board of fire delegates one candidate for the office of fire chief and one candidate for the office of rescue squad captain. The name of each nominee for fire chief shall appear on the ballot under each of the offices for fire chief, first assistant fire chief and second assistant fire chief.

C. The president of the board of fire delegates shall call such election, giving five days' notice of it in at least one daily newspaper published in the city.

D. The board of fire delegates shall appoint to conduct such election one election officer from each company, and they shall constitute the board of election. Such election shall be under the absolute control of the board of fire delegates.

E. The returns of such election shall be duly certified to and forwarded to the secretary of the board of fire delegates, who shall duly lay the results before the board, and if the election is not contested they shall declare the result. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for fire chief shall be declared elected to that office. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for first assistant fire chief shall be declared elected to that office. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for second assistant fire chief shall be declared elected to that office. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes for rescue squad captain shall be declared elected to that office.

F. All elective officers shall hold office for the term of one year from the first day of January following such election, or until their successors are elected and qualified.

G. All ties in elections shall be determined by lot by the election board. All contested elections shall be determined by the board of fire delegates and its decision shall be final.

H. The secretary of the board of fire delegates shall immediately notify the city council of the result of such elections.

(Prior code § 9-5)

Any vacancy occurring in any elective office in the fire department, from whatsoever cause, shall be filled by the board of fire delegates for the unexpired term.

(Prior code § 9-6)

The chief and assistant fire chiefs of the fire department during a conflagration shall have all the powers of a policeman. They may prevent all persons other than firemen (except policemen) from coming within such portion of the fire limits as may interfere with the duties of the firemen in the extinguishing of fires or the protection of property.

(Prior code § 9-7)

No building used by any hose or truck company of the fire department shall be used for any purpose not directly concerning the company without the previous consent of the city council.

(Prior code § 9-8)

The fire chief, or the person acting as such, shall report annually the number, location and condition of the hydrants, fire apparatus, company houses and all other property of the city in keeping of the fire department; all fires and causes of them, if known or supposed, with the dates and the description of the buildings destroyed or damaged; the estimated loss of the same; and such other information as he may deem proper.

(Prior code § 9-9)