La Verne Municipal Code Ch. 8.08 Fire Department

The city manager shall appoint a fire chief who shall exercise direct command over all fire department personnel, reserve or regular, in the performance of their duties.

(Prior code § 3301; Ord. 713 § 2, 1986)

The fire chief shall be vested with the responsibilities of:

A. Strictly enforcing the rules and regulations of the department, the personnel policy as adopted by the city council, and the provisions of this chapter;

B. Causing all fires to be extinguished with the least possible danger to life and property and preventing unnecessary damage from fires;

C. Being continually alert to the causes of fires and abating fire hazards;

D. Performing, or causing to be performed, all of the duties imposed upon the street superintendent under the alternative procedures for weed and rubbish abatement, commencing with Section 39560 of the Government Code.

(Prior code § 3305; Ord. 624 § 2, 1981)

It is unlawful for any person other than a member of the department to jump upon, hang onto, ride upon, drive any fire engine or use any fire equipment or fire apparatus, without express permission of the fire chief.

(Prior code § 3900)

No person shall obstruct any fire hydrant, or place or deposit any lumber, rock, sand, debris or other substance within three feet of any such fire hydrant on any public or private property in the city. The use of any wrenches, other than regulation hydrant or spanner wrenches for opening or closing any fire hydrant is prohibited.

(Prior code § 3915; Ord. 840 § 2, 1992)

Members of the department of police officers may place ropes or other barriers across any street, alley or other public place near any burning building and also at such other places as may be deemed necessary or expedient to prevent accident at time of fire. Police officers are authorized to prevent any and all persons from passing over or under any such ropes or any other barriers and from entering within the space set apart or enclosed by means of such ropes or other barriers, except owners and occupants of the building damaged by the existing fire, and employees of any such owner or occupant and police officers. It shall be unlawful for any person not authorized by this section to pass over or under any such rope or other barriers or to enter within the space set apart or enclosed by means of such ropes and barriers.

(Prior code § 3920)

In the event of a fire resulting directly or indirectly from any wilful omission or neglect to properly comply with any written notice of the fire chief or police chief, or from the wilful violation of the code, then any such person responsible for any such wilful omission, neglect or violation thereof shall be liable to the city for the payment of costs and expenses for the services of the department in the extinguishment of such fire.

(Prior code § 3930)