Yreka Municipal Code Ch. 2.28 Fire Department

Footnotes:

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Editor's note— Ord. No. 882, § 1, adopted Aug. 5, 2025, amended ch. 2.28 in its entirety to read as herein set out. Former ch. 2.28, §§ 2.28.010—2.28.200, pertained to similar subject matter, and derived from Ord. 1; Ord. 73; Ord. 74; Ord. 141; Ord. 212; Ord. 260; Ord. 415; Ord. 440; Ord. 460; Ord. 496; Ord. 729; Ord. 804; Ord. No. 825, adopted June 2, 2011; Ord. No. 848, adopted Nov. 3, 2016.

The fire department in and for the city is established. It shall be known as the "Yreka Fire Department." The primary mission of the fire department is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property of the inhabitants of the city from the adverse effects of fire, sudden medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions created by either man or nature. It shall consist of both regular employees and volunteers.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)

The fire department shall consist of the number of members determined necessary by the fire chief for carrying out the duties of fire department.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)

The office of the fire chief is created. The fire chief, under the supervision and direction of the city manager, shall have supervision, direction and control of the fire department. The fire chief is charged with the responsibility of establishing goals for each program to provide an element of service that contributes toward a safe working and living environment in the most cost effective and efficient manner possible.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)

A. The fire department shall be administered by the fire chief as same may be, from time to time, directed by the city manager. The fire chief shall be the chief fire official of the City of Yreka.

B. The fire chief shall, personally and through the direction and use of the human, tangible and intangible resources of the city assigned to the fire department, protect the city, and its citizens, residents and inhabitants, and its property and improvements, and, to the extent of their capability, provide such fire prevention and suppression services and emergency medical services needed to provide protection to life and property.

C. The fire chief, or designee, shall have full power to control, and full command over, all persons at and as to fires occurring within the corporate limits of the city, and shall station the engines and apparatus and see that all persons belonging to the fire department do the duties prescribed to them.

D. The fire chief, or designee, shall at all times have complete control and supervision over all fire extinguishing apparatus belonging to the city and shall have complete control and supervision over all buildings or rooms used for fire department purposes.

E. The fire department of the city shall, under the direction of the fire department officer in charge, cut down or remove any building, erection or fence for the purpose of checking the progress of a fire.

F. In the absence of the fire chief from any fire occurring within the corporate limits of the city, the officer of the fire department designated by the fire chief present at the scene of the fire or other emergency to which the fire department resources are dispatched shall be in charge as to the assigned emergency, and shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as the fire chief.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)

Every member of the fire department, during the time of any fire shall have the powers of arrest afforded pursuant to Penal Code section 836.5. They may prevent persons other than firefighters from coming into such portion of the city as may interfere with the extinguishment of fires and their official duties.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)

Upon the recommendation of the fire chief and execution of an agreement by the city manager in a form approved by the city attorney, the fire department is authorized to burn private structures on the terms set forth in the agreement and for the purpose of providing training to department members. The agreement shall be executed by the owner(s) of the property and any lienholder upon the structure.

(Ord. No. 882, § 1, 8-5-2025)