[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Prescott
as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fires and fire prevention — See Ch. 303.
[Adopted as Secs. 5-2-1 and 5-2-2 of the former City Code]
A.
Fire Department established. The Prescott Fire Department shall be
responsible for the program of fire defense for the citizens and property
within the City of Prescott. The Prescott Fire Department is hereby
officially recognized as the Fire Department of the City of Prescott
and the duty of firefighting and the prevention of fires in the City
are delegated to such Department. Its organization and internal regulation
shall be governed by the provisions of this article and by such bylaws
adopted by the Department as are approved by the Prescott Area Fire
& EMS Association, except as otherwise provided by law and ordinance.
B.
Goals of the fire defense program.
(1)
The primary objective of the fire defense program is to serve all
citizens, without prejudice or favoritism, by safeguarding, collectively
and individually, their lives against the effects of fires and explosions.
(2)
The second objective of the fire defense program is to safeguard
the general economy and welfare of the community by preventing major
conflagrations and the destruction by fire of industries and businesses.
(3)
The third objective of the fire defense program is to protect the
property of all citizens against the effects of fire and explosions.
All property deserves equal protection, regardless of location or
monetary value.
C.
Bylaws. The Fire Department shall adopt bylaws for the control, management
and government of the Department, and for regulating the business
and proceedings of the Department, which bylaws, after adoption by
a two-thirds vote of the members of the Department, shall not become
effective until approved by the Association. Amendments shall be adopted
in the same manner.
D.
Appropriations. The Common Council shall appropriate funds to provide
for operation and for such apparatus and equipment for the use of
the Fire Department as it may deem expedient and necessary to maintain
efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire.
A.
General supervision. The Chief shall have the general supervision
of the Department, which supervision shall be subject to and not conflict
with this article and the bylaws of the Department. He/she shall be
responsible for the personnel and general efficiency of the Department.
B.
Presiding officer. The Chief or designee shall preside at all meetings,
call special meetings, preserve order, decide all points of order
that may arise and enforce a rigid observance of this article and
bylaws.
C.
Command of fire-fighting operations. The Chief or designee shall
be present at all fires and have complete command and entire responsibility
of all fire-fighting operations, plan the control of the same, direct
the action of the Department when it arrives at the fire, observe
that the Department does its duty, grant leaves of absence at a fire
when he/she may deem it proper, determine the cause and origin of
the fire, and see that the fire apparatus is kept in proper condition
at all times.
[Amended 5-29-2012 by Ord. No. 08-12]
D.
Disciplinary actions. The Chief may demote or expel any officer or
member of the Department for neglect or refusal to perform his/her
departmental duties, or for nonresidence, subject to an appeal from
such demotion or expulsion to the Prescott Area Fire & EMS Association.
E.
Department budget. Not later than October 1 of each year, the Chief
shall file with the City Clerk a detailed estimate of the appropriations
needed for the conduct of the Department during the ensuing fiscal
year.
[Amended 3-8-2010 by Ord.
No. 04-10]
F.
Reports to the Council. The Chief shall submit a written report to
the Common Council not later than February 1 of each year, and at
such other times as he/she or the Council deems desirable, relating
to the condition of various pieces of apparatus and appurtenances,
the number of fires occurring since the previous report, and the date
of the same and loss occasioned thereby, the total number of active
members in the Department, and resignations and expulsions from the
Department. He/she shall also report upon the drill and training program
of the Department, together with other pertinent information, including
recommendations for such improvements as he/she deems proper and necessary
for the operation of the Department.
G.
Enforcement of fire prevention ordinances. He/she shall enforce all
fire prevention ordinances of the City[1] and state laws and regulations pertaining to fire prevention,
and shall keep citizens informed on fire prevention methods and on
the activities of the Department.
H.
Fire record book. He/she shall keep a fire record book of every fire
to which the Department was called and shall enter in such book the
locality of fire, time alarm was received, cause of fire, where fire
started, cause of delay (if any) in responding, method of extinguishment
and equipment used, amount of insurance carried on buildings and contents,
estimated fire loss, time fire was extinguished, names of men responding
and general remarks. He/she will report fire record book information
to the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS).
[Amended 5-29-2012 by Ord. No. 08-12]
I.
Apparatus inventory. He/she shall keep an inventory of all apparatus
and equipment and an inventory of all hose showing dates and results
of tests on each length, which shall be individually numbered.
J.
Duties of commanding officer. He/she shall perform such other duties
as are usually incumbent on the commanding officer of the Fire Department.
K.
Control and care of apparatus.
(1)
The Chief shall have control of all apparatus used by the Department
and shall be responsible for its proper maintenance. The Chief may
authorize emergency repairs.
(2)
No apparatus shall be used for any purpose except for firefighting
within the service area, or in training therefor, except pursuant
to an agreement approved by the Association after the Chief has given
his/her recommendations on such use.
[Amended 5-29-2012 by Ord. No. 08-12]
[Adopted 5-11-2015 by Ord. No. 02-15]
The Prescott Area Fire and EMS Association Fire Department,
also known as the "Prescott Fire Department," may establish a volunteer
funds account in a public depository.
Funds may be raised by the Fire Department from fundraising
activities, including, but not limited to, pancake breakfasts, Prescott
Daze, meat raffles and donations.
The public depository account shall be an account separate from
revenues collected by or generated from tax levies, required member
contributions to the Association and other revenues generated during
the normal course of business of the Prescott Area Fire and EMS Association
and the Prescott Fire Department.
The Treasurer of the Prescott Fire Department shall be authorized
to make deposits of volunteer funds to the public depository.
The Treasurer of the Prescott Fire Department shall be authorized
to make withdrawals of volunteer funds in an amount not to exceed
$200 upon countersignature of the Prescott Fire Department Chief.
Any expenditure in excess of $200, including any separate expenditures
which, in aggregate, for the same related project or purpose, would
exceed $200, may be made by the Treasurer of the Prescott Fire Department
only following approval by a majority vote of the Prescott Fire Department
members at a duly noticed meeting of the Fire Department.
Volunteer funds may be used for any project, equipment purchases,
training expenses or other expenses or events which relate to the
operation, function and purpose of the Prescott Fire Department.
The Treasurer shall, on or before January 31 of each year, arrange
to obtain an audit report of the volunteer funds depository account,
prepared by an independent CPA, for the preceding calendar year, which
audit report shall be submitted to the Association Operating Committee
on or before February 28 of each year.
This article shall take effect after its adoption by the Prescott
City Council and its simultaneous adoption, in form similar, by the
Towns of Clifton and Oak Grove, Pierce County, Wisconsin.
