[R.O. 2011 § 205.010; R.O. 2010 § 205.010; CC 1970 C15 § 1; CC 1975 § 2101.03; 2nd Ser. Ord. No. 64 § 1, 4-4-1977]
There is hereby established within and for the City of Owensville a Fire Department, which shall consist of all such able-bodied persons of said City and the area served by the City Fire Department as may be accepted by said Department into membership by a majority vote.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.020; R.O. 2010 § 205.020; CC 1970 C15 § 2; CC 1975 § 2101.05; Ord. No. 1046 § 1, 1-4-2010]
A. 
The officers of the Department shall consist of a:
1. 
Chief.
2. 
Assistance Chief.
3. 
Deputy Chief.
4. 
Captain and Lieutenant.
5. 
Secretary.
B. 
Terms And Duties.
1. 
The Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually at the first meeting of said Fire Department in April of each year and hold respective offices for a term of one (1) year and until their successors are elected and qualified.
2. 
There shall also be three (3) Trustees, one (1) elected annually for a term of three (3) years.
3. 
The Chief shall have, on all occasions, the supreme command of the Department.
4. 
The Chief shall preside at all meetings of the Department. In the absence of the Chief, the Assistant Chief then shall perform the duties of the Chief. If both the Chief and Assistant Chief are absent, the Deputy Chief shall perform the duties of the Chief.
5. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to appoint or remove such officers, i.e., Assistant Chief, Deputy Chief, Captain, Lieutenant, Training Officer, etc., on an as needed basis.
C. 
The Secretary of the Department shall keep the books and records of the Department and shall also keep a list of the members of the Department.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.030; R.O. 2010 § 205.030; CC 1970 C15 § 3; CC 1975 § 2101.07]
It shall be the duty of the Chief and his/her Assistants to see that all the property belonging to the Fire Department be kept and returned to and be, except when in actual use by the Department, always in its proper place, and that it is always ready for use, and in good repair, and if repairs are necessary, to immediately have them made and report the bills to the Board of Aldermen for their approval.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.040; R.O. 2010 § 205.040; CC 1970 C15 § 4; CC 1975 § 2101.09]
It shall be the duty of each member of the Department upon an alarm of fire being given to report immediately to the place where such fire extinguishing apparatus is kept and thence to the place where such fire is located; to use their best endeavors to save life and property, to obey all orders and commands of the Chief or other officer in charge, so long as such orders do not violate existing laws or ordinances. The first officer arriving at the place of assembly shall have command until a senior officer shall arrive, and if no officer arrives, the first member who arrives shall have command until some officer shall arrive.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.045; R.O. 2010 § 205.060; CC 1970 C15 § 6; CC 1975 § 2101.13]
The Chief Officers of the Fire Department may, at a fire, call upon any bystanders not members of the Department to assist the Department in extinguishing the fire, saving property or preventing the spread of fire.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.050; R.O. 2010 § 205.070; CC 1970 C15 § 7; CC 1975 § 2101.15]
The members of said Department are authorized, in case of fire, when necessary, to enter any premises, to prevent the spreading of fire, to procure water and may tear down fences, sheds, stables or other structures when necessary to prevent the spread of such fire, and they shall not be liable for trespassing for so doing.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.060; R.O. 2010 § 205.080; CC 1970 C15 § 8; CC 1975 § 2101.17]
Any member may be expelled for misconduct or disobedience by the Chief Officers, Chief, Assistant Chief and Deputy Chief after having been notified of such charge.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.070; R.O. 2010 § 205.090; CC 1970 C15 § 9; CC 1975 § 2101.19]
It may be the duty of the Fire Department to pass such bylaws as will ensure good discipline and efficiency in handling emergencies in their area of coverage. But said Department shall always be under the control of the Board of Aldermen and subject to such ordinances as the Board may, at any time, pass and whenever required by the Mayor, the Chief of such Fire Department shall make report of their acts and proceedings to the Board of Aldermen.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.080; R.O. 2010 § 205.100; 2nd Ser. Ord. No. 356 § 2(11 — 12), 5-6-1991]
A. 
Use Of Equipment. Permission is hereby granted to the members of the Volunteer Fire Department to use their equipment, if and when the officers and members of said Fire Department so desire, to assist any member of the Rural Fire Protection Association or other fire protection organization in case of fire, subject to the terms and conditions as hereinafter set forth.
B. 
Contractual Agreements. The City of Owensville, on behalf of the City Volunteer Fire Department, shall enter into such cooperative agreements as may from time to time be recommended by the Fire Department so long as any such agreement is entered into in accordance with Missouri State law and only after the Board of Aldermen has approved such agreement by ordinance.
C. 
Compensation. Compensation required to be paid by any firefighting organization to the City of Owensville, Missouri, shall be approved by the Board of Aldermen and shall be set forth in any cooperative agreement entered into as set forth in Subsection (B) hereof.
D. 
Hold Harmless. No agreement as contemplated in Subsection (C) hereof, entered into by the City of Owensville on behalf of the City Fire Department shall be valid unless any such agreement contains a provision whereby the contracting party agrees to hold the City of Owensville harmless for any damages or loss to any person or property occasioned by the use of said firefighting equipment hereinabove described for any act of any volunteer firefighter or another person engaged in answering any call made upon the said Owensville Volunteer Fire Department members for fire protection services.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.090; R.O. 2010 § 205.110; CC 1975 § 2701.11; 1st Ser. Ord. No. 7 § 49, 10-10-1933]
It may be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to inspect or to cause to be inspected by Fire Department officers or members, as often as may be necessary, all buildings, premises and public thoroughfares, except private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire. A written report of every such inspection shall be filed with the Fire Department.
[R.O. 2011 § 205.100; R.O. 2010 § 205.120; CC 1975 § 2701.13; 1st Ser. Ord. No. 7 § 49, 10-10-1933]
Whenever any officer shall find in any building, or upon any premises or other place, combustible, or explosive matter or dangerous accumulation of rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of wastepaper, boxes, shavings, or any other highly inflammable materials especially liable to cause fire, and which is so situated as to endanger property, or shall find obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows, liable to interfere with the operations of the Fire Department, or egress of occupants, in case of fire, he/she shall order the same to be removed or remedied, and the inspector's recommendations shall be complied with by the owner or occupant of such premises or buildings.