There is hereby created and established a fire department in
the city.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-71)
The members of the fire department shall be a chief, assistant
chief, secretary-treasurer, two captains and two lieutenants, and
not in excess of 20 other members. Such officers shall be elected
or appointed as hereinafter provided. All members of the fire department
shall perform such duties as may be prescribed from time to time by
orders of the fire chief, assistant chief, the city manager, and the
city council.
(Ordinance 92-01 adopted 1/7/92)
Included in the personnel of the fire department as hereinabove
provided shall be such full-time paid employees or part-time paid
employees as the city council may direct from time to time. The hours
of employment of the members of the fire department and the compensation
to be paid the members shall be fixed by the city manager subject
to the approval of the city council.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-73)
The chief of the fire department shall be the executive officer
of the department. It shall be his duty and that of his assistant
to see that the laws, ordinances, orders, rules, and regulations concerning
the department and the operation thereof are carried into full force
and effect. It shall be the duty of the chief to enforce such rules
and regulations made from time to time to secure discipline in the
department. He shall have power to suspend any subordinate officer,
member, or employee for a violation of such rules and regulations,
and shall, upon executing any such suspension, forthwith in writing,
advise the city manager of his reasons therefor. He shall diligently
observe the condition of fire apparatus and working of the fire department
at all times, and shall report in writing at any time to the city
manager and make in connection with the equipment such recommendations
as he may desire for the efficiency of the equipment and department.
In the absence of the chief, the assistant chief shall assume the
duties of the office of chief of the department.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-74)
It shall be the duty of the chief of the department and his
assistant, whenever a fire shall occur in the city, to immediately
report to the place of such fire and take proper measures for placing
the apparatus in the most advantageous position. All members of the
fire department on arrival at a fire shall immediately report to the
chief, or in his absence to the assistant chief. When the chief shall
arrive at a fire, he shall have sole command over all other officers
and members of the department and all other persons who may be present
at the fire. He shall take all proper measures for extinguishing the
fire and for protection of property and for preservation of the laws
of the state and ordinances of the city and regulations respecting
fires.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-75)
Whenever any building in the city is on fire, it shall be lawful
for the chief or his assistant, with the concurrence of the city manager
or mayor, to direct such building or any other building, fence, or
fences which they deem hazardous or likely to catch fire and communicate
to other buildings, to be torn down or blown up or otherwise destroyed
for the purpose of checking or otherwise extinguishing such fire;
and neither the city manager, mayor, city council, or any individual
member thereof, nor the chief of the department, assistant chief,
or any member of the department shall in any way be held responsible
for the damaging of property nor the destruction thereof which may
occur by reason of the attempt of the department to extinguish any
fire.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-76)
All moving apparatus under the fire department shall have the
paramount right-of-way through all streets, thoroughfares, lanes,
alleys, places, and courts of the city when en route to a fire; and
all other vehicles shall take and keep to the right-hand side of the
street unless the same be obstructed, in order to give the apparatus
of the fire department the unobstructed use of the streets for the
time being.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-77)
The fire department shall have the right, in time of fire, to
place ropes or guards across all streets, thoroughfares, lanes, or
alleys on which shall be situated any building on fire, and at such
other points as it may deem expedient and necessary; and the members
of the department who have been assigned by the chief for policing
purposes shall prevent any and all persons, except officers and members
of the fire department and owners and occupants of such buildings
endangered by the existing fires, from entering the lines designated
by ropes or guards.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-78)
The fire apparatus belonging to the city shall be kept in such
place or places as the city council shall from time to time provide,
and such apparatus shall be kept in constant readiness for use.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-79)
During the progress of a fire within the limits of the city
and for twenty-four (24) hours after its extinguishment, it shall
be lawful for the chief of police or any police officer of the city
to arrest and keep in custody all persons who conduct themselves in
a noisy or disorderly manner, or hinder, resist, or refuse to obey
any such officers while acting in the discharge of their duties.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-80; Ordinance
adopting 2004 Code)
The officers mentioned in section 5.02.010 shall be vested with full power and authority to command all persons present at any fire in the city to assist in the discharge of any duty in the extinguishment of same or the removal and preservation of property; provided, that the persons shall not be bound to obey any such officer unless the officer shall wear his badge of office, or unless such officer’s official title be known or be made known to such persons.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-81)
It shall be unlawful for any person not a member of the fire
department to interfere with, or in any manner hinder, any member
or employee of the fire department in the discharge of his duties
as such.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-82)
It shall be unlawful for any person not a member of the fire
department to handle, or in any manner interfere with, any of the
apparatus belonging to or used by the fire department, either at a
fire or while traveling to or returning from a fire, or while standing
in the fire department quarters, or at any time, unless such person
be requested to do so by an officer or member of the department.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-83)
The members of the fire department shall meet from time to time
and effect and improve their organization for the purpose of the good
order and wellbeing of the department, the maintenance of harmony
therein, and the full promotion of the organization. They shall elect
a chief, assistant chief, secretary-treasurer, and two lieutenants
and such other officers as they may deem necessary for the purpose
of establishing discipline and to maintain a perfect unity among themselves,
as well as fully promoting the object for which the association is
organized. The chief and assistant chief shall appoint two captains.
The members shall adopt a constitution and bylaws that will be consistent
with the ordinances of the city and the laws of the state, said constitution
and bylaws being subject to the approval of the city council. Any
member of the fire department failing or refusing to comply with such
constitution, laws, rules, and regulations adopted by the fire department
and approved by the city council shall forfeit the rights of the department
and the use of apparatus and its charge; and such apparatus shall
be taken charge of by the chief of the fire department until the members
thereof shall comply with such laws, rules, and regulations of the
department.
(Ordinance 92-01 adopted 1/7/92)
The city shall provide each member of the fire department with
a badge descriptive of the office in which the member is serving.
(1977 Code, sec. 1-85)
