The fire department shall consist of a fire chief and two assistant fire chiefs and shall be adequately staffed with fire fighters who shall be approved by the mayor with the consent of the council.
(Ord. 98-664; Ord. 02-693; Ord. 06-735; Ord. 19-916)
All members of the fire department shall be volunteers. They shall meet at least once each month for practice and drills. The Fire Chief shall keep a record of attendance of all such meetings. Any member who shall fail to attend six (6) consecutive meetings shall be subject to automatic expulsion from membership by the Fire Chief.
(Ord. 224; Ord. 02-693)
The fire chief, assistant fire chief and firefighters shall receive, as compensation for their services, such sum as shall be set by ordinance.
(Ord. 224)
The fire chief shall be under the supervision of the mayor and shall have superintendency, control over and be responsible for the care and condition of fire apparatus and equipment. It shall be his or her duty to see that all such apparatus and equipment shall be at all times ready for immediate use. He or she shall submit a written report as to its condition to the mayor and council at their first meeting in October of each year.
(Ord. 224)
The Fire Chief shall be responsible for the discipline of members and is hereby given the authority to suspend or expel any member for the refusal to obey orders, or for misconduct, or failure to do his or her duty at a fire. The Fire Chief shall also have the right to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing a fire, or to aid in removing personal property from any building on fire or in danger thereof, and in guarding the same.
(Ord. 224; Ord. 16-880)
The fire chief shall have full power, control and command over all persons whomsoever present at fires. He or she shall direct the use of all fire apparatus and equipment, and command all firemen in the discharge of their duties. He or she shall take such measures as he or she may deem necessary in the preservation and protection of property and the extinguishing of fires.
(Ord. 224)
The fire chief shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. Such information shall include the time and location, construction of building, owner, occupancy, how extinguished, value of building and contents, loss on building and contents, insurance on building and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable.
(Ord. 224)
It shall be the duty of the fire chief to adopt all prudent measures for the prevention of fires. For this purpose the chief of his or her assistant under his or her direction may, upon request or whenever he or she has reason to believe that the safety of life and property demands it, and as often as he may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the city during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection. Where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist he or she shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as may be deemed proper. Such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.
(Ord. 224)
In the absence of the fire chief, the assistant fire chief shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the fire chief as conferred by this article.
(Ord. 224; Ord. 06-735)
No person shall place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence, or other obstruction of any character whatsoever, in any manner to obstruct, hinder, or delay the fire department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person hitch or cause to be hitched to any fire hydrant, any animal or animals, nor fasten to same any guy rope or brace, nor back or stand any wagon, truck, automobile or other vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant.
(Ord. 224)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make or sound or cause to be made or sounded or by any other means any false alarm or fire without reasonable cause.
(Ord. 224)
No person or persons shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance or other article used in any way by the fire department.
(Ord. 224)