[HISTORY: Adopted by the Village Board of the Village of
Soldiers Grove 5-7-1960 as Ch. 5 of the 1960 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Membership. The Fire Department of the Village of Soldiers Grove
shall consist of the Fire Chief, a First and Second Assistant Chief,
a Captain and Lieutenant for each company, a Secretary-Treasurer,
one master mechanic and as many drivers and firemen who live and normally
work within the Village of Soldiers Grove as may be appointed by the
Chief and approved by the Village Board, provided that at no time
shall the Department consist of less than 22 active members.
B.
Department to adopt bylaws. The Soldiers Grove Fire Department shall
adopt bylaws for the control, management and government and for the
regulation of business and proceedings of the Department, which bylaws
shall be adopted by a 2/3 vote of the Department members and approved
by the Village Board. Amendments shall be adopted in the same manner.
B.
Duties and powers. The Chief shall have general supervision of the
Fire Department personnel, apparatus and equipment, subject to the
ordinances of the Village and the bylaws of the Department. He shall
be present at all fires and command all fire-fighting operations.
He may demote or expel any officer or member of the Department for
neglect or refusal to perform Departmental duties, subject to the
right of any member demoted or expelled to appeal to the Village Board.
He shall enforce or cause to be enforced all fire prevention ordinances,
laws and regulations of the Village and state.
C.
To act as Fire Inspector. The Fire Chief as Fire Inspector of the
Village of Soldiers Grove shall have the power to appoint one or more
Deputy Fire Inspectors and shall perform all duties required of Fire
Inspectors by the laws of the state, particularly § 101.14(2)(a)
to (g) of the Wisconsin statutes.[1]
A.
Applications. Applications for membership in the Department shall
be filed with the Department Secretary. Each applicant shall also
file a certificate of physical fitness from each physician as the
Chief may designate. The name of any applicant appointed by the Chief
as provided in the bylaws shall be presented to the Village Board
for confirmation.
B.
Age limit. Active membership in the Department for members other
than the Chief shall cease at the age of 60. Upon reaching the age
of 60, active members shall become honorary members and shall be relieved
from fire-fighting duties.
No apparatus shall be used for any purpose except for fire fighting
within the Village limits, or in training therefor, except pursuant
to an agreement approved by the Village Board after the Chief has
given his recommendations on such use. With the approval of the Chief
such apparatus may be used for emergency purposes other than fire
fighting within the Village. A written report of such uses shall be
made quarterly to the Village Board.
A.
Authority at fires. The Chief and his assistants or officers in command
are hereby vested with full and complete police authority at fires
and may cause the arrest of any person failing to give the right-of-way
to the Fire Department responding to a fire call.
B.
Removal of property. The Chief shall have the power to cause the
removal of any property whenever it shall become necessary for the
preservation of such property from fire or to prevent the spread of
fire or protect adjoining property, and during the progress of any
fire he shall have the power to order the destruction of any property
necessary to prevent the further spread of the fire. He shall also
have the power to cause the removal of all wires or other facilities
and the turning off of all electricity or other services where the
same impede the work of the Department during the progress of a fire.
C.
Firemen may enter adjacent property. It shall be lawful for any fireman
acting under the direction of the Fire Chief or any officer in command
to enter upon the premises adjacent to or in the vicinity of any building
or other property then on fire for the purpose of extinguishing such
fire and no person shall hinder, resist or obstruct any fireman in
the discharge of his duty as hereinbefore provided.
D.
Duty of bystanders to assist. Every person who shall be present at
a fire shall be subject to the orders of the Fire Chief or officer
in command and may be required to render assistance in fighting the
fire or in removing or guarding property. Such officer shall have
the power to cause the arrest of any person refusing to obey said
orders.
