[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 1; Ord. No. 153, § 2;
Ord. No. 300, § 1, Ord. No. 521, § 1; Ord. No.
9, § 1, 12-30-1966; Ord. No. 211, § 1, 2-28-1974; Ord. No. 1148, § I, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Department of the city shall consist of a Fire Chief
and not more than the following: one deputy fire chief who shall be
chief of fire prevention, one deputy fire chief who shall be chief
of fire division, four other deputy fire chiefs, 12 fire captains,
one captain of fire prevention, one captain as training officer, 12
fire lieutenants, one lieutenant of fire prevention, four fire inspectors,
one chief’s aide-fire fighter, 108 permanent fire fighters and
one master mechanic for fire and motor equipment. The lieutenants
shall be appointed from the regular permanent fire fighters who have
served not less than three years in the Department, and shall be next
in rank to the captains.
[Ord. No. 631, § 1; Ord. No. 2, § 2,
12-27-1966]
In addition to such other requirements as are established by
law, entrance requirements for fire fighters shall include the following:
height, not less than five feet, seven inches; weight, not less than
145 pounds; and state motor vehicle operator’s license.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 2]
The reserve firemen force shall, in all respects, be subject
to and governed by the provisions of this chapter and the laws and
rules therein referred to insofar as the same are applicable.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 3; Ord.
No. 1148, § II, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Chief shall assign all officers and members, except
the deputy fire chiefs, to companies and may transfer officers or
members from one company to another; provided, however, that each
officer and each member shall serve for at least three months in each
year at the central station.
[1]
Editor’s Note: Ord. No. 298, § 1, adopted 11-22-1977, provided for the repeal of § 7-4. Former § 7-4, pertaining to the outside employment of certain personnel, was derived from R. O. 1947, Ch. 19, § 4; Ord. No. 74, § 2; Ord. No. 221, § 2; Ord. No. 251, § 3; Ord. No. 273, § 1; and Ord. No. 54, § 1, adopted 5-22-1968.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 5; Ord.
No. 1148, §§ III—IV, 9-29-2015]
The Mayor and City Council may suspend any officer or member
of the city fire department for cause sufficient in their discretion.
The Fire Chief, by order in writing, may suspend any officer or member
who shall refuse to obey the orders of his superiors, or who shall
be guilty of improper or disorderly conduct, for a period not exceeding
30 days, or impose a fine not to exceed in amount the salary of one
month, or may impose both penalties. There shall be a right of appeal
to the mayor and city council from any decision of the Fire Chief
hereunder, provided that such appeal shall be filed in writing with
the city clerk within 10 days from the date of such suspension or
fine.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 6]
A person appointed an officer or member of the city fire department
who fails to qualify at the office of the city clerk within seven
days of his appointment shall be deemed to have declined the same.
Any member who shall remove from the city shall be deemed to have
withdrawn from the department.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 7]
Each fireman shall faithfully observe and obey all laws and
regulations for the government of the city fire department, and the
orders of all officers appointed over him. Each officer shall obey
the lawful orders of all his superior officers.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 8; Ord.
No. 1148, §§ V—VII, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Chief shall have charge of the extinguishing of fires
and the protection of life and property in case of fire. He shall
be responsible for the discipline, good order and proper conduct of
the officers and men constituting the fire department of the city.
He shall have the care and superintendence of all motor apparatus,
ladders and all other equipment owned by the city and used for the
extinguishing of fires. The city council shall have the power to establish
by order, from time to time, rules and regulations consistent with
the provisions of this chapter for the government of the fire department;
and the Fire Chief shall, subject to confirmation of the city council,
make such rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of
this chapter, and with the rules and regulations established hereunder
by the city council, for the government of the fire department and
the extinguishment of fires, as he shall from time to time deem expedient.
[Ord. No. 9, 12-30-1966, § 2; Ord.
No. 1148, §§ VIII—XI, 9-29-2015]
There is hereby established in the fire department a fire division
to be headed by a deputy fire chief who shall be known as chief of
the fire division. The chief of the fire division shall be appointed
by the Fire Chief of the fire department, and shall serve at his pleasure,
and for such periods as such Fire Chief shall designate. The chief
of the fire division shall have such duties as are assigned to him
by the Fire Chief, and shall be under the general supervision of the
Fire Chief.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 9; Ord.
No. 1148, §§ XII—XV, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Chief shall have sole and absolute control and command
of all other officers and members of the City Fire Department and
of other persons present at fires. In case of the absence of the Fire
Chief at a fire, a deputy fire chief shall, during such absence, have
and exercise all the power and authority of the Fire Chief and shall
perform the duties of his office. If neither the Fire Chief nor a
deputy fire chief is present, the captain first arriving at the fire
shall exercise such authority and perform such duties until the arrival
of his superior officer.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 10; Ord.
No. 1148, §§ XVI—XVII, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Chief shall keep exact rolls of the several companies
in the Fire Department of the city, specifying the name, age, occupation,
residence and date of admission and discharge of each officer and
member of the Department. He shall keep an accurate account of all
property belonging to the City Fire Department. He shall annually,
in January, make to the City Council a detailed report of the condition
of the City Fire Department, of losses and accidents by fire during
the preceding municipal year, with all ascertainable causes thereof
and of the description of the buildings and other property injured
or destroyed, the estimated value thereof, the amount of insurance
thereon and the names of the owners.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 11; Ord. No. 734, § 1,
5-12-1993; Ord. No. 869; § 1, 3-28-2000]
(a)
No unauthorized person shall open any signal box connected with the
fire alarm system of the city unless the use of such signal box is
necessitated by reason of a fire or other emergency; or interfere
with the wires or poles or other supports of wires of such system;
or drive or operate any vehicle over or across any hose or other apparatus
in use at a fire or at a place to which the Fire Department has been
summoned upon a fire alarm. The Fire Chief shall cause to be prosecuted
every person who intentionally raises a false fire alarm.
[R. O.1947, ch. 19, § 12]
No person, personally or by an agent, shall sell or use, or
authorize the sale or use of, fireworks or firecrackers within the
city; except, that there may be a display of fireworks if a permit
for the same is granted by the officer designated by the State Fire
Marshal to grant permits under Section 10A of Chapter 148 of the General
Laws, subject to the rules and regulations of the Department of Public
Safety of the commonwealth, and, provided that such display is under
the supervision and control of a person who is engaged in the business
of displaying or exhibiting fireworks and who has given the bond required
by Section 42 of such chapter.
[R. O. 1947, ch. 19, § 13; Ord.
No. 1148, § XVIII, 9-29-2015]
The Fire Chief shall forthwith, upon the imposing thereof, certify
to the City Auditor the amount of any fine imposed upon any officer
or member of the Fire Department of the city under this chapter, and
such fine shall be deducted by the auditor from the stated compensation
of the person fined.
[Ord. No. 206, § 1; Ord. No. 611, § 1; Ord. No. 1148, §§ XIX—XX, 9-29-2015]
In addition to the compensation otherwise paid to members of
the Fire Department, the city shall pay the full cost of expense for
the purchase of the following portion of the official dress blue uniforms
prescribed for the members of such Department: caps, dress coats and
trousers. The city shall also pay the full cost of all other caps
normally required in the discharge of the duties of the members of
the Fire Department. The expenditure of municipal funds for uniforms
of the Fire Department shall be under the direction and supervision
of the Fire Chief.
The expenditure of municipal funds for uniforms for members
of the Fire Department shall be made subject to, and in accordance
with the terms and provisions of such rules and regulations established
by the Fire Chief and approved by the City Council.
[Ord. No. 5, § 1; Ord. No. 36; Ord. No. 1148, §§ XXI—XXII, 9-29-2015]
The duties of the principal clerk of the Fire Department are
to have charge of the clerical operations of such office, under the
direction of the Fire Chief, and in general to perform such duties
as directed by the Fire Chief, as are usually performed by a chief
clerk. Such principal clerk, subject to the provisions of General
Laws, Chapter 31, as amended, and the civil service rules and regulations
thereunder, shall be appointed by the Mayor.
[Ord. No. 870, § I, 3-28-2000]
(a)
Key box required; new construction; contents. All newly constructed
buildings, other than residential buildings of less than six units,
which have a fire alarm system or other fire protection system shall
provide a secure key box that is accessible to the Pittsfield Fire
Department in case of emergency. Such key box shall contain keys to
fire alarm control panels and other keys necessary to operate or service
fire protection systems. The key box shall be a type approved by the
Chief of the Pittsfield Fire Department and shall be located and installed
as approved by the Chief or his designee.
(b)
Existing buildings. All additions to, reconstruction, remodeling
and alterations or repairs of existing buildings, other than residential
buildings of less than six units, which have a fire alarm system or
other fire protection system and which require a building permit or
which are so defined by a state or local inspector shall include an
installed approved key box if the work costs $100,000 or more.
