[CC 1961 §5.02; Ord. No. 610, 8-16-1954; Ord. No.
4543, 5-6-2019]
A. There is hereby established a Fire Department in the City of Berkeley
which shall have the powers and duties, and consist of personnel as
prescribed in this Chapter.
1.
The uniformed force of the Berkeley Fire Department shall consist
of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Battalion Chiefs, Captains,
Firefighter/Paramedics and Firefighter/EMT. Apprentice Firefighters
and or Cadets can be part of the Fire Department when approved by
the City Manager. The non-uniformed force of the Department shall
be all civilian employees of the Fire Department. The City Council,
from time to time, will establish the organizational structure of
the Fire Department.
2.
The entire force uniformed and non-uniformed, staff and line,
shall be under the command of the Fire Chief of the Department.
[CC 1961 §5.04; Ord. No. 610, 8-16-1954; Ord. No.
4543, 5-6-2019]
A. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be an appointed position who
shall perform all functions, powers and duties as described in this
Chapter as the head of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief is subject
to supervision by the City Manager.
1.
The Fire Chief shall be charged with the general supervision
of the Department, and shall be responsible for the discipline, good
order and proper conduct of the subordinate officers and employees
of the Department, the enforcement of all laws, ordinances, rules
and regulations pertaining to the Department, and for the care and
condition of the fire stations, all Fire Department vehicles, apparatus
and all other property of the Department.
2.
The Fire Chief shall be in charge of providing fire and life
protection services and enforce all ordinances related to fire prevention,
fire suppression and elimination of fire hazards. The Fire Chief shall
enforce all life safety codes by inspection or by his/her designee
in all existing buildings, premises and new construction within the
City for the purpose of enforcing the adopted Fire Code.
3.
The Fire Chief or his/her authorized representative may be in
charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency are empowered to
direct such operations necessary in the performance of their duty.
The Fire Chief or his/her representative may prohibit or remove any
person, vehicle or object from any emergency scene that may interfere
with operations of the Fire Department. Any person ordered to leave
the area shall do so and not reenter until authorized to do so.
4.
The Fire Chief shall have the power to order the removing of
any building, erection, fence, pole, wire or other thing, if the Fire
Chief shall deem it necessary for the purpose of checking the progress
of any fires.
5.
The Fire Chief shall propose to the City Manager the staffing
needs of the Fire Department along with the proposed budget for the
upcoming fiscal year.
[CC 1961 §5.04-1; Ord. No. 2171 §§1 — 2, 11-1-1976]
A. There is hereby created the position of Assistant Fire Chief of the
City of Berkeley whose duties will be as follows:
[Ord. No. 4543, 5-6-2019]
1.
The Assistant Fire Chief shall be responsible to the Fire Chief
and shall serve as administrator and shall perform such duties as
prescribed by the Fire Chief. The Assistant Fire Chief is responsible
for the supervision of subordinate officers, review of their activities,
and/or inspections of departmental operations and equipment. The Assistant
Fire Chief makes administrative and operational decisions pertaining
to fire prevention operating standards, as well as training within
the limitations of laws, regulations and established policies.
2.
Before any person shall be appointed as Assistant Fire Chief
they shall have had extensive knowledge of the principles and practices
of modern fire department administration, extensive knowledge of fire
prevention, plan review and role of the Fire Marshall. Shall be familiar
with the geography of the City and locations of streets, principal
buildings, and fire hydrants, ability to plan, install and carry out
programs of departmental operations. Shall have considerable experience
in a supervisory capacity; with at least sixty (60) hours of college,
supplemented by completion of training in firefighting techniques,
fire prevention, plan review and fire department administration; or
an equivalent combination of experience and training.
3.
The Assistant Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Fire Chief
with the approval of the City Manager/Public Safety Community.
B. The
Assistant Fire Chief shall be appointed by the City Manager and shall
be compensated by the City for such a position in an amount as set
forth in the Municipal budget, however, the first (1st) appointee
shall be paid the sum of eighteen thousand two hundred dollars ($18,200.00)
annually.