Cross References — Personnel policy regarding firefighters, §§115.150 — 115.270; obedience to fire department officials required, §310.020; following fire apparatus prohibited, §340.010; crossing fire hoses prohibited, §340.020; as to fire prevention code, see §500.070; duties of fire department in relation to dangerous buildings, §525.080;
Charter Reference — Authority to create departments and
offices, §4.01.
[Code 1962 §11-7; CC 1979 §10-17; Ord. No. 325-2008 §1, 3-18-2008]
A.
The
City Manager shall appoint the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief and Human
Resources Director shall, working together, hire Deputy Fire Chief,
officers, equipment engineers and as many Firemen or Volunteer Firemen
as are deemed necessary to protect the welfare of the City, with each
hiring decision subject to the approval of the City Manager. Such
persons shall serve at the pleasure of the City Manager. Vacancies,
if and when they occur, shall be filled by the Fire Chief and Human
Resources Director, subject to the approval of the City Manager.
B.
The
Fire Chief shall designate the Deputy Fire Chief and may, in consultation
with the Human Resources Director, assign other job titles and ranks.
[Code 1962 §11-8; CC 1979 §10-18]
The officers and members of the Fire Department shall possess
the general qualifications required for other officers of the City,
and shall be in good physical condition. The City Manager shall prescribe
physical standards for members of the Fire Department, and shall require
periodic physical examinations, at least once each year and more often
if deemed necessary, by a licensed physician designated by him, to
insure that members of the Fire Department are in good physical condition
and physically able to carry out their duties.
[Code 1962 §11-9; CC 1979 §10-19]
Every person duly selected as a member of the Fire Department
shall be subject to call at any time of day or night to attend any
fire within the City and if any member shall fail, neglect or refuse
to attend a fire without reasonable cause therefor, he/she shall be
subject to immediate removal from the Department. Members shall be
called to attend fires by the sounding of the fire alarm and upon
the sounding thereof, they shall assemble as quickly as possible at
the station house or other place designated by the Fire Chief.
[Code 1962 §11-10; CC 1979 §10-20]
All members of the Fire Department shall perform such duties
as may be required of them by the Fire Chief and shall observe such
other rules and regulations as may be promulgated by the City Manager.
[CC 1979 §10-21; Ord. No. 948 §III, 3-15-1977]
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, conspire to interfere
with, obstruct or restrict the mobility of, or block the path of travel
of any Fire Department emergency vehicle in any way, or to interfere
with, attempt to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct
or hamper any Fire Department operation.
[CC 1979 §10-22; Ord. No. 948 §V, 3-15-1977]
A person shall not without proper authorization from the Fire
Official in charge of said Fire Department emergency equipment cling
to, attach himself/herself to, climb upon or into, board, or swing
upon any Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in
motion or at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing
device thereon, or to manipulate or tamper with, or attempt to manipulate
or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of any
Fireman or any Fire Department emergency vehicle.
[CC 1979 §10-23; Ord. No. 948 §VI, 3-15-1977]
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface, or
attempt to conspire to damage or deface, any Fire Department emergency
vehicle at any time, or to injure, or attempt to injure or conspire
to injure Fire Department personnel while performing departmental
duties.
[CC 1979 §10-24; Ord. No. 948 §VII, 3-15-1977]
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct,
or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any Fire Department
connection for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including
fire hydrants and Fire Department connections that are located on
public or private streets and access lanes, or on private property.
Operators of motor vehicles shall not park their vehicles within a
space of ten (10) feet on any side of a fire hydrant located on public
or private property.
[CC 1979 §10-25; Ord. No. 948 §VIII, 3-15-1977]
No person shall use or operate any fire hydrant intended for
use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes unless such
person first secures a permit from the City Manager, Water Department
Superintendent and/or the Fire Chief. This Section shall not apply
to employees of the Fire Department and Water Department.
[Code 1962 §11-11; CC 1979 §10-33]
The Fire Chief shall be responsible to the City Manager for
discipline, good order and conduct of the Fire Department, and the
performance of all rules, regulations and ordinances pertaining thereto,
and for the care and condition of the fire equipment and all other
property of the Fire Department.
[Code 1962 §11-12; CC 1979 §10-34; Ord. No. 948 §II, 3-15-1977; Ord. No. 325-2008 §1, 3-18-2008]
The Officer in Charge shall be in charge at the scene of any
fire. The "Officer in Charge" is highest ranking fireman at the scene.
He/she is empowered to direct such operations as may be necessary
to extinguish or control any suspected or reported fires, control
rescue operations or hazardous materials incidents. The Officer in
Charge may prohibit any person, except a Law Enforcement Officer,
and prohibit any vehicle or object from approaching the scene and
may cause to be removed from the scene any person, vehicle or object
which may be endangered or is likely to impede or interfere with the
operations of the Fire Department. All persons ordered to leave an
area shall do so immediately and shall not re-enter the area until
authorized to do so by the Officer in Charge.
[Code 1962 §11-13; CC 1979 §10-35; Ord. No. 325-2008 §1, 3-18-2008]
In the absence of the Fire Chief, the Deputy Fire Chief shall
be in full charge and control of the Department and exercise all powers
and duties specified by this Article for the Fire Chief.
[Code 1962 §11-14; CC 1979 §10-36]
The Fire Chief shall keep in suitable books a record of the
names, ages and residences of all members of the Fire Department and
an inventory of all the personal property belonging to the Department.
He/she shall also keep a record of every fire that may occur, showing
what property was destroyed, giving a description of such property
and the names of the occupants thereof, and showing where such property
was situated and established and the amount of loss and insurance.
The Fire Chief shall also keep a record of the false alarms, of the
causes of the various fires, and of the expenses of the Fire Department,
and such other facts as he/she may deem of value to be preserved,
and he/she shall report the same to the City Manager the first (1st)
of every month.
[CC 1979 §10-37; Ord. No. 948 §IV, 3-15-1977]
Any person who shall fail or refuse to comply with any lawful
order or direction of the Fire Chief or to interfere with the compliance
attempts of another individual shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor.
