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.
[1]
Cross References — Police chief, ch. 200, art. III; notice to fire chief regarding route for moving of buildings, §530.040.
[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 §11-14; 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.