[R.O. 2010 §225.010; Ord. No. 19 §1, 6-15-1906; Ord. No. 66 §1, no date; Ord. No. 378§1(A), 9-9-1996; Ord. No. 404 §1, 2-12-2001]
The Fire Department of the City of LaGrange, until otherwise ordered by the City Council, shall consist of at least one (1) fire truck and other equipment necessary in fighting and preventing fires within the City of LaGrange and the LaGrange Community Fire Association, Inc., and number of Firefighters not to exceed twenty-five (25) to be appointed on recommendation of the Fire Chief to the City Council at its first (1st) regular meeting in May each odd-numbered year.
[R.O. 2010 §225.020; Ord. No. 19 §2, 6-15-1906; Ord. No. 378 §1(B), 9-9-1996]
No person shall be a member of the Fire Department of the City who is under the age of twenty-one (21). All members of the Fire Department shall reside within a traveling time of fifteen (15) minutes from the City fire station.
[R.O. 2010 §225.030; Ord. No. 19 §3, 6-15-1906; Ord. No. 378 §1(C), 9-9-1996; Ord. No. 404 §1, 2-12-2001]
The officers of the Fire Department shall consist of one (1) Chief, one (1) Assistant Chief, two (2) Captains and two (2) Lieutenants, in addition to the Firefighters. On the first (1st) Friday in April of each odd year, a list from the Chief or Assistant Chief needs to be turned in to the City Clerk from their election held on officers and appointments of Firefighters to be appointed by the Mayor and City Council for a term of two (2) years at the first (1st) regular meeting of the City Council in May each odd-numbered year. The Chief and Assistant shall possess executive ability and be familiar with the fire equipment with the best and approved methods for preventing fires and for fighting fires.
[R.O. 2010 §225.040; Ord. No. 19 §4, 6-15-1906]
The Fire Department, or company, shall with the advice and assistance of the Mayor and Council adopt such bylaws as may be necessary for its government.
[R.O. 2010 §225.050; Ord. No. 19 §§6 — 7, 10 — 12, 6-15-1906; Ord. No. 404 §1, 2-12-2001]
A. 
The Fire Chief or his/her Assistant acting under the assistance advice and consent of the Mayor, or any two (2) members of the City Council, may direct the Firefighters to cut down and remove any building, erection or place for the purpose of checking the progress of a fire, and under and with the concurrence of the Mayor and two (2) Council members shall have power during the progress of a fire, if deemed best to save other property or to avoid a conflagration, to cause to be blown up with powder or dynamite, or otherwise, any building or erection for the purpose of extinguishing or checking any fire.
B. 
The Mayor, any member of the Police Department, or any officer of the Fire Department, or any member of the fire company shall have power to enter into or upon the private premises in fighting any fire or to use water from any well, cistern, pond, reservoir or hydrant to be used in extinguishing any fire in the City limits.
C. 
The Fire Chief, or in his/her absence or inability to act the Assistant Chief, shall have charge of that portion of the building in the City where the fire trucks and all other fire-fighting equipment are kept and shall be responsible for the safe keeping of the same and from time to time shall report the condition of the trucks and equipment to the City Council and shall furnish the Council the names of any and all Firefighters who attend a fire during each year.
D. 
It shall be the duty of each member of the Fire Department, including the Chief and his/her Assistant, to respond to every alarm of fire in the City and to assist in every reasonable way possible to extinguish the fire and to prevent its spread. Any Fireman failing to respond to a fire alarm or to obey the Chief, or his/her Assistant in the absence of the Chief, shall be liable to removal from the department, and it shall be the duty of the Chief or his/her Assistant to report any such delinquency to the Council.
E. 
The compensation for services of the Chief, Assistant and Firefighters shall not exceed a limit set by the Rural Fire Association Board and the City Council.