There shall be a Fire Department which shall be responsible
for the coordination of all the fire protection services of the City
and for the supervision and coordination of all activities of all
City agencies in relation to any fire safety programs, fire suppression
and extinguishing fires and emergency management and medical services.
The Fire Department shall be responsible for and shall include
the following functions:
The Fire Department shall consist of the following offices:
A.
Fire Office.
The Fire Office shall be responsible for providing fire protection
services in the City, including fire safety programs, fire suppression
and extinguishing fires. The functions of the Fire Office shall include
but are not limited to those enumerated below:
(1)
Fire extinguishment: take all necessary steps for the extinguishment
of fires within the City, including utilization of all necessary personnel
and equipment therefor, the destruction of any building or structure
and the removal of any obstruction for the purpose of checking or
extinguishing any such fire.
(2)
Public alarm boxes: establish the location, relocation or removal
of all public fire alarm boxes.
(3)
Civil order: assist in the reestablishment of order in the event
of civil disturbance, disaster or riot or any other declared emergency.
(4)
Training: provide for and administer a program for the training of
firefighters.
(5)
Records: maintain a record of all fires which occur within the City
requiring the services of the Fire Department.
(6)
Intergovernmental contracts: carry out the terms and provisions of
all fire service contracts entered into with other governmental subdivisions.
(7)
Investigations: investigate the causes of all fires and provide for
written reports of all suspected arsons.
(8)
Inspections: inspect all buildings and structures as provided for
by the state fire code, and for the issuance and renewal of certificates
of occupancy.
(9)
Other services: provide rescue and ambulance service.
A.
Establishment. There shall be a Fire Inspector as provided in Charter
Section 5-8.
B.
Appointment; term of office. The Fire Chief shall appoint a Fire
Inspector for a term not to exceed three years.
C.
Authority and responsibilities. The Fire Inspector shall be responsible
for the enforcement of the fire prevention law, General Laws Chapter
148, and the Fire Prevention Code, 527 Code of Massachusetts Regulations,
and shall coordinate all such activity between the Fire Department,
the Fire Chief, the Department of Municipal Inspections and the Director
of Municipal Inspections.
A.
Establishment. There shall be a Forest Warden as provided in MGL
c. 48, § 8.
B.
Appointment; term of office. The Fire Chief shall serve, by virtue
of office, as Forest Warden.
C.
Authority and responsibilities. The Fire Chief, when acting as Forest
Warden, may appoint and may discharge deputies to assist in the duties
of Forest Warden; and if in their judgment there is any danger from
a forest fire, the Forest Warden or the deputies may employ assistance
or require any person in the City between the ages of 18 and 50 to
aid in the extinguishment or prevention of forest fires.
(1)
The Forest Warden may arrest without warrant any person found in
the act of setting, maintaining or increasing a fire in violation
of MGL c. 48, § 13.
(2)
The Fire Chief, acting as Forest Warden, shall have all of the powers,
duties, and responsibilities assigned to Forest Wardens by MGL c.
48, §§ 8 through 28C.
