[Ord. No. 36 § 1078, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 446 § 7, 3-5-1951; Ord. No. 475 § 1, 1-22-1952; Ord.
No. 880 § 1, 3-11-1968; Ord. No. 1674 § 1, 5-18-1992; Ord.
No. 1849 § 1, 3-30-1995; Ord. No. 2486 § 3, 10-15-2007; Ord. No. 2565 § 1, 5-18-2009]
There is hereby established a Fire Department for the City, which shall consist of a Chief, one (1) Assistant Chief and such organized volunteer Firefighters, not to exceed a department total of thirty (30). All volunteer Firefighters shall be appointed by the Mayor with the consent and approval of a majority of the members of the Board of Aldermen. The Fire Chief may recommend to the Mayor persons to be considered for appointment as volunteer Firefighters. The volunteer Firefighters shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen. Any volunteer Firefighters except the Fire Chief also may be disciplined or dismissed pursuant to Section 22-55.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1081, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 446 § 10, 3-5-1951; Ord. No. 2433 § 1, 11-20-2006]
A.
There shall be a written job description for the position of fireman
in the Fire Department, which shall include a job title, written specifications
for the position, a non-inclusive illustration of the types of work
performed by a fireman, and a statement of minimum qualifications
for appointment to the position of fireman. The City Administrator
shall prepare the job description after consulting with the Fire Chief.
The City Administrator and Fire Chief each shall maintain a copy of
the written job description. The job description shall be reviewed
by and updated periodically by the City Administrator after consultation
with the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief shall require all existing firemen
to follow the written job description after it is created by the City
Administrator, including meeting the minimum qualifications set forth
in the job description.
B.
The Fire Department shall have charge of the fire-fighting equipment
and other fire apparatus and shall keep the same in good order for
immediate use. The Fire Department shall, as often as practicable,
thoroughly test the condition of the fire-fighting equipment and other
fire apparatus. Upon arrival at any fire, the firemen present shall
take all necessary and proper action to extinguish such fire as quickly
as possible with the least damage possible. The Fire Department shall
take all reasonable steps necessary under the circumstances to prevent
the spread of the fire and damage to adjoining property.
[Ord. No. 446 § 11, 3-5-1951; Ord.
No. 733 § 1, 12-12-1960; Ord. No. 1037 § 1, 3-11-1974; Ord.
No. 1694 § 1, 9-21-1992]
A.
If there are at least two (2) serviceable fire trucks with adequate
equipment and a request is received from a private individual for
fire-fighting equipment outside the City limits, the Fire Chief, Assistant
Fire Chief or highest ranking fireman in the absence of the Fire Chief
or Assistant Chief may determine whether to answer such request, depending
upon the road conditions, water supply and other conditions at the
time, and his decision shall be final. The decision of the Fire Chief,
Assistant Fire Chief or highest ranking fireman shall in no way render
him liable. In the event the Fire Department answers the call, it
shall take only one (1) truck and not more than one-half (1/2) of
the available members of the Department, and all other members shall
remain on alert in the City, until the return of the fire equipment.
The charge for making a call at the request of a private individual
outside the City limits shall be one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00),
regardless of the success or failure of the mission, sixty-five dollars
($65.00) of which is for the use of the equipment for one (1) hour,
and eighty-five dollars ($85.00) of which is to repay the City General
Revenue Fund for the compensation paid to the Firemen; provided, that
if the City equipment shall be used for a longer period of time than
one (1) hour, the charge shall be one hundred dollars ($100.00) per
hour, or any part thereof, in excess of the first one (1) hour period
for which the one hundred fifty dollar ($150.00) charge is made; provided,
further, that from this one hundred dollars ($100.00) the General
Revenue Fund of the City shall be reimbursed for the expenses actually
paid to the Firemen.
B.
When a request for emergency aid is made to the Centralia Fire Department
by another Fire Department, Fire Protection District or Volunteer
Fire Protection Association in the State at the time of a significant
emergency such as a fire, earthquake, flood, tornado, hazardous material
incident or other disaster, the Centralia Fire Department may respond
and render aid, unless the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief or highest
ranking fireman in the absence of the Fire Chief or Assistant Fire
Chief decides otherwise. A full Fire Department tone out shall be
done. A Fire Department officer or highest ranking fireman shall make
the decision on what fire apparatus will be sent, provided that two
(2) fire engines and half (1/2) the available Fire Department manpower
shall be left in the City at all times.
C.
The authority given to the Centralia Fire Department to respond and
render emergency aid under Subsection (A) or Subsection (B) of this
Section shall be limited to an area within a fifty (50) mile radius
of the City of Centralia, unless the Fire Chief, the Mayor or the
City Administrator authorizes a response beyond such area.
D.
When responding to emergency aid requests under Subsection (A) or
Subsection (B) of this Section, the Centralia Fire Department shall
be subject to all provisions of law as if the department were providing
service within the City.
[Ord. No. 446 § 8, 3-5-1951; Ord.
No. 1290 § 1, 2-17-1986]
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor and with the
consent and approval of a majority of the members of the Board of
Aldermen. The Fire Chief shall serve at the pleasure of the Mayor
and the Board of Aldermen. The Assistant Chief shall be elected annually
between the first day of April and the first day of May each year
by the members of the Fire Department, including the Fire Chief and
all enrolled volunteer Firemen, and he shall hold that position for
one (1) year and until his successor is elected and qualified.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1079, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 446 § 9, 3-5-1951; Ord. No. 1399 § 1, 10-19-1987; Ord. No. 1547 § 4, 5-21-1990; Ord. No. 1674 § 2, 5-18-1992]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to examine and report
quarterly to the Board of Aldermen the condition of the buildings
where all fire equipment and apparatus may be kept and to recommend
such alterations and additions and changes as the Fire Chief may,
in his judgment, require. It shall also be his duty to ascertain and
report to the Board of Aldermen the condition and efficiency of the
Fire Department and, if the Department fails to observe and enforce
its rules and regulations, so as to impair its efficiency at fires,
to report the same, with such suggestions as he may deem most appropriate
in the emergency. The Fire Chief shall have the authority to examine
all buildings and all places where explosives and flammable materials
are kept in the City, and the Fire Chief shall prepare a written report
of all such examinations to the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen. The
Fire Chief is authorized to enter any and all buildings and places
where explosives and flammable materials are kept in the City for
the purpose of inspecting said explosives and materials. He shall
also report from time to time in regard to the fire escapes on public
buildings, and other buildings provided with fire escapes that are
required by law to be so provided. He shall keep an inventory of all
the City Fire Department's property and equipment and report
the same to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen at least once a year.
He shall keep informed and make a report, when required, as to the
condition of the water supply and fire plugs. It shall also be his
duty at all times to keep the Fire Department in good condition and
ready for inspection. The Assistant Fire Chief shall assume the duties
of the Fire Chief in his absence, or the vacancy of the office until
a new Fire Chief is appointed, and shall assist the Fire Chief and
obey his orders.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1080, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 1399 § 2, 10-19-1987]
When on duty, the Firemen shall be under the immediate control
and direction of the Fire Chief. Upon an alarm of fire, the Firemen
shall, without unnecessary delay, arrive at the scene of the fire
with appropriate City fire apparatus and report to the Fire Chief
or Officer there in command.
[Ord. No. 446 § 12, 3-5-1951; Ord.
No. 1020 § 1, 7-9-1973; Ord. No. 1097 § 1, 9-12-1977; Ord.
No. 1103 § 1, 11-14-1977; Ord. No. 1288 § 4, 2-17-1986; Ord.
No. 1726 § 1, 2-15-1993; Ord. No. 2232 § 1, 3-17-2003; Ord.
No. 2756 § 1, 3-17-2014; Ord. No. 3006, 3-18-2019]
In addition to any other fees or expenses, the Fire Chief, Assistant
Chief and any other firefighters, for each fire they shall attend,
shall receive a fee of thirteen dollars and no cents ($13.00) per
hour for each hour or fraction thereof and shall receive an attendance
fee of thirteen dollars and no cents ($13.00) for attendance at each
of two (2) regular meetings of the Fire Department each calendar month;
but nothing contained herein shall be construed as prohibiting the
Board of Aldermen from granting to the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire
Chief and firefighters additional pay in all cases of large conflagration
and long fight when the service rendered would seem to merit extra
compensation. The Fire Chief shall, in addition to the above, be paid
two hundred dollars ($200.00) per year for expenses, payable semi-annually.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1104, c.a. 1918]
The Fire Chief shall have full power, control and command over
all persons at fires, except police, and shall station the apparatus
and see to it that all persons belonging to the Fire Department perform
the duties required of them by law and ordinance. It shall also be
the duty of the Chief to direct at all fires such measures as he shall
deem advisable for the extinguishment and control of such fires.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1105, c.a. 1918]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to adopt, in his discretion,
all prudent measures for the prevention of fires, and for this purpose
he may, whenever he has reason to believe that the safety of the property
or life demands it, and as he may deem proper, enter any building,
yard or premises in the City and examine the fireplaces, hearths,
chimneys, stoves, pipes, boilers, furnaces, heating pipes, lighting
appliances or other apparatus liable to cause fire, and also places
where gunpowder, ashes, straw, hay, shavings, oil or other combustible
material may be deposited, kept or stored, and give such directions
for the alteration, change, removal or better care or management of
the same as he may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed
and complied with by the persons so directed, and at their expense.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1119, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 1399 § 3, 10-19-1987]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to enforce all laws and
all ordinances of the City relating to fire protection. The Fire Chief
may promulgate and enforce public fire safety regulations not otherwise
provided for or prohibited by law in case of fire or danger of fire.
[Ord. No. 437 § 64, 12-4-1950]
The Chief and Assistant Chief of the Fire Department of this
City are acting Police Officers while on duty and have full authority
to detain, direct or arrest any person who maliciously obstructs them
in the service of their duty, and to arrest any person who may be
pilfering, carrying away or stealing anything in time of fire, storms,
tornadoes and floods.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1113, c.a. 1918]
No person shall place or cause to be placed upon or about any
fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence or other obstruction
of any character whatsoever in any manner that might obstruct, hinder
or impede the Fire Department in the performance of its duties in
case of a fire in the vicinity of such hydrant.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1115, c.a. 1918; Ord.
No. 1397 § 1, 10-19-1987]
A.
Except as provided below, no person shall, at any time, within the
City limits, ignite, burn, or cause or allow the burning of refuse,
trash, commercial and residential solid waste, garbage, rubbish, cloth
materials, tires, dead animals, straw, hay, street sweepings, material
resulting from construction or destruction of buildings, buildings,
grass clippings, trees, wood, lumber, paper, cardboard boxes, brush,
shrub clippings, tree trimmings, tree leaves or any other combustible
materials. The following combustible materials may be ignited or burned
within the City limits as provided below:
1.
Paper, cardboard boxes and related combustible materials from commercial
businesses may be burned in incinerators approved by the City Administrator
and in compliance with applicable State laws and regulations dealing
with air pollution control, provided that someone attends the fire
and does not leave the premises until all combustibles are burned.
2.
Abandoned buildings may be burned by City Firemen for training purposes
if written approval is given for said burning by the City Administrator
and if written approval is obtained from the owner of the building.
3.
Burning of wood and paper in residential fireplaces and woodstoves
shall not be prohibited under this Section.
4.
Burning of charcoal, wood, paper and related combustible materials in grills, fireplaces or camp fires for the outdoor preparation of food shall not be prohibited under this Section. Fires in City parks shall be regulated in the manner set forth in Chapter 21 of this Code.
5.
Wastepaper, cardboard boxes, brush, shrub clippings, tree trimmings
and tree leaves may be burned any day between sunrise and sunset on
or at the side of non-commercial premises, provided.
6.
Wood, cardboard boxes, paper and related combustible materials may
be burned in bonfires at activities sponsored and approved by the
Centralia R-VI School District, provided that such burning may not
be within twenty-five (25) feet of any building or structure.
B.
The Chief of the Fire Department may prohibit for a specified period of time the burning of any or all combustible materials allowed in subsection A or elsewhere in this Code if he deems such burning to be a fire hazard. The Fire Chief or the City Administrator shall cause a public notice of said prohibition to be published in one (1) newspaper of general circulation within the City and shall provide publicity about said burning prohibition to such other news operations as he may deem advisable. The prohibition on burning shall be effective beginning with the date of publication of the notice in said newspaper within the City.
[Ord. No. 36 § 1118, c.a. 1918]
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to use, or the
owner thereof to permit to be used, any siren, whistle or whistles
not installed on fire or police apparatus or in some way pertaining
to fire without first obtaining permission from the Fire Chief.
[Ord. No. 624 § 92, 2-3-1958]
An owner, lessee, agent, operator or occupant aggrieved by any
order issued pursuant to this Chapter may file an appeal to the Board
of Aldermen within ten (10) days from the service of such an order,
and the Board of Aldermen shall fix a time and place not less than
five (5) days nor more than ten (10) days thereafter when and where
such appeal may be heard. Such appeal shall stay the execution of
such order until it has been heard and reviewed, vacated or confirmed.
The Board of Aldermen shall at such hearing affirm, modify,
revoke or vacate such order. Unless revoked or vacated, such order
shall then be complied with.
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to deny the right of
any person to appeal from an order or decision of the Board of Aldermen
to a court of competent jurisdiction. Such appeal shall stay the execution
of such order until it has been heard and reviewed, vacated or confirmed.
[Repealed by Ord. No. 1399 § 4, 10-19-1987]
