This chapter is adopted pursuant to authority granted by §§ 61.34,
61.65 and 62.13, Wis. Stats.
The purpose of this chapter is to create a Fire/Rescue Department
in the Village and to repeal conflicting ordinances relating to Village
fire and rescue services.
The provisions of this chapter shall be interpreted to be minimum
requirements and shall be liberally construed in favor of the Village.
Headings provided in this chapter are for convenience and ease of
reference; they shall not be interpreted to limit the applicability,
purpose, effect or meaning of any of the provisions of this chapter.
All prior ordinances or sections thereof relating to the establishment
or operation of a Fire Department or Rescue Department or Rescue Squad
in the Village of Salem Lakes which conflict with the provisions of
this chapter are hereby repealed.
There is hereby established a combined paid and volunteer Fire/Rescue
Department within the Village.
The position of Fire Chief within the Village is hereby created
to supervise, coordinate, and plan the ongoing staffing, equipping,
housing, training and financing of the fire and rescue resources in
the Village. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Fire Commission.
The most senior battalion chief of the Fire/Rescue Department shall
do and perform the duties of the Fire Chief whenever the Fire Chief
shall be absent or incapacitated.
The Fire Chief shall have the following authority and duties:
A. The Fire Chief shall have the police powers set forth in § 213.095,
Wis. Stats.
B. The Fire Chief shall have the authority to order the removal or destruction
of property, real or personal, when in the discretion of the Fire
Chief such removal or destruction is required to preserve the property
from damage, to prevent the spread of fire, to prevent damage to adjoining
properties or to prevent injury to firefighters or other persons in
the vicinity of a fire.
C. The Fire Chief, in the exercise of his sole discretion, shall have
the authority within the Village to determine the manner in which
Fire/Rescue Department equipment and apparatus will be utilized and
housed; provided, however, that the Village President may direct the
use of equipment or apparatus if he has formally declared a state
of emergency in compliance with applicable Village policies and procedures.