[1]
Editor's Note: R.O. 1985 § 9-16, Fire Board, as amended by Ord. Nos. 926, 1409, 1733, 3987, and 4762, was repealed by Ord. No. 5412 on 11-28-2023.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-17; Ord. No. 155, 1-12-1954; Code 1965, § 7.02]
There is hereby created and established a Fire Department.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-18; Code 1965, § 7.03; Ord. No. 1345, § 1, 5-9-1972; Ord. No. 1515, § 1, 7-9-1974]
The executive officer of the Fire Department shall be the Fire Chief, to be appointed as provided in Subsection 2-53(i)(1). The Chief shall make or cause to be made all fire inspections of new buildings, be in charge of all operations of the Department and shall be responsible for the training of personnel thereof. He or she shall perform such other duties as may be directed.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-19; Ord. No. 155, 1-12-1954; Code 1965, § 7.05; Ord. No. 4804, § 1, 10-24-2017]
A Fire Marshal shall be appointed as provided in Subsection 2-53(i)(2). The Fire Marshal shall study and enforce methods and rules for fire prevention and threats to human life, safety and health and shall inspect premises, existing buildings, and all new construction for the purpose of eliminating fire hazards and protecting human life, safety and health, and shall perform such other duties as directed by the Fire Chief.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-20; Ord. No. 284, § I, 3-20-1956; Code 1965, § 7.07]
(a) 
No person shall break, destroy, damage, injure, interfere with or deface any property, equipment, buildings or apparatus of the Fire Department or that of any Fire Department or fire district in the City pursuant to a contract with the City.
(b) 
No person shall detain, interfere with, interrupt or restrain any personnel of any Fire Department while engaged in the lawful performance of his or her duties at any time.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-21; Ord. No. 3116, §§ 1, 2, 6-27-1989]
(a) 
Closed Records. All emergency medical service reports prepared by members of the Fire Department relating to identifiable persons shall be closed records and inaccessible to the general public, except that the following persons may obtain same:
(1) 
The person or persons identified in the report.
(2) 
A person presenting a notarized patient information release signed by each individual, or the legal guardian or holder of a power of attorney of each individual, who is the subject of the requested report. If the person or persons identified in the report are under the age of seventeen (17) years, the release must be signed by the parent or legal guardian, or juvenile court personnel.
(3) 
A person presenting an authorized court order directing production of a report.
(4) 
Personnel of a law enforcement agency.
(b) 
Maintained Separately From Other Records Available To Public. All emergency medical service incident reports shall be kept separately from other records which are available to the public.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-22; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
The Chief of the City Fire Department or his/her duly authorized representatives ("fire prevention code official") as may be in charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency are empowered to direct such operations as may be necessary in the reasonable performance of their duty. The Fire Chief may prohibit any person, vehicle or object from approaching the scene and may remove, or cause to be removed, from the scene any person, vehicle, or object which may impede or interfere with the operations of the Fire Department. Any person ordered to leave an area shall do so immediately and shall not reenter such area until authorized to do so by the Fire Chief.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-23; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt 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, or obstruct or hamper any Fire Department operation.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-24; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any order or direction of the Fire Chief or to interfere with the compliance attempts of another individual.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-25; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected fire hose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, drive, or any vehicular roadway without the consent of the Fire Chief.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-26; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
(a) 
Authorized emergency vehicles shall include those vehicles as defined in Section 300.010(3), RSMo., as same may be amended from time to time. The driver of an emergency vehicle shall not sound the siren thereon or have the front red lights on or disobey any existing traffic regulations, except when said vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire. The driver of an emergency vehicle may:
(1) 
Park or stand irrespective of the provisions of existing traffic regulations;
(2) 
Proceed past a red or stop signal or other sign, but only after slowing down as may be necessary for safe operation;
(3) 
Exceed the speed limit so long as the action does not endanger life or property;
(4) 
Disregard regulations governing directions of movement or turning in specified directions.
(b) 
The foregoing exemptions shall apply only when the driver of an emergency vehicle, while in motion, sounds an audible signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary, and the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance of five hundred (500) feet to the front of such vehicle.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-27; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
Upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle, giving audible and visual signal, the operator of every other vehicle shall immediately drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel to the right-hand edge or curb of the roadway, clear of any intersection, and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency vehicle has passed, unless otherwise directed by the Fire Chief or a Police Officer.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-28; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other than one on official business, to follow closer than three hundred (300) feet from any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm, or to drive any vehicle within the block or immediate area where fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-29; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not, without prior authorization from the Fire Chief in charge of Fire Department emergency equipment, cling to, attach himself 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 switches, starting devices, brakes, pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on, or a part of, any Fire Department emergency vehicle.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-30; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface, or attempt to damage or deface, any Fire Department vehicle at any time or to injure, or attempt to injure, Fire Department personnel while performing departmental duties.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-31; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, obstruct, paint or repaint any fire hydrant, or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any Fire Department connection for the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including fire hydrant and Fire Department connections that are located on public or private streets and access lanes, or on private property. It shall be unlawful to plant any trees, shrub, bush, hedge or other plant or vegetation, except grass, within six (6) feet of any fire hydrant, and none shall be planted between the street, alley or other public way and a fire hydrant. It shall be unlawful to plant any shrubs, bushes, hedges, trees or other plants or vegetation, except grass, in close proximity to a fire hydrant in such a manner as to interfere with a clear view of the hydrant by fire vehicles approaching on any public street or way. The Fire Chief is hereby authorized to remove, trim or cut back any such plant growth, after posting a notice within ten (10) feet from such hydrant at least three (3) days before such removal or cutting, stating his or her intention to do so. Cost incurred in the performance of necessary work shall be paid from the municipal treasury on certificate of the fire official and with the approval of the chief administrative official; and the legal authority of the municipality shall institute appropriate action for the recovery of such cost.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-32; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended for use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes unless such person first secures the approval for such use from the Fire Chief and the water company having jurisdiction.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-33; Ord. No. 3204, § 1, 11-26-1991]
No person shall erect, place or maintain any bumps, fences, gates, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal horses or any other type of obstruction in or on any street, within the boundaries of the City. As used herein, the term "street" shall include, but not be limited to, all public streets and private streets or access lanes within the boundaries of the City.
[R.O. 1985 § 9-34; Ord. No. 3340, § 1, 3-14-1995; Ord. No. 3347, § 1, 5-9-1995]
(a) 
The owner, occupant or agent of a residential or commercial building, whether new or existing, shall be required to place in a conspicuous location, visible from the street, the numerical or letter address of such building in accordance with the following regulations:
(1) 
Every building located fifty (50) feet or less from the edge of the street shall have Arabic numbers not less than three inches high displayed on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned.
(2) 
Every building located more than fifty (50) feet, but not more than seventy (70) feet, from the edge of the street shall display Arabic numbers, in accordance with either of the following Subsections (a) or (b):
a. 
Numbers not less than four (4) inches high on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned;
b. 
Numbers not less than three inches high displayed on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned, and numbers not less than three inches high displayed on a post, or on a regulation United States Postal Service mailbox, or on a sign, which post, mailbox or sign shall be located directly in front of the building on the same side of the street and not more than ten (10) feet from the edge of the street.
(3) 
Every building located more than seventy (70) feet, but not more than ninety (90) feet, from the edge of the street shall display Arabic numbers, in accordance with either of the following Subsection (3)(a) or (b):
a. 
Numbers not less than five (5) inches high on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned;
b. 
Numbers not less than three inches high displayed on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned, and numbers not less than three (3) inches high displayed on a post, or on a regulation United States Postal Service mailbox, or on a sign, which post, mailbox or sign shall be located directly in front of the building on the same side of the street and not more than ten (10) feet from the edge of the street.
(4) 
Every building located more than ninety (90) feet from the edge of the street shall display Arabic numbers not less than three (3) inches high on the side of the building facing the street to which the address is assigned and Arabic numbers not less than three (3) inches high displayed on a post, or on a regulation United States Postage Service mailbox, or on a sign, which post, mailbox, or sign shall be located directly in front of the building on the same side of the street and not more than ten (10) feet from the edge of the street.
(5) 
Every multifamily residential apartment complex shall have its assigned number displayed in accordance with Subsection (4) above. In addition, each individual building in such a complex shall have Arabic numbers displayed on the side of the building in such a manner as to be clearly visible and readable from the street or from the driveway of the complex. In addition, each individual apartment shall have Arabic numbers or letters not less than three (3) inches high displayed on or near the front entrance to the apartment.
(6) 
The color of the Arabic numbers shall be in contrast to the immediate background to which they are affixed or inscribed. The numbers shall be displayed so as to be readily visible and readable during normal daylight hours.
(7) 
These regulations shall be construed to mean that if the Arabic numbers as specified herein are hidden by an awning, overhang, post, tree, bush, or other obstruction, then the owner, occupant, or agent of the building shall place supplementary Arabic numbers in the manner determined by the enforcing official to best meet the intent of this Section.
(8) 
Building numbers may be spelled out for decorative purposes; however, Arabic numbers meeting the intent of this Section shall also be required.
(9) 
All applicants for building permits for new construction shall be given a copy of this Section. A building shall be numbered in accordance with the provisions of this Section before any certificate of occupancy is granted by the City.
(10) 
The Fire Marshal or his/her designee is hereby designated as the enforcing official of this Section.
(b) 
Should any premises be in violation of this Section, the enforcing official shall give the owner, occupant or agent written notice of violation which shall specify the period of time, which shall be at least fifteen (15) days, for correction of the violation. Any person failing to cure such violation within the specified period shall be deemed in violation of the requirements hereof, and shall be subject to the penalties provided for violation of City ordinance as set forth in Section 1-6 of this Code.