[4-5-1999]
The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the President by and with
the consent and advice of the Board of Trustees. His appointment shall
be from May 1 to April 30.
[4-5-1999]
The Chief of the Fire Department shall have sole and absolute
control and command over all persons connected with the fire service
of the Village. He shall be subject to the authority of the Village
President.
[4-5-1999]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief, if within his power,
to attend all emergency responses occurring in the Village, and in
case of his absence from any emergency response, it shall be the duty
of the officer in command of the fire company first on the ground
at such emergency response to take charge of the department, and during
the absence of the Chief, he shall have and exercise all the powers
of the Chief of the Fire Department.
[4-5-1999]
The Fire Chief shall have the custody, subject to the direction
of the Village President and Board of Trustees, and be accountable
and responsible for, all property and equipment belonging to the Fire
Department.
[4-16-2007]
A.
The Chief of the Fire Department shall assign fire investigators,
arson investigators, assistant investigators and/or inspectors to
determine the cause and origin of every fire occurring within the
Village of Thornton.
B.
Such investigation shall begin as soon as practical upon the occurrence
of such a fire. The Chief of the Fire Department shall be notified
of the determination of cause and origin and reports shall be made
as needed to both the Illinois State Fire Marshall and the Thornton
Fire Department.
C.
All arson investigations shall be conducted by a duly appointed arson
investigator, which person shall be appointed by the Fire Chief. The
position of arson investigator shall not be considered a rank, but
rather an assignment of duty and shall be exempt under the rules and
regulations of the Fire and Police Commission of the Village of Thornton.
D.
The arson investigator shall be a sworn employee of the Thornton
Fire Department and shall be classified as a peace officer in accordance
with 20 ILCS 2910/1.
E.
Any person so classified shall possess the same powers of arrest,
search and seizure and the securing and service of warrants as sheriffs
of counties and police officers within the jurisdiction of their political
subdivision. While in the actual investigation and matters incident
thereto, such person may carry weapons as may be necessary, but only
if that person has satisfactorily completed a training program offered
and approved by the Illinois Local Governmental Law Enforcement Officer's
Training Board which substantially conforms to standards promulgated
pursuant to the Illinois Police Training Act and "An Act in relation
to firearms training for peace offices" approved August 29, 1975 as
amended. Any persons granted the powers numerated by this chapter
or the state statute may exercise such powers only during the actual
investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of such fires
or explosions that are suspected to be arson or arson-related crimes.
F.
If the fire is of suspicious origin, the Police Chief shall be immediately
notified of the fact. The Fire Chief shall take charge of the physical
evidence, shall notify the proper authorities designated by law to
pursue the investigation of such matters and shall further cooperate
with the authorities in the collection of evidence and in the prosecution
of the case.
[4-5-1999]
The Chief of the Fire Department shall, at least four times
in every year, examine into the condition of the apparatus and hoses
and report the same to the President and Board of Trustees at the
next subsequent meeting, together with such recommendations as he
may deem advisable in the premises.
[4-5-1999; amended 9-18-2006(1); 3-21-2012(4)]
The Chief of the Fire Department shall, on or before July 1st
of each year, make a full and complete report of all activities of
the Fire Department for the preceding fiscal year, together with such
recommendations as may be appropriate. Such report shall also show,
as nearly as can be ascertained, the number of fires, causes thereof,
of accidents by fire and the number of and a brief description of
the buildings destroyed or injured, together with the names of the
owners and occupants, the amount of property destroyed by fire and
insurance thereon, and shall include such other statistics and suggestions
as he may deem advisable.
