[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The Municipality's Fire Department is a Volunteer Fire Department
managed by the Governing Body through a Fire Chief and Firefighters.
The Governing Body, for the purpose of defraying the cost of the management,
maintenance, and improving the Fire Department may each year levy
a tax not exceeding the maximum limits prescribed by State law, on
the actual valuation of all real estate and personal property within
the Municipality that is subject to taxation. (Ref. 16-222 RS Neb.)
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The Fire Chief shall manage the Fire Department and it shall
be his or her duty to inform the Governing Body when any of the fire
engines, hose, ladders, or other apparatus needs repair. The Fire
Chief shall cause the repair, improvement, or maintenance of the said
equipment and shall personally supervise and approve of the same.
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to come before the Governing
Body at a regular meeting in November of each year to give an annual
report to the Governing Body of the general condition and the proposed
additions or improvements recommended by him or her.
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The Fire Chief shall appoint no more than 25 members for each
Fire Department Company. All vacancies shall be filled in this manner.
Said members shall be entitled to coverage under the worker's compensation
laws of the State of Nebraska. Each member shall be entitled to a
term life insurance policy in the amount of at least $10,000 for death
from any cause to age 65 and such policy shall, at the option of the
individual fireman, be convertible to a permanent form of life insurance
at age 65, provided, that the firemen covered are actively and faithfully
performing the duties of their position. The members may organize
themselves in any way they may decide. They may hold meetings and
engage in social activities. The secretary shall upon request keep
a record of all meetings and shall make a report to the Governing
Body of all meetings and activities of the Fire Department. All members
of the Fire Department shall be subject to such rules and regulations,
and shall perform such duties, as may be prescribed or required of
them by the Fire Chief. Volunteer Firefighters and rescue squad members
testifying as a witness in connection with his or her officially assigned
duties in that capacity alone shall not be deemed employees of the
State of Nebraska or of the Municipality. (Ref. 33-139.01, 35-101
through 35-103, 35-108 RS Neb.)
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The Fire Chief shall keep or cause to be kept a record of all
meetings of the Fire Department, the attendance record of all members,
a record of all fires, and shall make a full report of such records
to the Municipal Clerk during the month of January each year. The
record of any fire shall include the cause, origin, circumstances,
property involved, and whether criminal conduct may have been involved.
In the event of sizable property damage, he or she shall include the
information of whether such losses were covered by insurance, and
if so, in what amount. Subject to applicable privacy laws, such records
shall be available to the public at any reasonable time.
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Department to use all proper
means for the extinguishment of fires; to protect property within
the Municipality; and to secure the observance of all ordinances,
laws, and other rules and regulations with respect to fires and fire
prevention.
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
Upon the permission of the Mayor or Fire Chief, such fire equipment
of the Municipality as may be designated by the Governing Body as
rural equipment may be used beyond the corporate limits to extinguish
reported fires.
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The firefighters of the Municipality shall be considered as
acting in the performance and within the scope of their duties in
fighting fire or saving property or life outside the corporate limits
of the Municipality when directed to do so by the Mayor or Fire Chief
or some person authorized to act for such Chief and in so doing, may
take such fire equipment of the Municipality as may be designated
by the Governing Body. (Ref. 18-1706, 18-1708 RS Neb.)
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
All fire hose shall be pressure tested at least two times each
year.
[Amended by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief or Fire Marshal, when
directed to do so by the Governing Body, to inspect or cause to be
inspected all buildings, premises and public thoroughfares as determined
by and in conformity with all applicable fire and safety codes. (Ref.
81-512 RS Neb.)
[Repealed by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
Repealed. Incorporated into "City of Ralston Fire Prevention
and Protection Code."
[Repealed by Ordinance No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
Repealed.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
The Fire Chief shall recommend some person for the office of
Fire Marshal who, upon being confirmed by the Governing Body and Mayor,
shall hold such office until a successor shall be appointed. The Fire
Marshal shall be subject to removal by the Governing Body and Mayor
at any time.
[Amended by Ord. No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to investigate or cause
to be investigated the cause, origin, and circumstances of every fire
occurring in the Municipality in which property has been destroyed
or damaged. All fires of unknown origin shall be reported, and such
officer shall especially make an investigation and report as to whether
such fire was the result of carelessness, accident, or design. Such
investigation shall begin immediately after the occurrence of such
fire and the State Fire Marshal shall have the right to supervise
and direct the investigation whenever he or she deems it expedient
or necessary. The officer making the investigation of fires occurring
within the Municipality shall forthwith notify the State Fire Marshal
and shall, within one week of the occurrence of the fire, furnish
him or her with a written statement of all the facts relating to the
cause and origin of the fire and such further information as he or
she may call for. (Ref. 81-506 RS Neb.)
[Added by Ord. No. 1079, 1-21-2004]
In lieu of maintaining a Municipal Fire Department in conformity with the foregoing sections, the Mayor and Council may contract with appropriate entities, public or private, to provide fire and emergency protection services as described in this article in other provisions of the Municipal Code and as provided in any applicable provision of the Revised Statutes of the State of Nebraska as from time to time amended. The entity with whom the Municipality may contract shall be capable and willing to fulfill all duties imposed upon it by the provisions of the Municipal Code and the laws of the State of Nebraska. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief and Fire Marshal shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council as provided in Sections 1-323 through 1-325 of the Municipal Code and shall perform their duties under the direction and control of the Mayor and City Council as set forth in the Municipal Code and shall have the powers of the City in performing such duties.
