There is hereby established a fire department in the city.
(Code 1974, § 6-20)
The members of the fire department shall be a chief, who shall
be appointed by the city manager, and such number of other officers,
firefighters and employees as the city council may from time to time
authorize. The chief shall have immediate direction and control of
the fire department, subject to such rules and regulations as the
city manager may promulgate.
(Code 1974, § 6-21)
It shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department to
see that the laws of the state and the ordinances, orders, rules and
regulations of the city council and city manager concerning the department
and the operation thereof are carried into full force and effect.
It shall be the duty of such members to enforce the rules and regulations
made from time to time to secure discipline in the fire department.
The chief shall have the power to suspend any subordinate officers,
members or employees of the fire department for a violation of such
rules and regulations, and shall, upon executing any such suspension,
forthwith, in writing, advise the city manager of such suspension
and his reasons therefor. The chief shall diligently observe the condition
of fire apparatus and the workings of the fire department at all times,
and shall report in writing at any time to the city manager and make,
in connection with such equipment, such recommendations as he may
desire for the efficiency of such equipment and the fire department.
(Code 1974, § 6-22)
Whenever any building in the city is on fire, it shall be lawful
for the chief of the fire department, or acting chief, to direct such
building, or other building, or structure or fence, which he may deem
hazardous or likely to catch fire and spread to other buildings, to
be torn down or blown up, or otherwise destroyed, for the purpose
of checking or otherwise extinguishing such fire, and neither the
city council nor any individual member thereof, nor the chief or any
member of the fire department, shall in any way be held responsible
for the damaging of property or the destruction thereof that may occur
by reason of the attempt of the fire department to extinguish such
fire.
(Code 1974, § 6-23)
It shall be unlawful for any person not a member of the fire
department to interfere with, or in any manner hinder, any member
or employee of the fire department in the discharge of his duties
as such.
(Code 1974, § 6-27)
It shall be unlawful for any person not a member of the fire
department to interfere with, or in any manner hinder, any of the
apparatus belonging to or used by fire department, either at a fire
or while traveling to or returning from a fire, or while standing
in the fire department quarters, or at any time, unless such person
is requested to do so by the chief of the fire department or other
duly authorized officer of the fire department.
(Code 1974, § 6-28)