The members of the fire department shall be a fire chief, who shall be appointed by the city manager, and such other officers, firemen, and employees as the fire chief may from time to time determine, with the approval of the city manager.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.202)
Included in the personnel of the fire department as provided in this article, the department shall contain such full-time paid employees or part-time paid employees as the fire chief, with the approval of the city manager, may direct from time to time; the hours of employment of the members of the fire department and the compensation to be paid to the members shall be fixed by the fire chief and subject to further orders of the city manager.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.203)
There is created the position of chief of the fire department. The chief of the fire department shall, before entering upon his duties, take the constitutional oath of office, and the city manager may require the chief of the fire department to execute bond to the city, conditioned to the satisfactory performance of his duties, if it is deemed advisable, the bond to be in any amount as the city manager may determine. It shall be the duty of the fire chief to see that the laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations concerning the department and the operation thereof are carried into full force and effect. It shall be the duty of the fire chief to enforce such rules and regulations made from time to time to secure discipline in the department. The fire chief shall have power to suspend any subordinate officers, members or employees for a violation of such rules and regulations and upon executing any such suspension, forthwith in writing, [shall] advise the city manager of his reasons therefor. The fire chief shall diligently observe the condition of fire apparatus and workings of the department at all times, and shall report in writing at any time to the city manager regarding the condition of the equipment and the proper conduct of the department. The fire chief shall cause to be made and submit an annual budget for the operation of the department when called upon to do so by the city manager. In the absence of the fire chief for any reason whatsoever, the fire chief shall designate an individual to perform all the duties of the chief of the fire department and shall have vested the designated individual all of the power and authority of the chief of the fire department.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.204)
It shall be the duties of the chief of the department and his assistant whenever a fire shall occur in the city to immediately report to the place of such fire and take proper measures for placing apparatus in the most advantageous position. The assistant chief, captains and lieutenants of the respective companies on arrival at the fire shall immediately report to the chief; provided that, in the absence of the chief or assistant chief, the first captain to arrive at the fire shall be the person in command. When the chief shall arrive at a fire, he shall have sole command over all other officials, all members of the department and all other persons who may be present at the fire. He shall take all proper measures for extinguishing the fires and protection of property and for preservation of the laws of the state and ordinances of the city and regulations respecting fires.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.205)
Whenever any building in the city is on fire, it shall be lawful for the chief, or his assistant or acting chief, to direct such building or buildings, erection, fence or fences which they may deem hazardous or likely to catch fire and communicate 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 or any individual member thereof, nor the chief of the department, assistant chief, or any member of the department, shall in any way be held responsible for the damaging of the property or the destruction thereof, that may occur by reason of the attempt of the department to extinguish any fire.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.206)
All moving apparatus under the fire department and personal vehicles in command of the fire chief and fire marshal shall have the paramount right-of-way through all streets, thoroughfares, lanes, alleys, places and courts of the city when en route to a fire or fire department emergency, and such apparatus and vehicles are empowered to display and utilize such warning devices as are reasonably necessary to adequately designate the apparatus and vehicles. Such apparatus, together with all other vehicles contiguous thereto, shall take and keep to the right-hand side of the street unless the same be obstructed, in order to give the apparatus of the fire department the unobstructed use of the streets for the time being.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.207; Ordinance adopting Code)
The fire department shall have the right, in time of fire, to place ropes or guards across all streets, thoroughfares, lanes or alleys on which shall be situated any building on fire and at any points as it may deem expedient and necessary, and the members of the department who have been assigned by the chief for policing purposes shall prevent any and all persons, except officers and members of the fire department and owners and occupants of such buildings endangered by the existing fires, from entering the lines designated by ropes or guards.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.208)
The fire apparatus belonging to the city shall be kept in such place or places as the city council shall from time to time provide, and the company to which same may be assigned shall keep the equipment in constant readiness for use.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.209)
The officers mentioned in the preceding section shall be vested with full power and authority to command all persons present at any fire in the city to assist the discharge of any duty under the supervision of such fire [officers] in the extinguishment of same, or the removal and preservation of property; provided that the persons shall not be bound to obey any officers unless the officers shall wear their badges of office, or unless the official title be known or be made known to such persons.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.210)
The city council shall provide each member of the fire department a badge descriptive of the office in which the fireman is serving.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.211)
The city council may, at its discretion, provide for the relief of members of the fire department temporarily or permanently disabled in the discharge of their duties, and shall have the right to provide for the organization and administration of a pension fund to provide for the old, disabled and infirm members of the department under such system, rules and regulations as may be deemed advisable whenever the finances of the city will justify the undertaking of this service and subject to the laws of the state.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.213)
The city shall be exempt from the terms and conditions of the Local Firefighters Retirement Act, known as Senate Bill No. 411 of the Acts of the 65th Legislature, 1977, until such time as the ordinance codified in this section shall be rescinded.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.214)
It is unlawful for any person or persons 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.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.215)
It is unlawful for any person or persons not a member of the fire department to hinder or in any way interfere with any of the apparatus belonging to or used by the 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 or persons is requested to do so by any officer of the department.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.216)
Any person or persons violating any provision of this article shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction of same shall be fined in accordance with the general penalty provision found in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.217)
There is established the city fire department, which shall furnish as a part of its services emergency ambulance service for the city, under the direct supervision of the city manager or his designee, who shall have authority to promulgate and to publish necessary rules and regulations governing the establishment, funding, operation, and management of the necessary emergency ambulance service.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.212(a))
The city council shall, by resolution, establish and set rates for the rendition of the respective enumerated services to be charged by the city fire department:
(1) 
The basic ambulance charge for any advanced and/or basic life support ambulance response;
(2) 
The fee for transporting a patient to a hospital;
(3) 
A fee for the use of medical supplies and equipment;
(4) 
Medicare and Medicaid patients will be assessed no more than the extent of their coverage.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.212(b))
Notice of any such rate setting or changes thereof shall be published at least one time in a newspaper of general circulation prior to the effective date thereof.
(2001 Code, sec. 5.212(d))