There is hereby established the city fire department, which may be composed of both paid and fire reserves fire personnel, under the supervision and direction of the fire chief, and in accordance with the ordinances and policies of the city.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. I, adopted 9/15/04)
The city fire department shall be responsible for firefighting and other related public safety activities within the city, the ETJ of the city and any other areas which the city has a valid contract to service. In addition, the fire department shall honor any mutual aid requests for areas in which the city has a formal mutual aid agreement.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. II, adopted 9/15/04)
There shall be appointed by the city administrator, with the approval of the city council, for an indefinite term, a fire chief. To the extent required by law, the fire chief shall have and maintain valid certifications and licensing for all firefighting and public safety areas in which the fire department will be involved. Before entering upon the duties of his office, he shall take and subscribe the oath of office prescribed by the constitution of this state, before any officer authorized to administer oaths.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. III, adopted 9/15/04)
The fire chief is the executive head of the department and is directly responsible to the city administrator for the proper and efficient operation of the department. The fire chief shall:
(1) 
Supervise, regulate and manage the department and have control of its activities, including fire reserves fundraising activities.
(2) 
Maintain all fire department apparatus.
(3) 
Direct operations at fires.
(4) 
Designate the order of succession of command in his absence.
(5) 
Prescribe the specifications and manner of wear of the uniform and protective clothing.
(6) 
Reorganize any part of the department when in his judgment such reorganization would best serve the department.
(7) 
Compile and present the department’s annual fiscal budget, forecasting expenditures in the manner prescribed by the city administrator.
(8) 
Operate the fire department within the budget allocated by the city council.
(9) 
Keep, or cause to be kept, a record of membership, meetings, attendance, fires and other emergencies, and report the same to the city council.
(10) 
Collect on behalf of the city all charges due for the provision of fire and other emergency services.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. VI, adopted 9/15/04)
The fire chief shall hire full-time firefighters of the number, type, and maximum pay scales as designated in the most current city budget (as approved and amended by the city council at the time of hiring). Full-time fire personnel shall have benefits as provided by the city to all other city employees. Full-time firefighters shall be hired in accordance with the hiring policies of the city and shall be disciplined by the fire chief.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. V, adopted 9/15/04)
(a) 
Administration.
The fire chief shall administrate the firefighting activities of the reserve fire department and its members, and shall provide opportunities for drills and training classes to promote reserve membership and enhance participation of reserve members in department activities in fire prevention, firefighting and fire scene maintenance and control.
(b) 
Department established.
There is hereby established the fire reserves of the city, which shall be a voluntary force of reserve firefighters, hereafter referred to as the city fire reserves.
(c) 
Fire chief to direct; rules and regulations.
The fire reserves shall function under the general direction and control of the fire chief or the authorized designee thereof, subject to the supervision of the city administrator, and also subject to such rules, regulations, and orders as may be promulgated from time to time by the fire chief or his/her authorized designee in accordance with the authority vested in the fire chief by ordinances of the city.
(d) 
Composition of force.
The city fire reserve shall be an auxiliary fire force composed of volunteers, who shall serve without pay, except as provided herein and authorized by the statutes of the state. The fire chief shall establish the size (within the maximum set by the governing body), composition, and organization of the city fire reserve and may amend such size, composition, and organization from time to time. The initial size of the city fire reserve shall not exceed a total of 25 persons.
(e) 
Training of applicants.
Prior to performing any duties as a reserve firefighter, each reserve firefighter applicant shall receive a minimum of 24 hours’ training from the city’s fire department and any additional training as mandated by the fire chief.
(f) 
Times when on duty.
Members of the city’s fire reserves shall serve at the discretion of the fire chief or his/her authorized designee and may be called into active service at any time the fire chief or his/her authorized designee considers it necessary to have additional firefighters to prevent loss of life or property.
(g) 
Supplies; equipment.
The city fire department shall provide uniforms and equipment for the city’s fire reserves from existing supplies, and may cause to be purchased special items of identification as deemed necessary.
(h) 
Compensation.
No reserve firefighter appointed pursuant to this article shall be entitled to any compensation for service. However, should funds be available in the department’s budget, reserve firefighters may be eligible for duty pay on a contract basis (set amount per call) to the extent allowed by state law. A reserve firefighter who sustains injury in the course of performing official duties may receive hospital and medical assistance in the same manner as provided for full-time firefighters; provided, however, that nothing in this article shall be constructed to authorize or permit a member of the city fire reserves to become eligible for participation in any pension fund created pursuant to state statute, to which regular officers may become members by payroll deductions or otherwise.
(i) 
Reserve firefighter service.
Reserve firefighters of the city’s fire reserves shall serve as firefighters during the actual discharge of official duties, subject at all times to the direction, control and supervisory authority of the fire chief, and shall be subject to the same policies and standard operating procedures as are applicable to all regular city fire department firefighters.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. VI, adopted 9/15/04)
It shall be the function and duty of the fire department and every member thereof to extinguish destructive fires, to prevent the occurrence or spread of such fires, and to provide emergency services to calamities as directed by the officer in command, including first response emergency medical and paramedic services. Any firefighter in attendance at a fire or other calamity shall obey the orders of officer in command. When necessary for the protection of persons or other property, and for the prevention of the spread of conflagration, the officer in command may cause buildings or other property to be removed, torn down or destroyed.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. VII, adopted 9/15/04)
(a) 
The fire code shall be enforced by the bureau of fire prevention in the fire department of the city, which is hereby established and which shall be operated under the supervision of the fire chief.
(b) 
The fire chief may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The fire chief shall recommend to the city administrator the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and nonmembers of the fire department, and appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term with removal only for cause.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. VIII, adopted 9/15/04)
The provisions of this article shall apply to the departments of the city and its support reserves as they pertain to fire service.
(Ordinance 2004-11, sec. IX, adopted 9/15/04)