There is hereby created and established a fire department in
the city.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1A; 2004
Code, sec. 5.101)
The members of the fire department shall be a chief, assistant
chief, three (3) captains, three (3) lieutenants and not in excess
of thirty (30) other members. The department shall consist of three
(3) regular fire companies and subordinate to the chief and assistant
chief. Each of them shall be manned by a captain and lieutenant and
such other men as the chief may direct. The chief, assistant chief,
captains and lieutenants shall be elected annually on the first Tuesday
in March by the members of the fire department. Each officer shall
take an oath of office and be commissioned by the mayor.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1B; 2004
Code, sec. 5.102)
Included in the personnel of the said fire department as hereinabove
provided, said department shall contain such full-time paid employees
or part-time paid employees as the city council may direct from time
to time. The hours of employment of the said members of the fire department
and the compensation to be paid said members shall be fixed by the
council and subject to further orders of the council.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1C; 2004
Code, sec. 5.103)
There are hereby created the positions of chief and assistant
chief of the fire department.
(1)
The
chief of the fire department shall, before entering upon his duties,
take the constitutional oath of office, and the mayor and city council
may require the chief of the fire department to execute a bond to
the city, conditioned to the faithful performance of his duties, if
it is deemed advisable, said bond to be in such amount as the mayor
or city council may determine. It shall be his duty to see that the
laws, ordinances, orders, rules and regulations concerning the said
department and the operation thereof are carried into full force and
effect. It shall be the duty of the chief to enforce such rules and
regulations made from time to time to secure discipline in said department.
He 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
council of his reasons therefor. He shall diligently observe the condition
of fire apparatus and workings of said department at all times, and
shall report in writing at any time to the city council and make in
connection with said equipment such recommendations as he may desire
for the efficiency of said equipment and the proper conduct of the
department. He shall cause to be made and submit an annual budget
for the operation of the department when called upon to do so by the
mayor or city council.
(2)
In
the absence of the chief for any reason whatsoever, the assistant
chief of the fire department shall perform all the duties of the chief
of the fire department and shall have vested in him all of the power
and authority of the chief of the fire department.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1D; 2004
Code, sec. 5.104)
It shall be the duty 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 a 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 officers, 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.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1E; 2004
Code, sec. 5.105)
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 buildings,
or other building or buildings, 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 wise 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.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1F; 2004
Code, sec. 5.106)
All moving apparatus under the fire department shall have the
paramount right-of-way through all streets, thoroughfares, lanes,
alleys, and places, and 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.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1G; 2004
Code, sec. 5.107)
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 such
other points as it may deem expedient and necessary, and the members
of said 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.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1H; 2004
Code, sec. 5.108)
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 said
equipment in constant readiness for use.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1I; 2004
Code, sec. 5.109)
(a)
During
the progress of a fire within the city limits and for twenty-four
(24) hours after its extinguishment, it shall be lawful for the chief
of police or any police officer to arrest and keep in custody all
persons who hinder or interfere with the extinguishment or investigation
of the fire, or who refuse to obey a lawful order of any such person
or any firefighter, fire inspector, fire investigator, or other officer
of the fire department in connection with the extinguishment or investigation
of a fire.
(b)
The
fire marshal and all certified inspectors in the employment of the
city shall be authorized to enforce the provisions of this article,
the city fire code and any other provisions of the city code or city
ordinances relating to fire safety or fire prevention. This enforcement
authority shall include, but not be limited to, the issuance of citations
and initiation and participation in any legal action pursuant to said
codes and ordinances when required to be processed through the municipal
court or the Tarrant County court system, and participation in nuisance
abatement actions performed by the city. This enforcement authority
shall be in addition to the lawful authority of police officers or
any other properly designated officer or employee designated under
city ordinance or state law to enforce the provisions of these codes.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1J; 2004
Code, sec. 5.110)
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 in the extinguishment of same, or the removal and preservation
of property; provided that the persons shall not be bound to obey
such officers unless the officers shall wear their badge of office,
or unless his official title be known, or be made known, to such persons.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1K; 2004
Code, sec. 5.111)
The chief and assistant chief of the fire department acting
as a committee will recommend for membership in the department such
applicants as are qualified and who are and will be available for
either day or night duty according to the needs of the department.
Upon recommendation of the chief and assistant chief, applicants will
be accepted for membership by majority vote of the members of the
department.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1L; 2004
Code, sec. 5.112)
The city council shall provide each member of said fire department
a badge descriptive of the office in which said fireman is serving.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1P; 2004
Code, sec. 5.116)
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 said 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.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1Q; 2004
Code, sec. 5.117)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons not a member
of said fire department to interfere with or in any manner hinder
any member or employee of said fire department in the discharge of
his duties as such.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1M; 2004
Code, sec. 5.113)
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons not a member
of said fire department to handle or in any way interfere with any
of the apparatus belonging to or used by said 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 an officer of said department.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1N; 2004
Code, sec. 5.114)
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 set forth in section 1.01.009 of this code.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1O; 2004
Code, sec. 5.115)
All decals, signs, banners or designs pertaining to city
fire department, whether issued or purchased by individuals.
All badges and patches pertaining to the city fire department,
whether issued or purchased by individuals.
All persons, members of the city fire department in good
standing.
Such persons designated by the fire chief to receive an honorary
identification card.
The card issued by the fire chief or his designated officers.
Such female persons as shall be designated and shall be in
good standing in the auxiliary.
All types of lights, whether blue or other type, designated
for the city fire department.
All duly elected or appointed persons in the city fire department.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 2A; 2004
Code, sec. 5.201)
(a)
All
officers, firemen, honorary firemen and ladies auxiliary of the city
fire department shall, upon notification of resignation, suspension
or termination with the city fire department, immediately cease to
use or display any identification card, badges, patches, automobile
decals or signs and lights of the fire department.
(b)
All
officers, firemen, honorary firemen and ladies auxiliary shall, upon
notification of resignation or suspension or termination, surrender
to the chief of the city fire department all equipment belonging to
the fire department within twenty-four (24) hours.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 2B 2004 Code, sec. 5.202)
It shall be a violation for any person not a member of the city
fire department to use or display any identification card, badge,
patch, automobile decal or sign, and lights of the fire department,
or to impersonate, by word or sign, a member of the fire department;
provided nothing in this section shall prevent any person from assisting
the city fire department in the suppression of fires and the use of
necessary equipment while so engaged.
(1987 Code, ch. 5, sec. 2C; 2004
Code, sec. 5.203)
