A department, to be hereafter known as the Onalaska Volunteer Fire Department, the object of which shall be the prevention of fire and the protection of life and property within the limits of the city, is hereby created.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(A), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(A))
(a) 
The department shall consist of a chief, two (2) assistant chiefs, and other officers as the chief and city council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the department.
(b) 
The chief shall be elected by the membership of the city volunteer fire department, and his tenure of office will be one (1) year, depending upon his good conduct and efficiency. The chief shall be technically qualified by training and shall have ability to command men and hold their respect and confidence.
(c) 
The chief shall be held accountable for the city [to the city council] only, and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the city council may require. All other department and company officers shall be accountable to the chief only.
(d) 
The assistant chief and all other department and company officers, except the fire marshal, shall be elected by the members. Such officers shall be accountable only to the chief, and subject to removal by him.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(B), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(B))
(a) 
The chief shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the department, and shall be responsible to the city council for the personnel and general efficiency of the department.
(b) 
The chief shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms.
(c) 
The chief shall, at least twice a month, conduct suitable drills or instruction in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the city, fire prevention, water supplies, and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire.
(d) 
The chief is hereby required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin, and circumstances of all fires.
(e) 
The chief is hereby empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making inspections and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found.
(f) 
Any person so served with a notice to abate any fire hazard or hazards shall comply therewith and promptly notify the chief.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(C), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(C))
Each member of the department shall be issued a badge designating his rank.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(1), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(1))
All motor equipment and all personal cars of department members shall have right-of-way over all other traffic when responding to an alarm.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(2), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(2))
Each member of the department driving a car shall be issued a suitable insignia to be attached to the car.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(3), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(3))
All monies collected by the fire department shall go into a fund for the exclusive benefit of the fire department. The chief shall administer the fund and the city shall maintain a record of receipts and disbursements for the fire department and the mayor and the city secretary shall be authorized to sign checks presented for payment by the chief.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(7), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(7))
(a) 
The department may elect a president, vice-president, secretary and/or treasurer, to be known as social officers. Such officers may be elected in any manner and for any term the membership may decide upon, and their duties shall be to arrange for and manage any or all social functions sponsored by the department.
(b) 
The functions and duties of said social officers shall in no wise interfere with those of the regular department officers who are charged with responsibility for all fire service activities of the department.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(F), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(F))
No person shall drive any vehicle over fire hoses except upon specific orders from the chief or other officer in charge where the hose is used.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(4), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(4))
No unauthorized person with any vehicle shall follow within six hundred feet (600') of any apparatus belonging to the department, nor park any vehicle within three hundred feet (300') of a fire.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(5), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(5))
No person shall maliciously turn in or cause to be turned in a false alarm.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(D)(6), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(D)(6))
(a) 
Penalty.
Any person violating the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction before a justice of the peace, pay a fine in accordance with the general penalty provided in section 1.01.009 of this code for each offense.
(b) 
Police powers of members of fire department.
All regularly appointed members of the department are hereby given the necessary special police powers for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this article.
(c) 
Duties of peace officers.
It is hereby made the special duty of any city peace officers who may be on duty and available for fire duty to respond to all fire alarms and assist the department in the protection of life and property, in regulating traffic, in maintaining order, and in enforcing observance of all provisions of this article.
(Ordinance 36, sec. 1(E), adopted 9/8/81; 1982 Code, ch. 5, sec. 1(E); Ordinance adopting 2015 Code)