A fire department for the city is hereby created and established.
(Code 1957, § 4311)
The purpose of the fire department is to protect the City of
Escondido, and its citizens, residents and inhabitants, and its property
and improvements, and, to the extent of their capability, provide
such fire prevention and suppression services, emergency medical services,
emergency management of hazardous materials incidents and specialized
rescue needed to provide protection to life and property.
(Code 1957, § 4311; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
The fire department shall consist of a fire chief and as many
officers and firefighters as may be deemed necessary by the city manager,
from time to time, for the effective operation of the department.
(Code 1957, § 4311; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
All employees of the fire department, with exception of the
fire chief, shall be within the classified service of the city's civil
service system and under the rules and regulations of the civil service
system.
(Ord. No. 2018-08, § 2, 8-15-18)
All members of the fire department shall be subjected to and
shall obey the orders and directions of the fire chief and shall obey
all rules and regulations for the department.
(Code 1957, § 4313; Ord. No. 75-49, § 1, 6-23-76; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
The fire chief shall be the chief executive officer of the fire
department and shall be appointed by the city manager.
(Code 1957, § 4321; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
The fire chief shall be technically qualified through training
and experience and shall have the ability to command personnel.
(Code 1957, § 4322; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
The fire chief shall be employed on a full-time basis.
(Code 1957, § 4322)
The provisions of this chapter and the rules and regulations adopted and maintained by the fire chief in accordance with section 11-69 shall not be deemed exclusive of the authority and powers of the fire chief; rather, the fire chief shall have such further and additional authority as may be reasonably necessary and convenient to carry out the purposes and intent of this chapter and of the regulations and the duties and requirements of the fire department.
(Code 1957, § 4333; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
The fire chief shall perform such duties as are, from time to
time, prescribed by the city manager.
(Code 1957, § 4325)
The fire chief shall aid in the enforcement of all fire ordinances
of the city and report violations as required by the city manager.
(Code 1957, § 4325; Ord. No. 75-49, § 2, 6-23-76)
The fire chief shall cause to be adopted, maintained and enforced
an up-to-date, comprehensive set of rules and regulations governing
the discipline, training and operation of the fire department.
(Code 1957, §§ 4331, 4332; Ord. No. 75-49, § 3, 6-23-76)
The fire chief and duly appointed representatives of the fire
chief are duly authorized, empowered and required to inspect from
time to time as determined by the fire chief all buildings and premises
other than dwellings and to order such changes or eliminations of
hazardous conditions as may exist in violation of any city fire prevention
ordinance.
(Code 1957, § 4351; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
For the purpose of the inspection required by section 11-70, the fire chief is empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises, except dwellings, provided said entrance is in compliance with applicable law.
Editor's note — Searches and seizures, see
Camara v. Municipal Court, 87 S. Ct. 1727 (1967).
(Code 1957, § 4352)
The fire chief shall inquire into the cause of every fire occurring
within the corporate limits of the city and shall keep a record thereof.
(Code 1957, § 4326)
The fire chief shall preserve order at all fires, and shall,
whenever proper or necessary, call upon the chief of police or any
other law enforcement officer to preserve order and make arrests,
and to prevent interference with the duties and functions of members
of the department.
(Code 1957, § 4361; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
In addition to providing fire drills as required by section 11-75, the fire chief shall provide for fire department personnel, at least one time per month, instruction in first aid, water supplies and other related subjects generally considered essential to good firemanship.
(Code 1957, § 4342)
The fire chief shall, at least two times a month, provide for
suitable fire drills covering the operation and handling of all equipment
essential for efficient operation of the fire department.
(Code 1957, § 4341)
The fire chief shall be responsible to the city manager for
the proper conduct of the fire department and for all property and
paraphernalia of the city belonging to the department, which property
and paraphernalia shall be under the control of the fire chief.
(Code 1957, § 4323)
The fire chief, in the enforcement of the rules and regulations
of the fire department, shall recommend to the city manager any disciplinary
action as may be required and as provided for in the civil service
rules (or otherwise in the case of other than regular members) be
taken against any officer or firefighter who acts in violation or
in disregard of such rules and regulations.
(Code 1957, § 4334; Ord. No. 2006-21, § 1, 6-7-06)
(a)
The
fire chief shall make a complete annual report and such other reports
as may be required by the city manager concerning the fire department
in general.
(b)
Such
reports shall give suggestions and recommendations for making improvements
in the department and shall list other data so as to maintain a complete
record of the activities of the department.
(Code 1957, § 4324)
The fire chief shall, on or before the first day of May of each
year, submit to the city manager a tentative budget for the fire department.
(Code 1957, § 4324)
