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)