[1]
Cross References — Following fire apparatus, §340.010; crossing fire hose, §340.020.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026[1]]
There is hereby created a Fire Department in the City of Louisiana, Missouri, for general fire protection and for safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens, to be officered and managed by a Fire Chief and Deputies as hereinafter provided.
[1]
Editor's Note: Former Article I, Fire Department, containing Sections 205.010 through 205.080, was repealed by Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026. Prior history includes: CC 1988 §§ 11-31, 11-33 — 11-36, 11-38 — 11-39, 11-42; Code 1968 §§ 12-13, 12-15, 12-17, 12-18.2, 12-20, 12-26; R.O. 2008 §§ 205.010, 205.030 — 205.060, 205.080 — 205.090, 205.120; Ord. No. 6300; Ord. No. 18-2004; Ord. No. 30-2004; Ord. No. 02-2005; and Ord. No. 24-2007.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
The Mayor, with consent and approval of a majority of the members elected to the Council, shall appoint some suitable person to the office of Chief of the Fire Department for an indefinite term. No person shall be appointed to the office of Chief of the Fire Department who shall not, at the time of his/her appointment, be a qualified voter under the laws of the State of Missouri. Before entering upon the duties of his/her office, he/she shall take and subscribe to the oath or affirmation required of other City Officers.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
The Chief of the Fire Department shall be the legal custodian of the fire trucks, hose, ladders, and any other apparatus or equipment belonging to the City and it shall be his/her duty to constantly keep all such equipment clean, in thorough repair, and at all times be ready for action.
B. 
He/she shall prepare and update needed fire plans for emergencies. It shall be the responsibility of the Chief of the Fire Department to prepare or have prepared all reports, training schedules, attendance logs, or other records.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
The Fire Chief, with the consent of the Mayor and Council, may appoint the following officers of the Department: one (1) Assistant Chief, up to two (2) Captains, and up to two (2) Lieutenants as deemed necessary for the operation of the Department.
B. 
Responsibilities of the Officers shall be as follows:
1. 
Assistant Chief shall be capable of filling the role of any officer of the Department. When the Assistant Chief is the highest-ranking officer on the scene of an incident, he/she shall be responsible for completing the incident report immediately following the mitigation of any incident. The Assistant Chief shall serve as the representative to the Fire Department for any meetings, events, or tasks that the Chief delegates or that the Chief is unable to attend. The Assistant Chief shall be responsible for assisting in the research, writing, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Assistant Chief shall be responsible for completing all other tasks assigned to him/her by the Chief.
2. 
Captain(s) shall be capable of filling the role of any officer of equal or lesser rank and shall be capable of filling the role of the Chief in his/her absence. When the Captain is the highest-ranking officer on the scene of an incident, he/she shall be responsible for completing the incident report immediately following the mitigation of any incident. The Captain(s) shall be responsible for assisting in the research, writing, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Captain(s) shall be responsible for completing all other tasks assigned to him/her by the Chief or Assistant Chief.
3. 
Lieutenant(s) shall be capable of filling the role of any officer of equal or lesser rank and shall be capable of filling the role of the Chief in his/her absence. When the Lieutenant is the highest-ranking officer on the scene of an incident, he/she shall be responsible for completing the incident report immediately following the mitigation of any incident. The Lieutenant(s) shall be responsible for assisting in the research, writing, and implementation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Lieutenant(s) shall be responsible for completing all other tasks assigned to him/her by the Chief, Assistant Chief, or Captains.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
During the progress of a fire, the Chief of the Fire Department and his/her officers shall have sole control of the fire scene, fire truck(s), and other fire apparatus of the City. The Fire Chief may request assistance from any available person when necessary to control or extinguish a fire or emergency.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
Able-bodied citizens having the following qualifications shall be considered for enlistment as members of the Fire Department:
1. 
At least eighteen (18) years of age at time of enlistment.
2. 
Possesses a valid Missouri driver's license.
3. 
Available to attend regularly scheduled meetings and training sessions.
4. 
Available to respond to incidents when they occur.
5. 
Resides at an address that has a drive time as determined by the Fire Chief.
6. 
Physically and mentally capable of performing firefighting activities.
B. 
Members of the Fire Department shall, after enlistment, regularly attend scheduled meetings and training sessions, respond to incidents when they occur, and sign a roster for attendance at each call, a duplicate of which shall be filed with the City Clerk and shall be revised and corrected as needed each month. Members shall hold their positions until discharged by the Chief or their resignation. All members of the Fire Department shall be subject to and obedient to the orders of the Chief of the Fire Department and his/her Deputies. Nothing in this Chapter shall prohibit the City from establishing paid, part-time, volunteer, or combination Fire Department positions as may be authorized by the City Council.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
Applicants shall submit an application to become a member of the Fire Department to the City Clerk, which shall be delivered to the Chief of the Fire Department for approval. Applicants shall be approved based on meeting the required qualifications outlined above.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
Any member resigning from the Fire Department shall notify the Chief in writing and shall return all equipment of the City to the Chief or his/her designee.
B. 
Members may be dismissed by the Mayor or Fire Chief for any of the following reasons:
1. 
Absence from fifty percent (50%) or more of regularly scheduled meeting/training/work sessions during a calendar year unless excused by the Chief or for other just cause.
2. 
Absence from seventy-five percent (75%) or more of incident responses during a calendar year unless excused by the Chief or for other just cause.
3. 
Violation of any Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) or other Department policies, procedures, or guidelines.
C. 
Members who resign or are dismissed shall immediately return all equipment of the City in their possession to the Chief or his/her designee.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
There shall be three (3) regular meetings/trainings per month for the purpose of training, business, and equipment maintenance. Meetings shall be scheduled for and begin at 6:30 P.M. unless otherwise arranged by the Fire Chief or his/her Deputies. Attendees shall sign a roster for attendance. Meetings shall not be held to a minimum or maximum period of time, rather will continue until all training, business, or equipment maintenance is complete to the satisfaction of the Fire Chief or highest-ranking officer in his/her absence.
B. 
There shall be scheduled work sessions for the purpose of training, business, equipment maintenance, business facility pre-plans and inspections, or any other tasks deemed necessary by the Fire Chief. Work sessions may also be scheduled as needed.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
Every member of the Fire Department responding to an incident shall respond with proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) issued by the Fire Department. Members shall utilize appropriate PPE on every incident response before engaging in any incident mitigation duties. Failure to do so will not be considered as attendance.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
Compensation of members shall be established for meetings, trainings, work sessions, incident responses and officers' salaries. Compensation shall be paid on attendance by members for meetings, trainings, work sessions, and responses to incidents. Members must be present for the entire duration of any meeting, training, work session, or incident response to receive compensation, unless otherwise approved by the Chief or his/her Officers in the Chief's absence. If a member must leave a meeting, training, work session, or incident response before the conclusion for extenuating circumstances, the member's departure must be approved by the Chief or his/her officers in the Chief's absence, and shall be compensated at a pro-rated rate for the time he/she was present as deemed appropriate by the Chief or his/her officers in the Chief's absence.
1. 
Compensation shall be established by resolution of the Council.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
Members of the Fire Department shall be considered employees of the City while engaged in the performance of their official duties for purposes of workers' compensation, liability protection, and other benefits as may be provided by law or by the City.
B. 
Nothing in this Chapter shall be interpreted to create full-time employment status unless otherwise established by the City.
C. 
Members responding to incidents, attending training, participating in official meetings, or performing duties authorized by the Fire Chief shall be deemed to be acting within the scope of their duties on behalf of the City.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
It shall be unlawful for any person in any manner to willfully destroy or deface any fire truck, hose, equipment, or any other property belonging to the Fire Department.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
A. 
In accordance with Section 67.318, RSMo., the City of Louisiana, Missouri, does hereby require all residence and commercial businesses within the City limits of the City of Louisiana, Missouri, to conspicuously post upon their premises their "911" addresses so that providers of any emergency services may better find the proper location when responding to an incident.
B. 
The Louisiana Fire Department, pursuant to State Statute, is empowered to enforce the provisions of this Section. All persons in violation thereof shall be allowed thirty (30) days to comply with this Section after being notified, either in writing or orally, by any City Official or Fire Department, personnel before any fine shall be imposed. Any person violating the provisions of this Section shall be subject to the general penalty provisions of the Code of Ordinances of the City.
[Ord. No. 05-2026, 3-23-2026]
The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) of the Fire Department shall be created, maintained, available, known, and utilized by all members of the Fire Department. SOPs shall be the responsibility of the Chief and his/her officers to create and maintain. It is the responsibility of the members of the Fire Department to ensure they are acting within the guidelines published in the SOPs when applicable.