The Middletown Fire Department shall consist
of a Fire Chief, a Deputy Chief, a captain and such lieutenants and
other members and employees as may be authorized by the Common Council.
The authority of superior officers shall be
exercised in the following order: Chief of Fire Department, Deputy
Chief, captain and lieutenants.
The Chief shall have command of the Fire Department
and general supervision of all buildings used for Fire Department
purposes and shall have control of all fire apparatus and equipment
and the duty of keeping it in good condition and ready for immediate
use. At fires the Chief shall have sole command over all persons present,
shall have the use and control of hydrants and reservoirs belonging
to the City and shall direct all proper measures for extinguishing
fires, protection of life and property, preservation of order and
observance of laws, ordinances and regulations respecting fires. The
Chief shall see that Department members are kept under discipline
and suitably trained in the use of their fire apparatus, for which
purpose he may call them out for exercise and drill at any suitable
place within the limits of the City at such times as he shall deem
proper. The Chief shall perform all other duties required of him by
the ordinances of the City. The Chief shall report to the Common Council
annually as to the fire apparatus under his care and the conditions
of the Department generally.
The Deputy Chief shall perform the duties assigned
by the Fire Chief and shall perform the duties of the Chief when the
Chief is absent from the City or for any reason is unable to perform
the duties of the office of the Chief of the Fire Department.
All uniformed members of the Fire Department
have the duty to assist the Chief, the Deputy Chief, the captain and
lieutenants in the discharge of their duties and shall receive and
communicate their orders and see that they are executed.
The Fire Chief, with the advice of the Public Safety Commission as provided in §
23-13, shall make regulations appropriate for the proper administration of the Fire Department, including but not limited to the organization and administration of the Department and regulations governing the conduct of members of the Department. Each regulation and any amendment thereto shall become effective on the date provided in the regulation, provided that no such regulation shall become effective until the same has been posted on the bulletin board at the fire stations at Cross Street and Main Street. A copy of the regulations shall be made available to each uniformed member upon appointment. A copy of each change shall be made available to each uniformed member of the Department before or when it is posted. The Chief shall maintain a book at the Chief's office which shall contain a copy of all regulations in force and which shall be available for public inspection at all times. The existing regulations shall continue in effect until changed.
All officers and fire fighters shall hold their
positions during good behavior and may only be removed for cause.
All uniformed members of the Fire Department
when on duty shall wear the uniforms prescribed by the Chief of the
Fire Department.