Chapter 2.90
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.90.010 Establishment of department.
2.90.030 Fire chief and deputy fire chief –Appointment – Qualifications.
2.90.040 Fire chief – Officers and firefighters – Appointment.
2.90.050 Fire chief – Member removal authority.
2.90.060 Fire chief – Annual report.
2.90.070 Fire chief – Inspection authority.
2.90.080 Fire chief – Rules and regulations maintenance and enforcement.
2.90.100 Prescribing limits at fire.
2.90.120 Destruction of buildings.
2.90.130 Hindering firefighters – Damaging apparatus.
2.90.150 Unlawful entry on fire department property.
2.90.160 Impersonating a firefighter.
2.90.180 Unauthorized use of equipment.
2.90.190 Following or blocking fire truck prohibited.
2.90.010 Establishment of department.
There is hereby established an administrative department of the city which shall be known as the fire department. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.020 Positions created.
The following fire department positions are created:
A. The office of fire chief is hereby established.
B. The office of deputy fire chief is hereby established.
C. Such other subordinate positions in such classifications as are provided in the annual budget approved by the city council, as may be amended or modified from time to time. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.030 Fire chief and deputy fire chief –Appointment – Qualifications.
The fire department shall be under the supervision and control of the fire chief, and in his or her absence the deputy fire chief. The fire chief and deputy fire chief shall be appointed by the city manager. The fire chief shall serve at the will of the city manager. The fire chief shall be responsible for providing fire protection to the city, for enforcing the fire code and shall perform such other duties and functions as imposed by local, state and federal laws and such other duties as designated by the city manager or city council. The fire chief shall be qualified based on previous training and experience as a firefighter, have the ability to command men and women, and satisfy the qualifications provided in the city’s job description for the position of fire chief. The deputy fire chief is to serve as fire chief in the absence of the fire chief and to perform such other duties and functions as delegated by the fire chief. The deputy fire chief shall be qualified based on previous experience as a firefighter, have the ability to command men and women, and satisfy the qualifications provided in the city’s job description for the position of deputy fire chief. The fire chief and deputy fire chief are designated as management positions exempt from the city’s competitive service. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.040 Fire chief – Officers and firefighters – Appointment.
The fire chief, in accordance with competitive service regulations, shall appoint all of the officers and firefighters except the deputy chief. Such appointments shall be made, insofar as possible, following fair and impartial competitive examination. All officers, including the deputy fire chief, shall be accountable to the fire chief or his representative. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.050 Fire chief – Member removal authority.
The fire chief shall strictly carry out the enforcement of rules and regulations of the department as referred to in CMC 2.90.080 and is authorized to suspend or remove from service any officer or firefighter as provided in the ordinances and regulations governing competitive service and the department. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.060 Fire chief – Annual report.
The fire chief shall be responsible to the city manager, and shall, on or before July 1st in each year, submit to him or her a tentative budget for his department and shall make a complete annual report and such other reports as may be required concerning the fire department in general giving suggestions and recommendations for major improvements and listing other data so as to maintain a complete record of the activities of the department. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.070 Fire chief – Inspection authority.
The fire chief and his duly appointed representatives are authorized, empowered and required to inspect from time to time, but not less frequently than once yearly, all buildings and premises other than dwellings and to order such changes or eliminations of hazardous conditions as may exist in violation of the city fire prevention ordinances. For the purpose of inspection, the fire chief and his representative or either of them is empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.080 Fire chief – Rules and regulations maintenance and enforcement.
The fire chief shall maintain and enforce an up-to-date comprehensive set of rules and regulations governing the discipline, training and operation of the fire department. Such rules, regulations and any deletions, changes or additions shall be effective when approved by and filed with the city council. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.090 Violation of duty.
Any member of the fire department who shall neglect or refuse to perform any duty required of him or her by the provisions of this code or the rules and regulations as established by the fire chief shall be subject to disciplinary action. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.100 Prescribing limits at fire.
The fire chief or other officer in command may prescribe boundary limits in the vicinity of a fire or other emergency within which no person excepting those who reside or own property therein or who are otherwise involved, such as firefighters, peace officers, and those admitted by any officer of the fire department, shall be permitted to enter. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.110 Removal of property.
The fire chief or other officer in command shall have power to cause the removal of any property whenever it shall become necessary for the preservation of that property from fire or to prevent the spreading of fire, or to protect adjoining properties. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.120 Destruction of buildings.
The fire chief, or in his or her absence, the officer in command, may direct the tearing down and removal of any building, structure, fence or other property for the purpose of retarding or preventing the progress or spreading of any fire, and in case of need may take whatever steps are necessary during the progress of a fire for the purpose of extinguishing or checking the same. This authority shall also apply in cases of nonfire emergencies wherein the fire department is involved, such as toxic chemical spills and other nonfire emergencies. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.130 Hindering firefighters – Damaging apparatus.
Any person who willfully hinders any officer, firefighter or other person in the performance of his duty at a fire or other emergency, or who shall willfully in any manner destroy, damage or deface any firefighting or other emergency apparatus or equipment belonging to the city or any other entity providing mutual or automatic aid support to the city shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to administrative fine, or both, as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.140 Driving over hose.
No person shall drive a vehicle over any unprotected hose of the fire department when laid down on any street or alley by order of the chief or other proper officer, without the consent of the chief, officer or member in charge of that hose, and any person violating this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to an administrative fine, or both, as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.150 Unlawful entry on fire department property.
It shall be and is hereby declared unlawful for any person to enter the fire department facilities or properties, or any place where the equipment and apparatus of the fire department is stored, at any time except for other city officers and personnel in the conduct of city business, other persons providing services to the fire department, or except with the authorization of the chief or officer in charge. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.160 Impersonating a firefighter.
Any person not a member of the fire department who shall impersonate a regular firefighter or officer of the fire department at a fire or other emergency, or going to or returning from a fire or other emergency, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to an administrative fine, or both, as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.170 Salvaging property.
It shall be unlawful for any person other than a firefighter to take away and remove from the scene of a fire or other emergency any property salvaged from said fire or other emergency unless and until proof of ownership is satisfactorily made to the chief or officer in command at such fire or other emergency, and such removal of said property as aforesaid shall be a misdemeanor, subject to an administrative fine, or both as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.180 Unauthorized use of equipment.
Any person who shall use any fire engine, hose, vehicle or apparatus belonging to the city for any private purpose, or who shall remove the same or any part thereof from its place of deposit, or who having the control thereof shall permit such engine, hose or vehicle to be used for any private purposes aforesaid, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, subject to an administrative fine, or both, as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]
2.90.190 Following or blocking fire truck prohibited.
It shall be unlawful for any automobile, truck or other vehicle to pass from behind or to follow a fire truck within 300 feet when such truck is on its way to a fire, or to drive or park an automobile, truck or other vehicle within a distance of one city block of any fire. It shall be unlawful for any person to drive any automobile, truck or other vehicle in such a manner as to block the speedy progress of such fire truck, and it shall be the duty of the driver thereof, upon receiving an emergency signal, to forthwith drive his vehicle to the right side of the street and there stop until such fire truck or emergency vehicle has passed, and any violation of this section shall be a misdemeanor, or subject to an administrative fine, or both, as provided in this code. [Ord. 354 § 2, 2017.]