Chapter 2.24
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.24.010 Established – Organization.
2.24.030 Appointment of chief and assistant chief.
2.24.070 Duties of chief – Fire companies.
2.24.080 Duties of chief – Training.
2.24.090 Duties of chief – Investigation of fires.
2.24.100 Duties of chief – Log book and other records.
2.24.120 Board of fire commissioners.
2.24.140 Fire commissioners – Functions not to interfere with those of regular officers.
2.24.150 Fire commissioners – Budget recommendations.
2.24.160 Fire commissioners – Eligibility.
2.24.170 Conduct of persons during fires – Obedience to chief.
2.24.180 Notice of street closure or water turnoff required.
2.24.190 Interference with or disobedience to fire department.
2.24.200 Damage to department property prohibited.
2.24.210 Use of department equipment.
2.24.220 Penalty for violation.
2.24.010 Established – Organization.
A. There is established in the city a fire department, which shall be known as the Etna fire department, to consist of not more than 25 members, the exact number to be determined from time to time by the city council.
B. The members of the department, upon nomination by the fire commissioners, shall be appointed by the city council and shall hold office until such appointment is terminated.
C. Such members, after receiving their appointment, shall take the oath of office and sign an agreement to be active members of the department until their appointment is terminated by withdrawal or action of the fire commissioners or the city council, unless prevented by sickness, absence from the city or unavoidable accident. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.020 Membership.
The fire department shall consist of a fire chief, one assistant chief, a secretary, five fire commissioners and other officers as the city council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the department. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.030 Appointment of chief and assistant chief.
The chief and assistant chief of the fire department shall be appointed by the city council. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.040 Meetings.
A regular meeting of the fire department shall be held on the second Monday of each month, at a place to be designated by the chief of the fire department, at which the chief shall preside. The secretary of the department, on the first day of each month, shall file with the city clerk a certificate setting forth the names of each and every fireman and showing the attendance or nonattendance of each fireman at meetings held during the previous month, and showing whether or not such meetings were regularly scheduled or otherwise; and no pay shall be allowed for any meeting not regularly scheduled or for more than two meetings regularly scheduled during any month, unless authorized by the city council. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.050 Duties.
It shall be the duty of the fire department to answer all fire alarms promptly and to care properly for all material and apparatus belonging to the fire department that may be entrusted to it; and to perform such other duties as shall be required of them by the chief of the fire department. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.060 Internal government.
A. The chief shall enforce the adopted rules and regulations of the department, and shall be responsible to the council for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the department.
B. The fire department is authorized and empowered to adopt a constitution and bylaws for its own internal government, subject to approval by the city council. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.070 Duties of chief – Fire companies.
The chief shall determine the number and kind of fire companies of the department, and shall determine the order of response of such companies to fire alarms. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.080 Duties of chief – Training.
The chief shall appoint training officers to conduct monthly drills and training instructions in fire control, fire prevention and other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and the safety of life and property from fire. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.090 Duties of chief – Investigation of fires.
The chief shall cooperate with and assist the proper legal authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.100 Duties of chief – Log book and other records.
It shall be the duty of the chief to keep, or cause to be kept, a log book for the department in complete and accurate detail; and to keep, or cause to be kept, complete and accurate records of all fires, inspections, apparatus, equipment and other matters or information pertaining to the department and its operations. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.110 Assistant chief.
The assistant chief of the fire department shall attend all fires and assist the fire chief in his duties on all occasions; and, in the case of the absence or inability of the chief to act, the assistant chief shall have control of the fire department and, in all respects, shall perform the duties of the fire chief. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.120 Board of fire commissioners.
The department shall elect a chairman of the board and four commissioners to be known as the board of fire commissioners. The board of fire commissioners shall be approved by the city council. The commissioners shall be elected in the manner and meet as set forth in the fire department bylaws, and their duties shall be to arrange for and manage any and all department functions sponsored by the department. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.130 Secretary.
The secretary of the department shall be appointed by the board of fire commissioners, subject to the approval of the city council. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.140 Fire commissioners – Functions not to interfere with those of regular officers.
The functions and duties of the fire commissioners shall in no way interfere with those of the regular department officers who are charged with responsibility for all fire service activities of the department in the city. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.150 Fire commissioners – Budget recommendations.
Fire commissioners shall recommend to the city council the fire department’s budget for operation, maintenance and capital outlays. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.160 Fire commissioners – Eligibility.
A fire commissioner may be any man on the fire department under the rank of assistant chief, and shall have served in the department for three years. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.170 Conduct of persons during fires – Obedience to chief.
A. No person, except by permission and under authority to the chief of the fire department, shall enter any burning building after the fire department has arrived at such building.
B. When it is so ordered by the chief of the fire department, all persons shall move to a distance of not less than 50 feet from such building and to a distance of not less than 25 feet from any apparatus of the fire department while going to or returning from any fire or while engaged in putting out any fire. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.180 Notice of street closure or water turnoff required.
When, for any reason, the water is turned off from any fire hydrant, or any hydrant is inoperative, or whenever, for any reason, any street is closed, the chief of the fire department shall be notified immediately, and shall also be advised when such service is restored. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.190 Interference with or disobedience to fire department.
No person shall interfere with the chief of the fire department, his assistant or any member thereof, while in the lawful performance of his duties, or refuse or neglect to obey the lawful orders or requirements of the fire chief or assistant fire chief. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.200 Damage to department property prohibited.
No person shall wilfully or negligently injure or damage any house or place for the housing or protection of any machinery or apparatus of the fire department, nor injure any apparatus of the fire department. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.210 Use of department equipment.
No person shall use fire department hydrants or equipment without prior authorization from the fire chief or the city administrator. (Ord. 117, 1983)
2.24.220 Penalty for violation.
Any person violating any of the provisions of EMC 2.24.190 through 2.24.210, or any one or more of such sections, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500.00, or imprisonment in the county jail for not more than six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. 117, 1983)