Chapter 2.16
FIRE DEPARTMENT1
Sections:
2.16.020 Fire chief--Appointment.
2.16.025 Volunteer firemen--Appointment.
2.16.030 Fire chief--Rules and regulations.
2.16.040 Fire chief--Authority.
2.16.050 Fire chief--Duties generally.
2.16.060 Fire chief--Compensation.
2.16.080 Fire equipment--Use outside city.
2.16.100 Interfering with fire truck or firemen.
2.16.110 Assistant fire chief.
2.16.150 Fire drill--Attendance.
2.16.170 Fire drill--Compensation.
2.16.010 Created.
There is established and created a fire department in the city, which shall consist of a chief and volunteer firemen, to be organized by the chief of the fire department. (Ord. 1307 §4(A), 2015: Ord. 394 §1, 1948)
2.16.020 Fire chief--Appointment.
The chief of the fire department shall be appointed by the mayor and serve at the pleasure of the mayor. (Ord. 1307 §4(B), 2015: Ord. 394 §2, 1948)
2.16.025 Volunteer firemen--Appointment.
The volunteer firemen shall be composed of suitable persons voluntarily associating themselves for such purpose. Volunteer firemen may be suspended by the chief for a period not exceeding one month for any improper conduct, and the chief and volunteer firemen shall be subject to dismissal at any time by the mayor. (Ord. 1307 §17(A), 2015)
2.16.030 Fire chief--Rules and regulations.
The chief of the fire department shall have the power to make such rules and regulations as he may see fit not inconsistent with law and the ordinances of the city, which rules and regulations shall be reported to and concurred in by the council, and the chief shall enforce the rules and regulations by punishing any member of the department by reprimand or suspension from service as provided in this chapter. (Ord. 394 §3, 1948)
2.16.040 Fire chief--Authority.
The chief of the fire department shall have sole and absolute control and command over all persons connected with the fire department of the city and all persons assisting at fires, and shall possess full power and authority at all calls for fire department services. (Ord. 1307 §4(C), 2015: Ord. 394 §4, 1948)
2.16.050 Fire chief--Duties generally.
The chief of the fire department shall supervise and see that all property of the city connected with the fire department is at all times kept in repair and ready for instant use. The chief of the fire department, or a designee, shall attend all fires happening in the city and be incident commander at fires and emergencies where the fire department is called. The chief of the fire department shall provide an annual summary, report to city council at meetings, and answer any questions city council members may have. The chief shall also provide an annual report for council and staff during budget discussions and provide information throughout the budget process. The chief of the fire department shall also make reports to the State Fire Marshal and such other reports as may be required by law. The chief of the fire department shall take an oath of office. The chief of the fire department shall furnish each member of the department with a copy of the rules and regulations of the department. (Ord. 1307 §4(D), 2015: Ord. 394 §5, 1948)
2.16.060 Fire chief--Compensation.
The chief of the fire department shall receive compensation in the amount as set forth annually by city council. (Ord. 1307 §4(E), 2015: Ord. 394 §6, 1948)
2.16.070 Fire equipment--Use.
The fire hall and fire apparatus shall be under the control of the fire chief and fire fighting equipment shall be used for no other purpose than an emergency except by permission of the chief. (Ord. 394 §7, 1948)
2.16.080 Fire equipment--Use outside city.
A. The fire chief, pursuant to mutual aid agreements approved by city council, is authorized to dispatch and use the fire apparatus and equipment and other emergency response equipment of the city, together with the fire department personnel operating same, outside of the corporate limits of the city for the purpose of rendering assistance to neighboring communities and areas in the event of a threatening conflagration or other fire emergency. Under no circumstances shall such fire apparatus and equipment be dispatched outside of the city to such an extent as to deplete existing available equipment or leave the city without adequate fire protection.
B. The mayor and the city clerk/treasurer are authorized and directed to execute on the behalf of the city such mutual aid agreements with adjoining communities or areas maintaining and operating fire apparatus and equipment as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the orderly dispatch of the city fire apparatus and equipment outside of the city and reciprocal dispatching of other apparatus and equipment into the city. (Ord. 1307 §4(F), 2015: Ord. 577 §§1, 2, 1962)
2.16.090 Fire hydrant use.
No person shall use fire hydrants in the corporate limits of the city except members of the fire department and water department without the permission of the fire chief. A clearance of thirty feet shall be allowed on each side of a fire hydrant. (Ord. 394 §8, 1948)
2.16.100 Interfering with fire truck or firemen.
No one other than members of the fire department except by direction of the fire chief shall be permitted on the fire trucks and no person shall in any way interfere with firemen while on duty at a fire or at drill. (Ord. 394 §9, 1948)
2.16.110 Assistant fire chief.
There is created the office of assistant fire chief, such assistant to be appointed by the fire chief. His or her compensation will be set by city council. The assistant fire chief will become acting chief in the absence of the fire chief. (Ord. 1307 §4(G), 2015: Ord. 394 §10, 1948)
2.16.120 Full-time fireman.
There is created the position of full-time fireman for the city which may be filled at the discretion of the mayor, and whose compensation shall be set by city council. Full-time firemen shall take an oath of office. (Ord. 1307 §4(H), 2015: Ord. 550 §1, 1960)
2.16.130 Firemen--Appointment--Oath of office.
Repealed by Ord. 1307. (Ord. 394 §13, 1948)
2.16.140 Firemen--Duties.
In addition to performing services at fires and attending fire drills, the firemen are to keep the fire hall clean and orderly, and to keep all fire trucks, fire apparatus and emergency response equipment in a state of readiness for instant use. (Ord. 1307 §4(I), 2015: Ord. 394 §14, 1948)
2.16.150 Fire drill--Attendance.
Attendance policies for fire drills are found in the policies and procedures adopted by the fire department. (Ord. 1307 §4(J), 2015: Ord. 745 §1, 1976: Ord. 394 §15, 1948)
2.16.160 Fire drill--Times.
Fire drills will be held every Thursday, which shall commence at seven p.m. (Ord. 1307 §4(K), 2015: Ord. 394 §16, 1948)
2.16.170 Fire drill--Compensation.
Firemen are compensated in amount determined by city council. The compensation of firemen is to be paid quarterly, or as set by city council. (Ord. 1307 §4(L), 2015: Ord. 394 §17, 1948)
2.16.180 Pension enrollment.
Any member of the fire department is permitted to enroll under the pension provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW, otherwise known as the Fireman’s Relief and Pension Act, for the purpose of enabling any such fireman, so electing, to avail himself of the retirement provisions of Chapter 41.24 RCW; provided, however, that anyone so enrolling under the pension provisions shall pay thirty dollars of the required sixty dollars enrollment fee each year prior to March 1st, and in the event that the fireman does not so contribute such portion of the annual enrollment fee, he shall be dropped from the rolls, all as provided by statute. In the event the amount increases for enrollment fees each year, each person enrolling under the pension provisions shall pay one-half of the enrollment fee each year prior to March 1st. (Ord. 1307 §4(M), 2015: Ord. 494, 1955)
2.16.190 Recoupment of costs.
The fire department may recoup from property owners or individuals needing fire protection or other emergency response services provided by the fire department, all fees, costs and expenses associated with providing an emergency response within the city of Wapato. (Ord. 1307 §17(B), 2015)
Code reviser’s note: Ord. 2018-2 authorized combining the city police and fire departments into a new public safety department. See Chapter 2.18.