Chapter 1.44
FIRE DEPARTMENT—ORGANIZATION
Sections:
1.44.030 Supervision and control by chief.
1.44.050 Rules and regulations.
1.44.080 Removal of property from vicinity of fire.
1.44.090 Destroying property to halt progress of fire.
1.44.110 Notice of intent to resign.
1.44.120 Signal box keys—Custody.
1.44.130 Signal box keys—Duplicates.
1.44.160 Physical examinations.
1.44.170 Penalty for violations.
1.44.180 Volunteer fire division.
1.44.010 Created—Personnel.
There is hereby created a fire department in the city of Yakima which shall consist of the following personnel: chief, battalion fire chief, fire marshal, chief mechanic, signal superintendent, captain, lieutenant, signal maintenance man, firefighter, alarm operator and secretary. The number of personnel in each of the above-mentioned ranks shall be as determined by the city council in each budget ordinance. (Ord. 2022-007 § 6, 2022; Ord. 557, § 1, 1964: prior Ord. 202, 1960).
1.44.030 Supervision and control by chief.
The fire department and all members thereof shall be deemed and classified for all purposes as firemen and shall at all times be under the supervision and subject to the control of the chief of the fire department. (Ord. B-2079, 1957: Ord. B-1982 § 3, 1957).
1.44.040 Duties of chief.
The chief of the fire department shall at all times supervise and keep in repair and ready for instant use all property of the city connected with the fire department. He shall certify to all bills against the city chargeable to the fire department; shall keep a record of the department membership, vacancies, appointments and dismissals, and all notices issued; shall attend all major fires within the city and all other fires at his discretion, and all orders issued by him to any other officer or member of the department shall be promptly obeyed. He shall investigate the cause of all fires that may occur in the city as soon as may be and record the results of such investigation in a book to be kept for him for that purpose. He shall also cause to be kept in books for that purpose a full and complete record of all transactions in said department, and of all property placed in his charge, and such other books and records as shall be required by the business of the fire department, which books shall always be open for inspection of any member of the city council. He shall also report at the end of the fiscal year, in writing, upon the condition of the department, the number of fires that have occurred in the city during the year preceding, and the cause of the same so far as can be ascertained; also the number of buildings destroyed or injured, the value of property destroyed, as near as can be ascertained, and the amount of insurance upon the buildings and other property, which said report shall be filed and preserved in the office of the city clerk. He shall at all times be subject to the control and direction of the city manager. (Ord. B-1982 § 4; January 7, 1957).
1.44.050 Rules and regulations.
The chief of the fire department except as restricted by Chapter 1.46 or by regulations or directions of the city council or the city manager of the city of Yakima shall have authority to make all necessary rules and regulations for the internal government of the fire department including the right to transfer any individual to a classification of equal rank or grade, and the management and control of all fire houses and equipment thereof belonging to the city, subject to all laws and ordinances pertaining thereto. (Ord. B-1982 § 5, as amended by Ord. B-2079; September 23, 1957).
1.44.060 Assistance at fires.
The chief of the fire department, or person in command, shall have power to command such assistance from the inhabitants of the city not members of the fire department, for the extinguishment of fire and for the preservation of property exposed to fire, as may in his judgement be required. And in case any person shall neglect or refuse to render assistance as above required, or shall refuse to obey any lawful order of the officer in command, or shall insult, menace or interfere with any officer or person connected with the fire department while on duty, or shall without authority give any order to any member of the fire department while on duty, he shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. B-1982 § 6; January 7, 1957).
1.44.070 Fire lines at fires.
The chief of the fire department or person in command, may prescribe limits in the vicinity of any fire within which no person, excepting those who reside therein, firemen and policemen and those admitted by order of any officer of the fire department, shall be permitted to come. (Ord. B-1982 § 7; January 7, 1957).
1.44.080 Removal of property from vicinity of fire.
The chief of the fire department or person in command, shall have power to cause the removal of any property whenever it shall become necessary for the preservation of such property or to prevent the spreading of fire or protect adjoining property. (Ord. B-1982 § 8; January 7, 1957).
1.44.090 Destroying property to halt progress of fire.
No building or structure of any kind shall be blown up or otherwise destroyed for the purpose of checking the progress of any fire, except in case of absolute necessity, and then only on the order of the chief of the fire department or in his absence upon the order of the assistant chief of the fire department, or in the absence of both, upon the order of the person in command. (Ord. B-1982 § 9; January 7, 1957).
1.44.100 Badges.
Every member of the fire department shall, while on duty, wear a suitable badge to be furnished by the city, and any member who shall lose or destroy the same shall be required to pay the cost of replacing it. Whenever any member shall leave the department he shall immediately deliver the badge and all other property belonging to the city to the proper officer. (Ord. B-1982 § 10; January 7, 1957).
1.44.110 Notice of intent to resign.
No member of the fire department, under penalty of forfeiting the salary or pay which may be due to him, shall withdraw or resign without having given the chief of the fire department to the city manager ten days’ notice in writing of his intentions so to do. (Ord. B-1982 § 11; January 7, 1957).
1.44.120 Signal box keys—Custody.
The chief of the fire department shall have the custody and control of all keys belonging to the various signal boxes, and shall keep a record of all keys distributed by him, and shall take receipts for the same. (Ord. B-1982 § 12; January 7, 1957).
1.44.130 Signal box key—Duplicates.
If any person shall make or cause to be made, or have in his possession an impression or duplicate of any signal key, without the permission of the chief of the fire department, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. (Ord. B-1982 § 13; January 7, 1957).
1.44.140 Compensation.
The chief of the fire department and all firemen, being all of the members and employees of the fire department, shall receive such compensation as the city council may from time to time by ordinance determine. (Ord. B-1982 § 14, as amended by Ord. B-2079; September 23, 1957).
1.44.160 Physical examinations.
All personnel as a requisite of employment by the fire department shall pass a rigid physical examination by a doctor or doctors designated by the Firemen’s Relief and Pension Fund Board. Except that physically handicapped persons may be employed for the positions of alarm operator and secretary. (Ord. B-1982 § 16; January 7, 1957).
1.44.170 Penalty for violations.
Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the city jail for a period not exceeding thirty days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. (Ord. B-1982 § 17; January 7, 1957).
1.44.180 Volunteer fire division.
A. Division Created. There is created a volunteer fire division to consist of such volunteer fire fighters as may be appointed from time to time by the fire chief of the Yakima fire department.
B. Duties and Authority. Volunteers in the volunteer fire division shall assist the fire department in its duties in accordance with policies and procedures promulgated by the fire chief.
C. Organization. The volunteer fire division shall be organized and administered by the fire chief, or by an officer of the fire department assigned by the fire chief to that function. Ranks of volunteer fire fighters shall be designated, and appointments made thereto, as the fire chief deems necessary or advisable.
D. Volunteers.
(1) Appointment. Volunteers in the volunteer fire division shall be appointed by the fire chief. No person shall be appointed as a volunteer unless he or she is of good moral character and otherwise demonstrates attributes necessary to perform the duties of a volunteer fire fighter, all as determined by the fire chief.
(2) Tenure and Discipline. A volunteer fire fighter’s appointment to the volunteer fire division may be revoked by the fire chief at any time. The decision to remove shall be final and binding. The fire chief may, in his or her sole discretion, initiate disciplinary action against any volunteer based upon nonconformance with city ordinances, rules, policies or standards.
(3) Status of Volunteer Fire Fighters. No volunteer fire fighter shall receive any compensation but volunteers will receive reimbursement of expenses in accordance with subsection F of this section. No volunteer fire fighter shall be entitled to any relief or pension benefits under any plan administered under state statutes, except for any benefits mandated under the Volunteer Fire Fighters Relief and Pension Act, RCW Chapter 41.24. Volunteers in the volunteer fire division shall for all purposes be considered volunteers under all federal, state and local laws, including but not limited to the Federal Fair Labor Standards Act and shall also be excluded from inclusion in the fire department’s civil service commission. Appointments and revocation of appointments to the volunteer fire division, and promotions of rank shall be made solely at the discretion of the fire chief and shall not be subject to approval or review by the civil service commission.
E. Rules and Regulations.
(1) Badge and Insignia. The city of Yakima shall furnish a uniform, coveralls, badge, insignia or rank and shoulder patch, all of distinctive and uniform design, to volunteer fire fighters. All such badges, insignia and other city-owned property issued to a volunteer fire fighter shall be surrendered to the fire chief on the termination of that volunteer.
(2) Identification Card. The fire chief shall issue an identification card to each volunteer fire fighter identifying said individual as a volunteer fire fighter of the city, which card shall contain a facial photograph of the officer. An identification card issued to a volunteer fire fighter shall be surrendered to the fire chief on the termination of that volunteer.
(3) Administrative Rules and Regulations. The fire chief may adopt such rules and regulations consistent with the provisions of this section as he or she deems necessary or convenient to organize and administer the volunteer fire division and its functions.
F. Reimbursement of Expenses. Volunteer fire fighters will receive reimbursement of expenses at the rate of two dollars and fifty cents per point based on the following point system:
Ride out training session 1 point
Off-duty fire/EMS alarm response 1 point
Special assignment (per occurrence) 1 point
(Ord. 95-70 § 1, 1995; Ord. 93-7 § 1, 1993: Ord. 3364 § 1, 1991).