CHAPTER 3
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
3-3-101 Creation of Department.
3-3-102 Officers of Department.
3-3-103 Full-time Employees.
3-3-104 Duties of Department.
3-3-105 Remuneration.
3-3-106 Right-of-Way.
3-3-107 May Blockade Streets.
3-3-108 Right of Entry.
3-3-109 Removal of Obstructions.
3-3-110 Use of Water.
3-3-111 Investigation of Fire.
3-3-101 Creation of Department.
There is hereby established a volunteer Fire Department in the City to be known as the Springville Volunteer Fire Department. The members of the Department may adopt a constitution, by-laws, and such other rules and regulations as may be necessary for the effective operation of the Department, including requirements for membership therein. All such rules and regulations governing the operation of the Fire Department shall be approved by the City Council.
(Statutory Authority UCA 10-8-55; 1968 Code 1-19-1; amended in codification 1979; 1979 Code 3-3-1)
3-3-102 Officers of Department.
The officers of the Department shall be a Fire Chief, who shall be a full-time employee of the City appointed by the Mayor with the consent of the City Council, two (2) Assistant Fire Chiefs, who shall be elected by the volunteer members of the Department, and such other officers as may be provided for in the constitution and by-laws of the Department. Officers of the Department, other than the Fire Chief, shall be elected or appointed annually, and their names submitted to the City Council for confirmation.
(1968 Code 1-19-2; 1979 Code 3-3-2; amended by Ordinance No. 22-85)
3-3-103 Full-time Employees.
In addition to the volunteer members of the Fire Department, the Fire Chief may employ such full-time personnel, with approval of the City Council, as the interests of the City may require. Full-time employees shall be under the supervision of and responsible to the Fire Chief, and shall keep all engines, hoses and other fire-fighting apparatus in proper condition for immediate use, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Fire Chief or City Council.
(1968 Code 1-19-3; amended in codification 1979; 1979 Code 3-3-3; amended by Ord. No. 22-85)
3-3-104 Duties of Department.
The Fire Department, under the direction of the Fire Chief, shall have the duty of extinguishing fires and of protecting life and property within the City. The Fire Chief shall have the sole and entire command over all officers and members of the Department at fires, and in his absence the highest ranking officer of the Department at the fire shall have command. The Fire Department may periodically inspect business establishments to check for fire hazards, may at the request or with the permission of the owner inspect private homes for fire hazards and may divide the City into fire districts. The volunteer members of the Department shall also assist the full-time personnel employed by the City in keeping the fire-fighting apparatus in proper condition for immediate use.
(1968 Code 1-19-4; amended in codification 1979; 1979 Code 3-3-4; amended by Ord. No. 22-85)
3-3-105 Remuneration.
Compensation for all members of the Fire Department shall be fixed by resolution of the City Council from time to time.
(1968 Code 1-19-5; 1979 Code 3-3-5)
3-3-106 Right-of-Way.
City fire trucks are hereby declared to be emergency vehicles and shall have all of the rights-of-way and exemptions from traffic regulations that are provided by State law.
(1968 Code 1-19-6; 1979 Code 3-3-6; amended by Ordinance No. 6-81)
3-3-107 May Blockade Streets.
Whenever a fire shall occur, it shall be lawful for the Fire Chief or the officer in command to blockade any street, avenue, alley, sidewalk, or other place if in his judgment it is necessary to secure the efficient working of the men, hose, engines, or hook and ladder apparatus under his command, and to protect the hose of said department from injury. It shall be unlawful for any person to break through said blockade.
(1968 Code 1-19-7; 1979 Code 3-3-7)
3-3-108 Right of Entry.
The members of the Fire Department shall have the right to enter upon any premises for the purpose of investigating, extinguishing, or controlling fires.
(1968 Code 1-19-8; 1979 Code 3-3-8)
3-3-109 Removal of Obstructions.
When a fire is in progress, the Fire Chief, or in his absence the officer in charge, may order the removal or destruction of any building, fence, or any telephone, telegraph or electric light poles or wires or any other obstruction in order to prevent the progress of the fire, but neither the Fire Chief nor any other officer or member of the Department shall unnecessarily or recklessly destroy or injure any building or other property.
(1968 Code 1-19-9; 1979 Code 3-3-9)
3-3-110 Use of Water.
The Chief of the Fire Department, or other officer in charge, shall have the right to use water from any source for the purpose of extinguishing fires or for saving property in danger of being destroyed by fire.
(1968 Code 1-19-10; 1979 Code 3-3-10)
3-3-111 Investigation of Fire.
The Fire Chief, or in his absence his assistants in charge of the fire, shall, after its extinguishment, make a prompt and thorough investigation of the cause of the fire, the time of alarm, the amount of loss and insurance, a description of the affected building and premises, and shall secure all other useful information and data available and record the same, and shall report the same to the City Council at such times as it may direct. If the officer making this investigation determines that the fire appears to be of suspicious origin, he may notify the State Fire Marshal to that effect.
(Statutory Authority UCA 63-29-20; 1968 Code 1-19-11; amended in codification 1979; 1979 Code 3-3-11; amended by Ordinance No. 25-02)