Chapter 2.20
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.20.030 Rules and regulations authority.
2.20.040 Right-of-way – Obstruction prohibited.
2.20.050 Fire department chief – Authority.
2.20.010 Established.
There is established a fire department in and for the city. (Ord. 89-408 § 1, 1988; Ord. 95 § 1, 1949)
2.20.020 Duties.
The duties of the volunteer fire department shall be to care for all fire equipment and use their best efforts to attend and extinguish all fires and perform such other duties as may, from time to time, be prescribed by the city council or the members of the volunteer fire department. (Ord. 95 § 2, 1949)
2.20.030 Rules and regulations authority.
The volunteer fire department shall have authority to make such rules and regulations as may be consistent with the laws of the state and the ordinances and regulations of the city, but the same shall be subject to the approval of the council and mayor of the city. The voluntary fire department shall have the right to elect all and any officers to be approved by the mayor and council. (Ord. 95 § 3, 1949)
2.20.040 Right-of-way – Obstruction prohibited.
The volunteer fire department shall have the right-of-way over all traffic on the streets and alleys of the city and it shall be the duty of every person to clear the streets of their equipment and not get in the way of or hinder the volunteer fire department during any fire alarm or during any fire or while the department is going to or coming from the fire. (Ord. 95 § 4, 1949)
2.20.045 Compensation.
A. RCW 49.46.010 provides in part that if a local governmental body pays its volunteers a nominal amount of compensation per unit of voluntary service rendered, that the employer-employee relationship is deemed not to exist for the purposes of the minimum wage law.
B. Volunteer firefighters shall be compensated on a semi-annual basis and the amount to be paid shall be determined as follows:
1. At the end of the first semi-annual period there will be allotted $2,500 to the active volunteers on the rolls for that period;
2. The allotment will be divided among the active volunteers on the basis of points earned for activities during that period;
3. At the end of the second semi-annual period the money allotted will be whatever remains in the budget for wages after the annual retirement payment is made decided the same as outlined in subsection (B)(2) of this section;
4. An active volunteer shall be defined as one who has earned points for participating in qualifying activities for the current period. (Ord. 99-556, 1999; Ord. 97-533, 1997; Ord. 92-453 § 4, 1992)
2.20.050 Fire department chief – Authority.
At all fires the chief of the fire department shall have sole command and all members of the fire department and all policemen of the city shall, during the continuance of the fire, be subject to his orders. He may, when deemed necessary for the extinguishment of any fire, call to his aid any person present, and it shall be the duty of every person so called upon by the chief of the fire department to render him prompt service; provided, however, that in the absence of the chief or the assistant chief, the first member of the department to arrive upon the scene of the fire shall be in command therewith until the arrival of the chief or assistant chief or superior officer in the fire department. (Ord. 95 § 6, 1949)
2.20.060 Violation – Penalty.
Any violation of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor and shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $100.00. (Ord. 95 § 8, 1949)