Chapter 2.44
FIRE DEPARTMENT*

Sections:

2.44.010    Created.

2.44.020    Chief—Appointment.

2.44.030    Firemen—Assistant chief— Appointment.

2.44.040    Compensation.

2.44.050    Retirement and compensation fund board of trustees.

2.44.060    Fire calls outside the city—When permitted.

2.44.070    Fire calls outside the city— Mutual aid agreements.

2.44.080    Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act eligibility.

2.44.090    Designated as hazardous material incident command agency.

*    For statutory authority for a code city council to create such departments as it find necessary or advisable, see RCW 35A.11.090; for provision that code cities may provide fire engines and all other necessary or proper apparatus for the prevention of and extinguishment of fires, see RCW 35.27.370(6); for provisions for code cities to take part in retirement systems, see RCW 35A.11.020; for provisions for volunteer firemen’s benefits, see RCW Ch. 41.24; for authority for cities to fight fires beyond the corporate limits, see RCW Ch. 35.84.040.

2.44.010 Created.

There is created a volunteer fire department in the city, to be known and designated as such. (Ord. 352 § 1, 1935).

2.44.020 Chief—Appointment.

Annually on the first meeting of the city council in January of each year the mayor shall appoint a fireman, who shall be the chief of the volunteer fire department and who shall hold office at the pleasure of the mayor or until his successor is appointed and qualifies. (Ord. 352 § 2, 1935).

2.44.030 Firemen—Assistant chief— Appointment.

The mayor shall appoint thirty members to be known as firemen of the members to be known as firemen of the volunteer fire department, who, together with the chief, shall constitute the volunteer fire department of the city, and one of whom shall be by said chief appointed assistant chief. (Ord. 922 § 1, 1974; Ord. 352 § 3, 1935).

2.44.040 Compensation.

The firemen of the fire department shall receive no salary or compensation, except that they shall be paid the sum of five dollars for each drill and alarm which they shall attend. (Ord. 1323 § 1, 1985: Ord. 451 § 2, 1946; Ord. 352 § 4, 1935).

2.44.050 Retirement and compensation fund board of trustees.

There is created and established a board of trustees of the Volunteer Firemen’s Retirement and Compensation fund of the city, which said board shall consist of the mayor, the city clerk and one councilman elected by the council, the chief of the fire department, and one member of said department, to be elected by the members of said fire department, which said latter member shall hold office for the term of one year and until his successor is elected. (Ord. 922 § 2, 1974; Ord. 352 § 7, 1935).

2.44.060 Fire calls outside the city—When permitted.

The mayor of the city, acting by and through the chief of the fire department, is authorized to dispatch and use the fire apparatus and equipment of the city together with the fire department personnel operating the 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 dire 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. (Ord. 661 § 1, 1962).

2.44.070 Fire calls outside the city—Mutual aid agreements.

The mayor and the city clerk of the city 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 or with the Central Washington Firemen’s Association as may be necessary or desirable to effectuate the orderly dispatch of the city fire apparatus and equipment outside of the city and the reciprocal dispatching of other apparatus and equipment into the city. (Ord. 661 § 2, 1962).

2.44.080 Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act eligibility.

Any active volunteer fireman of the city shall be eligible and is permitted to enroll under the retirement provisions of the Volunteer Firemen’s Relief and Pension Act now codified in Chapter 41.24 of the Revised Code of Washington, and the annual fee shall be paid as provided therein for each of its firemen electing to enroll therein. (Ord. 816 § 1, 1971).

2.44.090 Designated as hazardous materials incident command agency.

The city fire department is designated as a hazardous materials incident command agency to operate within the boundaries of the city, in accordance with Section 4, Chapter 172, Laws of 1982, RCW 70.136.030, as amended. (Ord. 1376 § 1, 1987).