Chapter 2.32
FIRE DEPARTMENT*

Sections:

2.32.010    Created – Membership.

2.32.020    Selection of fire chief and other department officers – Terms.

2.32.025    Bylaws and constitution of the department, operations manual – Establishment.

2.32.030    Fire chief – Duties.

2.32.050    Deposit of fire service fees.

2.32.060    Pay schedule.

2.32.070    Special fire drills.

2.32.080    Purchase of supplies.

2.32.090    Repealed.

2.32.100    Repealed.

2.32.110    Repealed.

2.32.120    Repealed.

2.32.130    Obedience to fire chief required.

2.32.140    Relief and pension fund – Adoption of state laws.

2.32.150    Relief and pension fund – Fee for death and disability provisions.

2.32.160    Relief and pension fund – Fee for pension provisions.

2.32.170    Relief and pension fund – Forfeiture and reinstatement of benefits.

2.32.180    Relief and pension fund – Management and control.

2.32.190    Relief and pension fund – Board of trustees duties.

2.32.200    Repealed.

*    For statutory provisions on the fire prevention powers of cities of the third class, see RCW 35.24.290(5); for provisions on the volunteer firemen’s pension system, see Chapter 41.24 RCW.

2.32.010 Created – Membership.

A. There is hereby created a volunteer fire department for the city of Soap Lake consisting of volunteer members.

B. Candidates, with the exception of the fire chief, may become volunteer members by:

1. Filing an application with the fire department in the form and manner prescribed by the department.

2. Acceptance as a candidate by the fire chief.

C. Every member of the fire department shall be an at will member who may be terminated by the fire chief without a statement of cause. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 901 § 2, 1999).

2.32.020 Selection of fire chief and other department officers – Terms.

A. The fire chief shall be appointed by the mayor. The appointment by the mayor shall be subject to confirmation by the city council. The fire chief’s term shall be concurrent with the term of the mayor appointing him/her. The fire chief shall be reappointed, at the option of the mayor, and be submitted for reconfirmation by the city council at the time the mayor again takes office. The chief shall otherwise serve at the pleasure of the mayor.

B. The fire chief shall appoint such officers as shall be deemed appropriate for the fire department. The appointment of all officers by the fire chief shall be subject to confirmation by the mayor. An individual appointed as an officer shall serve as an officer at the pleasure of the fire chief. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 901 § 2, 1999).

2.32.025 Bylaws and constitution of the department, operations manual – Establishment.

A. A constitution and bylaws and an operations manual for the department shall be created. The duties specified in the constitution and bylaws and operations manual shall be in addition to any duties imposed by ordinances of the city or state statute.

B. The fire chief shall submit a constitution and bylaws and an operations manual to the city council for approval. Upon approval, by resolution of the city council, the constitution and bylaws and operations manual shall be effective immediately.

C. Amendments to the constitution and bylaws and to the operations manual shall be by the same procedure set forth in subsection B of this section. (Ord. 901 § 2, 1999).

2.32.030 Fire chief – Duties.

In addition to being the chief executive officer of the fire department, the fire chief shall have the following specific duties:

A. The fire chief may be the fire inspector for the city if the chief is qualified to be so designated.

B. The fire chief shall be responsible for making and implementing rules and regulations governing the volunteer fire department consistent with state statutes and city ordinances. The rules and regulations adopted shall be subject to approval by the city council and a written set of the rules and regulations shall be placed on file with the city clerk.

C. The fire chief shall be responsible for the care and maintenance of all fire equipment.

D. The fire chief shall be responsible for arranging training for members of the volunteer fire department and maintaining records of such training to ensure compliance with the rules and regulations of the state respecting the training of firefighters.

E. The fire chief shall be responsible for maintaining a proper inventory of all city fire department equipment. A copy of the inventory shall be filed with the city clerk and shall be updated annually. The inventory shall include a brief note on the condition and location of each inventory item.

F. The fire chief shall be responsible for maintaining a field incident report for each emergency response performed by the fire department.

G. The fire chief shall attend city council meetings as directed by the mayor. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 901 § 3, 1999; Ord. 461 § 4, 1973).

2.32.050 Deposit of fire service fees.

All moneys or fees collected by any member of the volunteer fire department for fire service shall be remitted immediately to the city clerk for deposit in the appropriate funds. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 627 § 1, 1983; Ord. 608 § 3, 1982; Ord. 461 § 6, 1973).

2.32.060 Pay schedule.

A. Budget. From and after January 1, 1999, the city shall establish a budget amount annually for the Soap Lake fire department which sum shall be used to pay the costs and expenses of operation of the fire department including the reimbursement of amounts due the fire chief and firefighters.

B. Pay for fire chief shall be as provided in the annual budget ordinance of the city. In addition the firefighters shall be reimbursed according to the following formula. Reimbursement will be figured by using the point system and determined on an annual basis. The points earned by all persons who were or are members, including the officers, of the department shall be totaled no later than October 31st of each year which shall be the total number of annual points. The points earned in November and December of the previous year shall be included in the total annual points. The dollar value of a point shall be determined by dividing the total amount budgeted by the city council for reimbursement expense by the total number of annual points, which result shall be the point dollar value; provided such point value shall not exceed $5.00 per credit. The points for each member, or past member, shall then be multiplied by the point dollar value to determine the reimbursement amount for that individual member or past member. Reimbursement checks will be issued by the last Monday of November. A member shall only be able to earn points by participating with the department as follows:

1. For each response to a fire or rescue incident, three points.

2. For attendance at drills, two points.

3. For attending official instruction classes, one point.

4. For participation in other official activities, one point. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 901 § 1(C), 1999; Ord. 711, 1988; Ord. 685 § 1, 1986; Ord. 665 § 1, 1985; Ord. 627 § 3, 1983; Ord. 608 § 4, 1982; Ord. 461 § 8, 1973).

2.32.070 Special fire drills.

The mayor may call special fire drills. (Ord. 627 § 2, 1982; Ord. 461 § 7, 1973).

2.32.080 Purchase of supplies.

All fire equipment and supplies shall be purchased through normal city procedures and within the budget allocations to the fire department. (Ord. 608 § 5, 1982; Ord. 461 § 9, 1973).

2.32.090 Fire hazard removal – Notice – Charge.

Repealed by Ord. 1049. (Ord. 650, 1984; Ord. 461 § 10, 1973).

2.32.100 Traffic right-of-way.

Repealed by Ord. 1049. (Ord. 461 § 11, 1973).

2.32.110 Vehicle restrictions near fire apparatus.

Repealed by Ord. 1049. (Ord. 461 § 12, 1973).

2.32.120 Right of entry at fire site.

Repealed by Ord. 1049. (Ord. 461 § 13, 1973).

2.32.130 Obedience to fire chief required.

The chief of the fire department or the firefighter in charge shall have authority to command any person to perform any act he desires done in connection with any fire, and it is unlawful not to obey any command of such chief or party in charge or to hinder or delay any equipment or to obstruct any member in the performance of duties. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 461 § 14, 1973).

2.32.140 Relief and pension fund – Adoption of state laws.

The city adopts the provisions of the applicable laws of the state relative to the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund for the purpose of enabling the members of the volunteer fire department to avail themselves of the benefits of the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund. (Ord. 461 § 15, 1973).

2.32.150 Relief and pension fund – Fee for death and disability provisions.

The city authorizes the payment of the fee of $3.00 per member of the fire department per year for the purpose of providing for the enrollment of every fireman under the death and disability provisions of the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund. (Ord. 461 § 16, 1973).

2.32.160 Relief and pension fund – Fee for pension provisions.

Any member of the volunteer fire department may enroll under the pension provisions of the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund by applying therefor and by paying to the city an annual fee of $12.00. For each fireman so enrolled, the city pays an additional $15.00 annually to the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund. All payments made by firemen to the city and all contributions to the fund made by the city shall be paid to the state treasury as provided by law. Enrollment under the pension provision shall include and provide protection for death and disability without any additional payment. (Ord. 461 § 17, 1973).

2.32.170 Relief and pension fund – Forfeiture and reinstatement of benefits.

Any fireman enrolled under the pension provisions of the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund shall forfeit his right to participate in the benefits under the act unless he has paid his annual cost on or before March 1st of each year; provided, however, that where a fireman has forfeited his right to participate in the retirement provisions, he may be reinstated so as to participate to the same extent as if all fees had been paid by the payment of all back fees with interest at the rate of one percent per month, providing he has at all times been otherwise eligible. (Ord. 461 § 18, 1973).

2.32.180 Relief and pension fund – Management and control.

The volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund shall be under the management and control of the board of trustees consisting of the mayor, the city clerk, fire chief, one councilman, and one member of the fire department chosen annually by the members of the fire department by ballot in the manner prescribed by law. The mayor shall be the chair of the board and the city clerk shall be its secretary-treasurer. (Ord. 1049 § 1, 2006; Ord. 461 § 19, 1973).

2.32.190 Relief and pension fund – Board of trustees duties.

The board of trustees shall determine a regular monthly meeting date and shall meet on that date at the call of the chairman when there is business to come before it. It shall make all rules and regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes for which it is created, and shall in all respects proceed in accordance with and be governed by the terms and provisions of the laws of the state relating to the volunteer firemen’s relief and pension fund. (Ord. 461 § 20, 1973).

2.32.200 City employee volunteer fire department participation.

Repealed by Ord. 1049. (Res. 704, 2005).