Chapter 2.40
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.40.01 City fire department established.
2.40.02 Membership – Fire drill.
2.40.03 Supervision of department.
2.40.06 Deputy fire chief – Assistant chief.
2.40.07 Private use of fire equipment.
2.40.08 Fire equipment – Emergency right-of-way and use.
2.40.09 Fire equipment – Fire hose.
2.40.10 Obstruction of fire hydrant.
2.40.01 City fire department established.
The fire department of the city is hereby established and the department shall be organized to consist of a fire chief, one deputy fire chief, and one assistant fire chief and not less than 10 nor more than 20 firefighters per company. There shall be a total of two companies as follows, city and rural. Members of the fire department shall be appointed as provided by Charter Ordinance No. 22. (Ord. 711; C.O. No. 22 § 5. Code 1996 § 7-101)
2.40.02 Membership – Fire drill.
Members of the fire department shall be volunteers. They shall meet at least once each month for practice and drill. The chief of the fire department shall keep a record of attendance of such meetings. Any member who shall fail to attend six consecutive meetings, unless excused by the chief, shall automatically become expelled from membership. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-102)
2.40.03 Supervision of department.
The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the mayor and public works director and shall have immediate superintendency and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the fire apparatus and equipment. It shall be the chief’s duty to see that all such apparatus and equipment is ready at all times for immediate use. It shall also be the chief’s duty to submit a written report as to the condition of all fire apparatus and equipment to the governing body at their first meeting in October of each year. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-103)
2.40.04 Fire chief – Powers.
(a) The fire chief shall be responsible for the discipline of the members and is hereby given authority to suspend or expel any member for refusal to obey orders or for misconduct or failure to do his or her duty consistent with the city personnel rules and regulations in effect.
(b) The chief shall also have the right to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing a fire or to aid in removing personal property from any building on fire or in danger thereof and in guarding the same.
(c) At fires the chief shall have full power, control and command of all persons present and shall direct the use of the fire apparatus and equipment, and command the fire fighters in the discharge of their duties. He or she shall take such measures as he or she shall deem proper and necessary in the preservation and protection of property and extinguishing of fires. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-104)
2.40.05 Fire chief – Records.
The chief of the fire department shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. Such information shall include the time and location, construction of building, owner, occupancy, how extinguished, value of building and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-105)
2.40.06 Deputy fire chief – Assistant chief.
In the absence of the chief, the deputy fire chief shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the chief as conferred by this chapter. In the absence of both the fire chief and deputy fire chief, the assistant fire chief shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the aforesaid officers as conferred by this chapter. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-106)
2.40.07 Private use of fire equipment.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take away or use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose or for any person willfully and without proper authority to remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance, equipment or other article used in any way by the fire department. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-107)
2.40.08 Fire equipment – Emergency right-of-way and use.
(a) All fire apparatus and equipment is hereby given and granted the exclusive right-of-way over and through all streets, avenues, alleys and public thoroughfares in the city while en route to fires or in response to any alarm, and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to in any manner obstruct or hinder the apparatus or equipment.
(b) All emergency vehicles of the fire department, while proceeding on official business, shall be operated in strict accordance with the requirements of the Kansas Statutes regarding the operation of emergency vehicles, and each departmental member assigned to the operation of emergency vehicles shall familiarize himself or herself with the requirements of the law and govern himself or herself accordingly. Any operator violating the provisions of the state law shall be liable for disciplinary action. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-108)
2.40.09 Fire equipment – Fire hose.
It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to drive any vehicle over any fire hose laid on any street, alley or lot. This section shall not apply to any apparatus or vehicle being driven by members of the fire department. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-109)
2.40.10 Obstruction of fire hydrant.
It shall be unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence or other obstruction of any character, or in any manner obstruct, hinder, or delay the fire department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person fasten to any fire hydrant any guy rope or brace, nor stand any vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-110)
2.40.11 False alarm.
It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly make or sound or cause to be made or sounded, or by any other means, any false alarm. (Ord. 711. Code 1996 § 7-111)