A City Fire Chief shall be elected by the members of the Fire Department, subject to the approval of the City Council. The City Fire Chief shall perform such duties and have such powers as are provided for that office by ordinance or by the laws of the state, including, but not limited to, Neb. RS 17-131, 17-147, 17-503, 17-718, 33-102, 81-506 and 81-512, as amended or superseded. The City Fire Chief shall enforce all laws and ordinances covering the prevention of fires, the storage and use of explosives and flammable substances, the installation of fire alarm systems, the maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment, the regulation of fire escapes and the inspection of all premises requiring adequate fire escapes. The City Fire Chief shall, in the discharge of his or her official duties and upon proper identification of his or her official capacity, have authority pursuant to this chapter and to the laws of the state, including, but not limited to, Neb. RS 81-512, as amended or superseded, to enter into any building, structure or premises in the city at any reasonable hour for the purpose of inspection. The inspection shall be carried out as provided by the laws of the state, including, but not limited to, Neb. RS 29-830 through 29-835, as amended or superseded. The City Fire Chief shall cause the secretary to file, with the City Clerk and the Clerk of the District Court, a certified copy of the rolls of all members of the Fire Department as required by the laws of the state, including, but not limited to, Neb. RS 35-102, as amended or superseded. The City Fire Chief shall investigate or cause to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring within the city as provided by the laws of the state, including, but not limited to, Neb. RS 81-506, as amended or superseded. The City Fire Chief shall have the power, during the time of a fire and for a period of 36 hours thereafter, to arrest any suspected arsonist, any person conducting himself or herself in a noisy and disorderly manner at the scene of a fire, any person who shall hinder the emergency efforts of the Fire Department or any person who shall refuse to obey any lawful order of the Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief in the performance of his or her official duties. The Fire Chief or his or her assistant in charge of operations at a fire may command the assistance of any person present at the scene of any fire in extinguishing the same or in the removal and protection of property.
(Prior Code, § 1-211)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 17-131, 17-147, 17-505, 17-718, 29-830 through 29-835, 35-102, 81-512, 81-506