(a) Classified service. Within the Department of Public Safety, there shall be a Fire and Emergency Medical Services Division, which may be composed of a total of not more than 50 officers in the classified service. Of this number, there may not be more than one Fire Chief, four Captains, six Lieutenants, 38 regular firefighters and one regular firefighter assigned by the Mayor to the position of Superintendent of Fire Equipment.
(b) Temporary increases. In addition to the total number of officers authorized in division (a) above, temporary increases in this authorized strength, not to exceed three officers, of any rank or grade are permitted when, in anticipation of an impending resignation or retirement, it is in the best interests of the city that an immediate appointment be made to fill the anticipated vacancy. Such temporary increases in departmental strength shall not exceed 90 days.
(c) Grades.
(1) The regular firefighters shall be divided into first, second and third grades, as follows.
A. The first grade shall include only regular firefighters who have continuously served in the Department as regular firefighters two or more years.
B. The second grade shall include only regular firefighters who have continuously served in the Department as regular firefighters more than one year but less than two years.
C. The third grade shall include only regular firefighters who have continuously served in the Department as regular firefighters less than one year.
(2) When by reason of continuous service, a regular firefighter is eligible for advancement from a lower grade to a higher grade, there shall be no increase in his or her salary until he or she has been duly advanced by the Mayor.
(d) Temporary firefighters. In addition to the regular firefighters herein provided for, the Mayor may, in the event of emergencies, appoint not to exceed 20, temporary firefighters who shall serve not longer than 90 days. Such temporary firefighters shall not be subject to civil service rules of appointment, shall not be under civil service and shall not be entitled to participate in the Police and Firefighters’s Disability and Pension Fund.
(e) Unclassified service. There shall be one Executive Assistant to the Chief of Fire.
(Ord. 7588, passed 9-21-1982; Ord. 27-91, passed 4-2-1991; Ord. 13-11, passed 3-1-2011)