The chief of the fire department shall have sole command and control over all persons connected with the fire department of the city and shall possess full power and authority over its organization, government and discipline, and to that end from time to time establish such disciplinary rules and regulations as he may deem advisable, subject to the approval of the council. He shall have charge of and be responsible for the equipment and apparatus of the fire department, the property of the city connected with the fire department, and see that all of it is at all times ready for use in the extinguishing of fire. The assistant chief of the fire department shall aid the chief in the work of the department, and in his absence shall perform his duties. The chief of the fire department or in his absence the assistant chief of the fire department, shall have sole and absolute control and command of all the other members of the department and of other persons present at fires, and shall ex officio have and exercise all the powers of a policeman at the time and place of a fire. He shall have the power, if need be, to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing any fire or in removing any property from any building on fire or in danger thereof, and in guarding same, he shall have the power to order the cutting down and removal of any building, structure, fence or other thing if he shall deem it necessary for the purpose of checking the progress of any fire. He shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the council. The officer in command of a company which first arrives at a fire shall be the officer in command until the chief of the fire department or his assistant arrives. (Ord. 63, 12-3-1945)