(A) The Town Council by virtue of the office shall be Fire Wardens, provided that the Council may, at its discretion, appoint not exceeding three Fire Wardens.
(B) The Fire Wardens shall have power at all reasonable hours to enter into and examine all dwellings, outhouses, and lots in the town to inspect all places wherein fires are kept, and/or to ascertain how ashes are kept and disposed of.
(C) The Fire Wardens shall have power to regulate the construction of all chimneys, hearths, ovens, the erection of stoves, stove pipes, boilers, and all other apparatus used in manufacturing in buildings and cause the same to be removed or made secure or considered dangerous to compel owners and occupants of house buildings to make scuttles to the roofs thereof, and stairs or leading to the same and to prevent the storage of large quantities of straw, hay, shavings, or other inflammable material in the fire or other dangerous places.
(D) They shall have power to purchase or accept by donation necessary fire apparatus for the extinguishing of fires and have charge and control of the same and shall provide houses for the preservation and security. They shall have power to organize fire hook and ladder companies from reputable citizens of the town auxiliary companies thereto and make rules for their government regulation, with such penalties for neglect and misconduct as deemed proper and may remove members of such companies as others in their stead.
(E) The Fire Wardens shall have the power to appoint a Fire Chief who shall, with the advice and consent of the Council, appoint two assistants or captains of hose carts.
(F) The Fire Chief shall have the superintendance of an apparatus for the extinguishing of fires belonging to the town to keep in good order and from time to time report to the Council the condition of the same, and the repairs or addition thereto, to render the Department efficient.
(G) When the Chief and his or her assistants are on duty, all the powers of police officers during the continuance of a fire.
(H) In case of fire, the Fire Chief shall have full control of the apparatus of the Fire Department and issue such orders for the call of fires as he or she may deem to be expedient, he or she shall have power of extra sessions of the Department for practice drill, or for placing apparatus in order, and when on duty shall have power to supply disturbances or to arrest any person who may commit a breach of peace or any depredation or injury to the property of another, or shall refuse to obey any order lawfully given by the Chief and to conduct the offenders before the Town Clerk-Treasurer or other program or to commit him or her to jail until a hearing can be had.
(I) It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a member of the Fire Department, to handle or remove from any Fire Department building belonging to the town, any apparatus, axe, ladder, ladder, bucket, crowbar, wrench, hose, nozzle, or other tool, or apparatus belonging to the Department except in case of a fire, and then or under the direction of some member of the Department.
(J) It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to hinder or detain the Department or any member thereof from promptly and any alarm of fire or practice drill or from obeying the command of the Fire Chief at any fire within the corporate limits of the town and any person to drive across any hose belonging to the Department at a fire or during practice drill.
(Ord. 17, passed 1-23-1905) Penalty, see § 10.99
Cross-reference:
Fire prevention; burning, see Chapter 92