(A) The Fire Chief shall be the administrative and operational head of the Volunteer Fire Department. He or she shall work under the general direction of the City Manager and shall operate in accordance with procedures outlined for his or her department as well as all other departments of the city. The Fire Chief shall further operate his or her department under procedures established by the City Manager and approved by the City Council upon the recommendation of the City Manager. The Fire Chief of the Volunteer Fire Department of the city shall have the powers and perform the duties as prescribed by the laws of the State of Texas and by the ordinances of the city.
(B) The Fire Chief shall be in charge of all members, apparatus, and equipment, while on parade, at drills at conventions and at fires or other emergencies requiring the services of the department. He or she shall have the right to call out any and all members and apparatus for any purpose incidental to this office. He or she shall assume full responsibility for all fire equipment and see that adequate training programs are conducted in the department and shall acquaint himself or herself insofar as possible with all new fire fighting methods by attending fire schools, drills and conferences. He or she shall recommend the purchase of suitable training manuals, text books and other instructional material. He or she shall see that proper discipline is maintained in the department.
(C) It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to see that a proper record is kept of all fires and emergencies, the hour and date, the type of occupancy, the name of owner or tenant, type of damage, type of building construction, where fire originated if such can be determined, the extent of its spread, and how it was extinguished. He or she shall make such reports as is provided by law, furnishing a copy of same to the City Council.
(D) It shall be the duty of the Fire Chief to see that periodic inspections of the public and commercial buildings in the city be made for the purpose of furnishing the members of the Department with the necessary information to provide improved fire fighting practices and he or she may do such other further things as the City Council and City Manager shall direct.
(E) The Fire Chief shall be responsible to the city for all property belonging to, used by, or in possession of the department.
(`88 Code, Ch. 5, § 1.15) (Ord. 326, passed 10-1-91; Am. Ord. 462, passed 11-14-95)