(A) Recovering costs. The City Fire Department and the city has established a non-reverting fund for the purpose of recovering costs dealing with fire protection within the corporate city limits for Fire Department operations and from others involved within City Fire Department operations outside of the corporate city limits as well. See Ordinance 09-02.
(B) Schedule of fees by call type for collection.
(1) If the City Fire Department responds to any call for service, assistance or emergency, the following fees shall be assessed.
Service, Assistance or Emergency | Fee |
Service, Assistance or Emergency | Fee |
Apartment fire limited to 1 unit | $500 |
Apartment fire more than 1 unit | $2,000 |
Commercial structure less than 4 hours time* | $2,500 |
Commercial structure more than 4 hours time* | $5,000 |
Environmental calls when not hazardous materials | $250 |
* An incident lasting over one hour will be charged by the amount of equipment and manpower on scene at a rate established by the State Fire Marshal under allowable hazardous materials reimbursement; this call type is also flexible at the discretion of the Chief | |
Grass/field fire (with property damage) | $250 |
Large rubbish/trash fire (no state permit) | |
< 2hours | $500 |
2 to 4hours | $1,000 |
4 hours + | $1,500 + 500/hour after |
Motor vehicle accidents (No power lines down) | $250 + hazmat expense |
Passenger car/truck/ van | $250 + hazmat expense |
Power lines down (due to human factor) | $250 |
Residence fire/garage fire | $500 |
Semi-tractor/trailer/bus | $500 + hazmat expense (depending on cargo and duration) |
Special equipment (will relate to closest scheduled vehicle type) | OIC’s discretion |
Train fire | $1,000 + hazmat expense |
Non-hazmat rate is same as State Fire Marshal hazmat reimbursement rates | |
(2) Apartment buildings over five units are considered commercial buildings under this policy for purposes of billing.
(3) Time spent includes the actual emergency, returning to service time and any time spent on the investigation/mitigation of the emergency. Commercial structure fire expense may also increase due to the need of using consumables such as hazardous materials containment and clean up items as well as structural firefighting foam and other materials not listed here but deemed consumable and necessary for the successful completion of the emergency situation. This list is not all inclusive and may change from time to time. There will be a $10 charge for special requests involving providing fire/EMS run records.
(4) Fires deemed as arson will result in excess fees of $25 hour/per man due to the amount of time involved with investigations, interviewing and travel.
(C) Withholding fees. The City Fire Department reserves the right to withhold fire service fees when deemed necessary by the Fire Chief or his or her designee.
(D) Heavy equipment. Mitigating a hazardous situation sometimes entails the need for heavy equipment. This professional fee will be forwarded to the individual, business or insurance company responsible for the property or mobile property.
(Ord. 2009-10, passed 11-30-2009)