(A) There is hereby continued in the city the Volunteer Fire Department, which Department shall have the following officers: the Chief, Assistant Chief and the Fire Marshal.
(`87 Code, § 203.01)
(B) The Chief of the Fire Department shall be appointed annually by the Council. Members of the Department may recommend to the Council a nominee or nominees for appointment by submitting same in writing to the Council prior to February 1 of each year. The Chief of the Fire Department shall appoint each year the Assistant Chief and Fire Marshal, subject to confirmation by the Council. The Chief of the Fire Department, the Assistant Chief and the Fire Marshal each shall hold office for one year and until his or her successor has been duly appointed or qualified. The above named officer may be removed by the Council for cause and after a public hearing. Firefighters and probationary firefighters shall be appointed by the members of the Department, subject to confirmation by the Council. Firefighters shall continue as members of the Department during good behavior and may be removed by the Council only for cause and after a public hearing.
(`87 Code, § 203.02)
(C) The Office of Fire Marshal may be held by the Chief or by the Assistant Chief, if the Council approves. The Fire Marshal shall be charged with the enforcement of all ordinances aimed at fire prevention. He or she shall have full authority to inspect all premises and to cause the removal or abatement of all fire hazards.
(`87 Code, § 203.03)
(D) The Chief shall have control over all of the firefighting apparatus and shall be solely responsible for its care and condition. He or she shall make a report, semi-annually, to the Council at its meeting in March and September, as to the condition of the equipment and needs of the Fire Department. He or she may submit additional reports and recommendations at any meeting of the Council and he or she shall report each suspension by him or her of a member of the Fire Department at the first meeting of the Council following each suspension. He or she shall be responsible for the proper training and discipline of the members of the Fire Department and may suspend any member for refusal or neglect to obey orders pending final action by the Council on his or her discharge or retention.
(`87 Code, § 203.04)
(E) The Chief shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. The record shall include the time of the alarm, location of fire, cause of fire (if known), type of building, name of owner and tenant, purpose for which occupied, value of building and contents, members of the Department responding to the alarm and other information as he or she may deem advisable or as may be required from time to time by the Council or a state department.
(`87 Code, § 203.05)
(F) It shall be the duty of the Chief, when the weather permits, to hold a monthly practice drill of at least one hour’s duration for the Fire Department and to give the firefighters instruction in approved methods of firefighting and fire prevention.
(`87 Code, § 203.06)
(G) In the absence or disability of the Chief, the Assistant Chief shall perform all the functions and exercise all of the authority of the Chief.
(`87 Code, § 203.07)
(H) The Chief, the Assistant Chief, the Fire Marshal and all firefighters and probationary firefighters shall be not less than 18 years of age and able-bodied. They shall become members of the Fire Department only after a 12-month probationary period. The Council may require that each candidate, before he or she may become a probationary firefighter, must satisfy certain minimum requirements of height, weight and any other qualifications which may be specified by the Council and he or she must pass a satisfactory physical examination.
(`87 Code, § 203.08)
(I) Firefighters absent from three consecutive drills or calls, unless excused by the Chief, shall forfeit membership in the Department.
(`87 Code, § 203.09)
(J) Compensation shall be established by the Council.
(`87 Code, § 203.10)
(K) Persons who have been members of the Fire Department for at least one year at the time of the adoption of this section shall not be required to serve a probationary period before receiving firefighters’ rating.
(`87 Code, § 203.11)
(L) It shall be unlawful for any person to give or make, or cause to be given or made, an alarm of fire without probable cause, or to neglect or refuse to obey any reasonable order of the Chief at a fire, or to interfere with the Fire Department in the discharge of its duties. Unlawful interference shall include the following of a fire truck when its siren and emergency lights are in operation, closer than 500 feet, by persons not on official city business.
(`87 Code, § 203.12)