(A) Personnel. The Fire Department of the village shall be administered by the Mayor, as chief executive officer of the village.
(1) There shall be two Fire Captains, who shall have the duties and responsibilities hereinafter set forth.
(2) Council shall authorize the maximum number of volunteer firefighters who may be appointed, and who shall be designated as firefighters or apprentice firefighters.
(3) The Fire Captains and volunteer firefighters shall be appointed by the Mayor with the advice and consent of Council in accordance with R.C. § 737.22.
(B) Fire Captains. Fire Captains shall alternate in the performance of their duties as Fire Captains, and shall be charged with the responsibility of:
(1) The operation of fire equipment and apparatus;
(2) The prevention of fires by fire inspection;
(3) Directing firefighting and combating fires and saving lives;
(4) Making and keeping an accurate record of attendance at fires;
(5) Making a full and complete report of all fires and of injuries to personnel;
(6) Making and keeping a daily record of names of firefighters and apprentices reporting for duty;
(7) One of the Fire Captains may be designated by the Fire Chief as instructor, and shall be charged with the additional responsibility of:
(a) Instructing and drilling of apprentice firefighters;
(b) Drilling of firefighters; and
(c) Keeping an accurate record of attendance of apprentices at all instruction periods.
(8) Each Fire Captain shall assign firefighters under his or her command to all duties at fires and lead the firefighters in saving lives and property and in extinguishing fires. He or she shall also assign firefighters, or apprentices under firefighters, in removing ashes from the premises or to any other help that may be needed.
(C) Firefighters and apprentices. Volunteer firefighters who have demonstrated their proficiency as firefighters through previous experience or by examination, whether such examination be given by the instructor of the state, or by the instructor of the village, and who have been previously appointed by the Mayor are designated as firefighters. Volunteer firefighters who have likewise been appointed by the Mayor, but have not demonstrated their proficiency or passed the examination, are designated apprentices.
(D) Drills. In order to maintain a high degree of efficiency and manipulative skill, all firefighters shall attend a period of drills not less than once each calendar month to receive instructions and drill in the practical and modern methods in the use and handling of all tools and appliances used in the extinguishing of fires, and the saving of lives, and shall be so instructed that they shall become thoroughly familiar with the special duties of all positions, and may be called to demonstrate their skill and knowledge in handling such tools, equipment, or apparatus. Times for drills shall be specified by the instructor. Drill evolutions with the apparatus shall be conducted in front of the fire station or at a conveniently near location where it will be possible to train the fire force in speedy and safe operation and driving, hydrant connecting, raising serial or portable ladders for the purpose of rescuing persons, and elevating or advancing hose and equipment.
(E) Instruction of apprentice firefighters. All apprentices are required to fulfill the necessary instruction requirements and show their proficiency by examination. Instructions shall be given by the instructor and be based on a curriculum including instructions in the practical and modern methods in the use and handling of all tools and appliances used in extinguishing fires, saving lives, approved salvage methods and first aid, and shall demonstrate their efficiency and manipulative skill by examination.
(1) On completion of an approved instruction course, and satisfactorily passing an examination, they shall be graded as firefighters.
(2) During the period of instruction, and the time he or she deems an apprentice advanced to the proper degree, the instructor may direct the apprentices to report for fire duty.
(F) Injuries to personnel. Any firefighter or apprentice who suffers any injury to himself or herself in the performance of fire duty or during drills shall immediately report the injury to the fire officer in charge.
(G) Responding to alarms.
(1) When responding to an alarm, the driver of the apparatus shall proceed through stop lights and red traffic lights with due caution. Ringing of the bell or sounding the siren is not sufficient to hold blameless the driver in the event of an accident unless extreme caution is observed and the apparatus is under absolute control. All traffic laws, speed limits, and traffic-control signs and signals shall be observed and obeyed on returning from a fire or alarm.
(2) It is desirable that firefighters and apprentices on duty attend fires by riding on the apparatus if possible, but firefighters and apprentices on duty using their own cars in attending fires are to proceed in a cautious manner, observe all traffic signs and signals and obey traffic officers who may be on duty in the vicinity of the fire, and shall park their cars at a distance from the fire, so as not to interfere with the operation of the apparatus or the fighting of the fire itself and as to avoid blocking the steady flow of traffic.
(3) Fire Captains and firefighters shall see that no persons other than members of the Department or authorized officials ride on the fire apparatus either going to or returning from a fire.
(H) Equipment. It is the duty of firefighters and apprentices to keep all equipment in good condition and working order at all times and to use diligence to see that no equipment is taken from the apparatus but that necessary for the work at hand and shall prevent unauthorized persons from taking or handling fire equipment. Before leaving the scene of a fire, a check shall be made to see that all equipment is accounted for and in its proper place on the apparatus.
(I) Fire hydrants. Firefighters and apprentices must note carefully the location of hydrants within the village, study their operation, exercise great care in opening and closing them, and see that all cups and covers are properly adjusted after use.
(J) Badges. All firefighters shall be provided with a badge to be known as the regulations badge of the Department, which shall be worn in a conspicuous place during the time they are on duty. The badges shall not be loaned and shall at all times remain village property.
(K) Suggestions and recommendations. Fire- fighters and apprentices are urged to submit written recommendations for increasing the efficiency of the Department. Recommendation of suitable appointees as firefighters or apprentice firefighters shall be made to the Fire Chief.
(1967 Code, § 33.17) (Ord. O-14-43, passed 6- 14-1943; Ord. O-15-45, passed 9-10-1945)