The service charges for fire responses or emergency medical responses shall be as follows.
(A) Emergency medical response (non-motor vehicle incident).
(1) Emergency medical response (non-motor vehicle incident) is any medical response not involving a motor vehicle where the Fire Department is able to render aid, provide assistance, or otherwise improve the conditions of any injured persons.
(2) With regard to emergency medical response (non-motor vehicle incident), there shall be no charge; provided, however, that should it be determined by the city that the medical response falls within divisions (B), (H), (I), and (J) as set out below, then an invoice for the cost of the Fire Department response to the medical emergency will be sent to the property owner or owner’s insurance company based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(B) Motor vehicle incident.
(1) A motor vehicle incident is any response involving a motor vehicle where the Fire Department is able to render aid, provide assistance, or otherwise improve the conditions of any injured persons. This would include, but not be limited to: vehicle fire; extrication; medical care; absorbing liquid spills; vehicle system safety; vehicle stabilization; and traffic control.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the motor vehicle owner or owner’s insurance company for the cost of the Fire Department response to the motor vehicle incident based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(3) If there is more than one motor vehicle involved for which Fire Department service is provided, each motor vehicle owner or insurer will be invoiced an equal share of the service charge.
(C) Residential fire.
(1) A residential fire is any incident response to a fire involving a residential building as defined in this chapter.
(2) With regard to residential building fires, there shall be no charge; provided, however, that should it be determined by the city that the residential fire response falls within divisions (I), (J), or (K) as set out below, then an invoice for the cost of the Fire Department response will be sent to the property owner, hazardous waste generator, person(s) charged with arson who set the fire, and/or the person(s) charged with an illegal crime which contributed to the need for fire response. All such charges shall be based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(D) Commercial or institutional building fire response.
(1) A commercial or institutional building fire is any incident response to a fire involving a commercial or institutional building as defined in this chapter.
(2) With regard to commercial or institutional building responses by the Fire Department, an invoice will be sent to the property owner or owner’s insurance company for the cost of the Fire Department response to the commercial or institutional incident based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances, but only when the response requires the assistance of one or more other fire departments responding pursuant to a call for mutual aid by the incident commander at the scene.
(E) Grass fires within a state trunk highway or county right-of-way.
(1) A grass fire is any incident response to a grass fire within or outside of the right-of-way of a state trunk highway, county road, or city road if the fire originated within the right-of-way of a state trunk highway, county road, or city road as defined in M.S. § 161.465, as it may be amended from time to time.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the State Commissioner of Transportation or to the County Administrator for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(F) Technical rescue.
(1) A technical rescue is any incident response to a rescue on the water, ice, confined space, trench, high or low level where specialized equipment and training are required and where the Fire Department is able to render aid, provide assistance, or otherwise improve the conditions of the persons in need of rescue.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the person, entity, or business receiving rescue service for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(G) Search and rescue.
(1) A search and rescue is any incident response to a search and/or rescue of a missing person where the Fire Department is able to render aid, provide assistance, or otherwise improve the conditions of the person in need of rescue.
(2) With regard to search and rescue services, there shall be no charge.
(H) Underground pipeline utility breaks.
(1) An underground pipeline utility break is any incident response to an underground pipeline utility break.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the excavator or person responsible for the pipeline utility break or to the owner or operator of the pipeline for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(3) In addition, the bill for service shall also include any cost of cleanup of any contaminated equipment and/or repair of any equipment damaged during the incident or its replacement, along with replacement of any disposable equipment, supplies, and/or communication equipment.
(I) Hazardous material.
(1) A hazardous material incident is any response to the release of hazardous material from its container, or the threat of a release of a hazardous material from its container, chemical reaction, or other potential emergency as the result of a hazardous material where the Fire Department is able to render aid, provide assistance, or otherwise improve the conditions or protect the public.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the person responsible for the hazardous material or transportation of the hazardous material for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(3) In addition, the bill for service shall include any cost of cleanup of any contaminated equipment and/or repair of any equipment damaged during the incident or its replacement, along with replacement of any disposable equipment, supplies, and/or communication equipment.
(J) Fire as the result of illegal activities.
(1) A fire as the result of illegal activities is any incident response to a fire that resulted from illegal activities occurring on the property as defined in this chapter. Examples of this would include, but not be limited to, methamphetamine labs, commercial and industrial operations where a necessary permit or license is required but has not been obtained from the city, or the burning of debris without a properly issued burn permit.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the property owner, owner’s insurance company, and/or the person(s) responsible for the illegal activity for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances. The Fire Department reserves the right to seek reimbursement through restitution should the person responsible for the illegal activity be convicted of a crime related to the incident.
(3) In addition, the bill for service shall include any cost of cleanup of any contaminated equipment and/or repair of any equipment damaged during the incident or its replacement, along with replacement of any disposable equipment, supplies, and/or communication equipment.
(K) Arson fire.
(1) An arson fire is any incident response to a fire where a person is charged under state law.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the property owner, owner’s insurance company, and/or the person charged with the arson for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(3) In addition, the bill for service shall include any cost of cleanup of any contaminated equipment and/or repair of any equipment damaged during the incident or its replacement, along with replacement of any disposable equipment, supplies, and/or communication equipment.
(4) The Fire Department reserves the right to seek reimbursement through restitution should the person responsible for the fire be convicted of a crime related to the incident. The fire investigator responsible for the incident investigation will forward all costs expended by the Fire Department in association with the incident to the court for reimbursement through restitution.
(L) Fire on vacant land.
(1) A fire on vacant land is any incident response to a fire involving a fire on vacant parcel as defined in this chapter.
(2) An invoice will be sent to the property owner or owner’s insurance company for costs incurred by the Fire Department to respond based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(M) Fire watch. Fees for personnel to stand by on fire watch due to unusual fire hazards or while waiting for the property owner or tenant to respond to the scene following a fire incident and/or fire alarm, may be billed to the owner of the property or the tenant, or both, on a per hour basis with a one hour minimum. If a fire watch is established at a property, the watch shall be maintained until the owner of the property, the tenant, or his or her designated representative arrives at the property and takes over responsibility for monitoring fire safety, or until the Fire Department personnel on the scene determine that such responsible person either cannot be located or is unwilling to take over responsibility for monitoring fire safety, or until the Fire Department personnel on the scene determine that a fire watch is no longer necessary. An invoice will be sent to the property owner for costs incurred by the Fire Department for a fire watch based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(N) Preventative fire watch. Fees for personnel to stand by on preventative fire watch may be billed to the owner of the property or the tenant, or both, on a per hour basis with a one hour minimum. An invoice will be sent to the property owner for costs incurred by the Fire Department for a preventative fire watch based on the fee schedule set forth in Chapter 36 of this code of ordinances.
(Ord. passed - -)