a. The commissioner shall have sole and exclusive power and perform all duties for the government, discipline, management, maintenance and direction of the fire department and the premises and property in the custody thereof, however, the commissioner shall provide written notice with supporting documentation at least forty-five days prior to the permanent closing of any firehouse or the permanent removal or relocation of any fire fighting unit to the council members, community boards and borough presidents whose districts are served by such facility or unit and the chairperson of the council's public safety committee. For purposes of this section, the term "permanent" shall mean a time period in excess of six months. In the event that the permanent closing of any firehouse or the permanent removal or relocation of any firefighting unit does not occur within four months of the date of the written notice, the commissioner shall issue another written notice with supporting documentation prior to such permanent removal or relocation. The four months during which the written notice is effective shall be tolled for any period in which a restraining order or injunction prohibiting the closing of such noticed facility or unit shall be in effect.
b. The department shall have sole and exclusive power and authority to extinguish fires at any place within the jurisdiction of the city and shall have power and authority to extinguish fires upon any vessel in the port of New York or upon any dock, wharf, pier, warehouse or other structure bordering upon or adjacent to such port.
c. The commissioner shall have power to cause any vessel moored to or anchored near any dock or pier in the city to be removed to and secured at such place in the harbor as shall be designated by the commissioner, provided that such vessel shall be on fire or in danger of catching fire or may be, by reason of its condition or the nature of its cargo, a fire menace to shipping, to property or to the water front of the city.
d. The commissioner shall have sole and exclusive jurisdiction over the approval of the installation of all containers for combustibles, chemicals, explosives, inflammables or other dangerous substances, articles, compounds or mixtures, except storage tanks and auxiliary storage tanks for oil-burning equipment and except where the location of the container may affect the structural condition of the building, in which case the commissioner shall not give his approval without the approval of the commissioner of buildings. The commissioner shall certify his approval of all installations of containers in buildings except storage tanks and auxiliary storage tanks for oil-burning equipment to the commissioner of buildings.
e. The commissioner shall have the sole and exclusive power from time to time to designate and fix the location of all fire alarm telegraph, signal and alarm stations in the city, and shall have access to and control of the same for the purpose of the department.
f. The department shall have the power and authority to provide general ambulance services, emergency medical services and other response services necessary to preserve public health, safety and welfare, and to perform any functions relating to the provision of such services. This subdivision shall not be construed to limit or impair the powers of any other agency established pursuant to this charter.
g. The department shall have the power and authority to regulate helicopter landings and takeoffs at or from locations other than airports, heliports, helistops, seaplane bases or other facilities approved by the commissioner of small business services, helicopter external load lift operations, and hot air balloon operations. This subdivision shall not be construed to limit or impair the powers of any other agency established pursuant to this charter, except to the extent that the aforementioned powers granted to the department were previously exercised by the commissioner of small business services.
Editor's note: For related unconsolidated provisions, see Administrative Code Appendix A at L.L. 2008/026 and L.L. 2013/148.