The Fire Chief shall:
(A) Observe the bylaws governing the Department and be responsible to the Town Administrator, subject to the general direction and control of the Board of Aldermen, for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the Fire Department;
(B) Determine the number and kind of companies of which the Department is to be composed, and the response of the companies to alarms;
(C) At least once a month, conduct suitable drills or instructions in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the town, fire prevention, water supplies and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire;
(D) Assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin and circumstances of all fires;
(E) Enter any and all buildings and premises as necessary and in a lawful manner at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making inspections and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found. Any person so served with a notice to abate any fire hazard or hazards shall comply therewith and promptly notify the Chief;
(F) See that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and minor equipment, personnel and other information about the work of the Department;
(G) Report monthly to the Board of Aldermen and the Town Administrator the conditions of apparatus and equipment; the number of fires during the month, their location and cause, and date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all other calls received and responded to; the number of members responding to each fire or other call, and any changes in the membership; and
(H) Make a complete annual report to the Board of Aldermen and the Town Administrator within one month after the close of the fiscal year, which report to include the information specified in divisions (F) and (G) above, together with comparative data for previous years, and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the Fire Department.
(I) Directing emergency management programs related to risk management involving community planning, emergency planning process, strategic and operational planning related to the town Administration Department;
(J) Maintaining standard certification in emergency management to enhance current and assist in the development of new plans, policies and programs in efforts to enhance the quality of life of town citizens to effectively prepare for, respond to, recover from and mitigate against all hazards and disasters related to the town’s geographical location and vulnerability to hazards and disasters; and
(K) Maintaining an active member status in good standing with the North Carolina Emergency Management Association to enhance local planning related to risk management.
(1979 Code, § 3-2003) (Ord. passed 1-20-1982; Ord. 05-13, passed 12-7-2005; Ord. 14-17, passed 12-2-2014)