CHAPTER 32: FIRE DEPARTMENT

Section

General Provisions

   32.01   Established

   32.02   Compensation and benefits of volunteers and paid complement

Administration and Enforcement

   32.15   Executive Commissioners established for Fire Department and Marshal Department

   32.16   Power of Executive Commissioners to promulgate departmental operating rules

   32.17   Supervisory power

   32.18   Emergency medical services fees

Equipment

   32.30   Acquisition of equipment; restriction of use

GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 32.01 ESTABLISHED.

   (A)   The Town Council shall designate and enter into an agreement pursuant to IC 36-8-12 with a volunteer fire company, having as its objectives the following:

      (1)   To prevent uncontrolled fires from starting;

      (2)   To prevent loss of life and property in the event a fire does start;

      (3)   To confine the fire to its place of origin;

      (4)   To extinguish uncontrolled fires; and,

      (5)   To provide rescue work and emergency medical services as equipment or the training of personnel makes practical in the town.

   (B)   The town's Fire Department shall consist of the volunteer fire company designated under this section, a paid fire chief and any paid firefighters provided by the town under § 32.02.

   (C)   The duties of the Fire Chief shall be as follows:

      (1)   Keep records and make reports concerning activities of the Fire Department as may be required by statute, ordinances, or directives of the Fire Commissioner or the Town Council.

      (2)   Assign duties to members of the Fire Department and supervise and direct members in the performance of those duties.

      (3)   Personally perform as necessary the general duties of a firefighter.

      (4)   Perform other duties as directed by statute, ordinances, Town Council or Fire Commissioner.

      (5)   Shall be commanding officer of the entire Fire Department, subject to the laws of the United States, laws of the state, the county, and the ordinances of the town.

      (6)   Enforce all fire safety codes prescribed by state statute.

      (7)   Be responsible for the following programs: training, inspections, investigations, fire prevention, and any other programs deemed necessary for the efficient operations of the Department.

('85 Code, § 2-6-1) (Ord. 1985-C7, passed 9-16-85; Am. Ord. 1995-5-1, passed 5-9-95)

§ 32.02 COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS OF VOLUNTEERS AND PAID COMPLEMENT.

   (A)   Members of the volunteer fire company designated under § 32.01 shall be provided with minimum insurance coverage as required under IC 36-8-12-6 through 8, and, unless otherwise provided in the agreement, with minimum clothing and automobile allowances as prescribed under IC 36-8-12-5(a).

   (B)   The Town Council, as part of the agreement or otherwise, also may provide nominal compensation or compensation on the basis of fire runs as described under IC 36-8-12-2, and/or membership allowances as described by IC 36-8-12-5(b), for members of the volunteer fire company.

   (C)   The Town Council also may employ for the town any number of regular paid firefighters to serve in conjunction with, but not as members of, the volunteer fire company, as they may deem desirable to provide an adequate level of competent and experienced fire service in the town, training for volunteer members and so on.

   (D)   Paid firefighters shall be employees of the fire department and entitled to an annual salary as fixed by the Town Council in the usual manner and the other compensation and benefits as the Council may, in its discretion, provide.

   (E)   Regular paid firefighters are subject to supervision and discipline by the Town Fire Commissioner, as provided by § 31.08 and § 32.17.

('85 Code, § 2-6-2) (Ord. 1985-C7, passed 9-16-85; Am. Ord., passed 7-8-97)

Cross-references:

   Executive commissioners established for Fire Department and Marshal Department, see § 32.15

   Termination and suspension; appeal, see § 31.08

   Paid vacation allowance, see § 31.22