Council shall also elect a Fire Chief, to serve during the will and pleasure of Council, who shall take the proper oath within ten days after his or her election. He or she shall have authority, upon the breaking out of conflagrations within the city, to take command and exercise control of volunteers, in the extinguishment of such fires and to arrest or cause to be arrested and held in custody refractory and disobedient persons and to prevent the congregating of persons and crowds on the streets at points where they may obstruct the firefighting apparatus of the city and obstruct firefighting, and to enforce obedience to his or her commands with regard to the fighting of fires and, in case the same is absolutely necessary, may dynamite or otherwise tear down and destroy buildings to prevent further spread of flames.
(Prior Code, § 139.01)