(A) Duties and powers. The City Fire Chief shall enforce all laws and ordinances covering the prevention of fires; the storage and use of explosives and flammable substances; the installation of fire alarm systems; the maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment; the regulation of fire escapes; and the inspection of all premises requiring adequate fire escapes. He or she shall within two days investigate the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires arising within his or her jurisdiction. The State Fire Marshal shall have the right to supervise in the enforcement of such codes. He or she shall, on or before the first day in April and October of each year, cause the secretary to file with the City Clerk and the Clerk of the District Court a certified copy of the rolls of all members in good standing in their respective companies in order to obtain the exemptions provided by law. He or she shall have the power during the time of a fire and for a period of 36 hours thereafter to arrest any suspected arsonist or any person for hindering the department's efforts, conducting himself or herself in a noisy and disorderly manner, or any person who refuses to obey any lawful order by the Fire Chief or Assistant Fire Chief. The Fire Chief or an assistant in charge of operations at a fire may command the services of any person present at any fire in extinguishing the same or in the removal and protection of property. Failure to obey such an order shall be an offense punishable by a fine. The Fire Chief shall have the right to enter at all reasonable hours into buildings, and upon all premises within his or her jurisdiction for the purpose of examining the same for fire hazards and related dangers.
(B) Procedure for appointment. The members of the Fire Department shall, at the time of each annual meeting of the Fire Department, recommend to the Mayor of the city one or more persons for the office of Fire Chief of the Fire Department. The Mayor of the city, upon receiving the names of the candidates for Fire Chief from the Fire Department shall interview the candidates and determine that the candidates possess the qualifications to serve in such command capacity. In determining the qualifications of the candidates, the Mayor shall employ uniform standards as adopted by the membership of the Fire Department, as set forth in writing and provided to the Mayor. After completing the above, the Mayor will make a recommendation to the Council as to the person to be the Fire Chief for the city. The Fire Chief, upon being confirmed by the Council, shall hold office until his or her successor shall be appointed and qualified.
(’72 Code, § 1-212) (Am. Ord. 1049, passed 12-11-75; Am. Ord. 2273, passed 2-22-18)
Statutory reference:
Authority to procure equipment, organize companies, and prescribe rules, see Neb. RS 17-147
Authority to enforce ordinances by imposing fine, see Neb. RS 17-505
Membership, rolls, and filings, see Neb. RS 35-102
Life insurance required, see Neb. RS 35-108
Investigations and reports required, see Neb. RS 81-506
Inspections under Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act and Petroleum Products and Hazardous Substances Storage and Handling Act, see Neb. RS 81-512
Cross-reference:
Fire Department, see §§ 34.01 et seq.