1-6B-1: FIRE CHIEF APPOINTMENT, TERM, AND AUTHORITY:

   A.   Appointment: The chief of the fire department shall be appointed by the mayor with approval of the city council from the fire chief civil service list. Nothing herein contained shall prevent the removal of and the termination of the appointment of the chief as provided by law or employment agreement. The supervision and management of the department shall be executed in accordance with this Article.

   B.   Authority to Order Removal of Buildings: To order the removal of any building or property that he may deem necessary for the purpose of checking or stopping the progress of fire in the city.

   C.   Prescribe Limits Where Entry Is Prohibited: Prescribe limits in the vicinity of any fire within which no person, except those who reside therein, shall be permitted to enter.

   D.    Fire Arson Investigator: The fire chief shall appoint the fire arson investigator to perform all of the duties and responsibilities of investigating the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires as set forth in this code. The fire arson investigator may be a peace officer as set forth in Iowa law and said investigator may have all the powers, duties and responsibilities attendant to the function of a peace officer, which shall include, but not be limited to, the power of arrest. (Ord. 5641, 5-2-2022)

1-6B-2: DEPARTMENT POWERS AND DUTIES:

   A.   Police Authority: All members of the fire department shall have and exercise all the powers of police officers at the scene of a fire.

   B.   Presence for Duty: The members of the fire department shall remain in the quarters provided for them by the city, day and night, when not necessarily in other parts of the city attending to their duties prescribed by this article, or by the rules and regulations of the fire department, and no officer or member of the fire department shall be absent from duty at any time of day or night without permission from the chief of the fire department or person acting as such, and the procurement of a satisfactory substitute to act when absent.

   C.   Command at Fire Scene: It shall be the duty of the first officer of the fire department at a fire in the city to take charge thereof until a superior officer shall arrive, and for such purpose he shall have all the powers of the chief of the fire department.

   D.   Authority to Summon Assistance: If he deems it necessary, to summon any or all persons able to perform labor, including operators of vehicles for hire, to aid in the extinguishment of fires or removing property in danger thereof, and in guarding the property, and any person refusing to obey such summons shall be guilty of an offense.

   E.   Inspect Fire Hazards: After careful inquiry and investigations, immediately notify, in writing, the owner or occupants of any building in the city where there are any defective chimneys, smoke pipes or flues, or where there are any fires or inflammable materials not sufficiently secured and guarded, used or kept in, or in connection with, any such building, to forthwith repair, remove, change or secure the same, as the case may require.

   F.   Emergency Medical Services, Hazardous Materials, and Rescue Services: The department is authorized to provide ambulatory, hazardous materials, and rescue services in addition to fire services.

   G.   Records: Provide the record keeping and reporting systems necessary to assure proper maintenance and repair of fire department buildings, facilities, apparatuses and equipment; provide record keeping and reporting systems for all fire, fire inspection, emergency medical services, hazardous materials, and rescue services calls. (Ord. 5641, 5-2-2022)

1-6B-3: EXTRATERRITORIAL ASSISTANCE:

   A.   The fire department of the city is hereby authorized to answer calls for firefighting or other emergency assistance outside the limits of the city, but within the county, at the discretion of the chief of the fire department or a duly authorized designee acting if the fire chief is absent.

   B.   The fire department of the city is further authorized to respond to calls for firefighting or other emergency assistance outside the limits of the city, but within the state, when requested by the mayor or the chief of the fire department of any city or town having an organized fire department, at the discretion of the fire chief of the city fire department, or a duly authorized assistant acting during the absence of the chief of the fire department.

   C.   When the firefighters or equipment of the city are engaged in rendering assistance pursuant to this subsection, they shall be considered to be within their jurisdiction, and the city shall have the same governmental immunity when responding to such calls as when operating within the city. (Ord. 5641, 5-2-2022)

1-6B-4: DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED; MEMBERS:

   A.   Composition of Department: There is hereby created and established a fire department in and for the city, consisting of:

      1.   One (1) fire chief, who shall be appointed pursuant to section 1-6B-1 of this chapter; and

      2.   Three (3) or more battalion chiefs; and

      3.   One (1) fire marshal; and

      4.   One (1) medical supervisor; and

      5.   Three (3) or more medical officers; and

      6.   One (1) or more fire lieutenant inspector/investigation; and

      7.   One (1) or more training officer; and

      8.   Three (3) or more fire captains; and

      9.   Twenty one (21) or more fire lieutenants; and

      10.   Twenty one (21) or more fire engineers; and

      11.   Fifty eight (58) or more fire fighters/paramedics and civilian staff. (Ord. 5641, 5-2-2022)

ARTICLE C. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

SECTION:

1-6C-1: Department Created

1-6C-2: Departmental Powers And Duties

1-6C-3: City Engineer