The fire department of the city is hereby established and the department shall be organized to consist of a fire chief, an assistant fire chief and one company consisting of not less than 15 nor more than 25 firefighters. Members of the fire department shall be appointed by the mayor and. confirmed by the council.

(Ord. 435, Secs. 6-101:102; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Members of the company shall be in good health and able-bodied, able to lift 70 pounds, and shall live and work near or within the city, but in any event, shall be those who are normally available for response to fire alarms at any time, and who train at least once each month. The age restrictions for fire members are that they shall not be less than 21 years of age nor more than 65 provided, that the age limit of the chief of said fire company is extended to the age of 70.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-102; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

Members of the fire department shall all be volunteers they shall meet at least once each month for practice and drill. The chief of the fire department shall keep a record of attendance of such meetings. Any member who shall fail to attend six consecutive meetings shall automatically become expelled from membership.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-105; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the mayor and shall have immediate superintendency and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the fire apparatus and equipment. It shall be the chief s duty to see that all such apparatus and equipment is ready at all times for immediate use. It shall also be the chief s duty to submit a written report as to the condition of all fire apparatus and equipment to the governing body at their first meeting in October of each year.

(a)   CITY AND RURAL FIRE RESPONSE - The company shall be available to respond to both city and rural fire alarms. In addition to the responsibilities of the fire chief as hereinafter set forth, it shall be the responsibility of the fire chief to ensure that when the company responds to a rural fire alarm that sufficient personnel and equipment are held in reserve to respond to a city fire alarm and likewise when the company responds to a city fire alarm, sufficient equipment and men are held in reserve to respond to a rural fire alarm. The fire chief or the person in charge shall have the right in every case to assign fire equipment and personnel at his sole discretion for the most effective fire control.

(b)   SAME; USE OF CITY FIRE EQUIPMENT OUTSIDE CITY LIMITS, PRIORITY - Whereas the first priority for the use of city fire equipment and apparatus shall be to control fires within the city, the fire chief or person in charge of the St. Francis fire department, at his discretion, is authorized to use fire equipment and apparatus belonging to the city to respond to fire alarms outside the city limits.

(Ord. 435; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

(a)   Powers.

(1)   The fire chief shall be responsible for the discipline of the members and is hereby given authority to suspend or expel any member for refusal to obey orders or for misconduct or failure to do his or her duty at a fire.

(2)   The chief shall also have the right to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing a fire or to aid in removing personal property from any building on. fire or in danger thereof and in guarding the same.

(3)   At fires the chief shall have full power, control and command of all persons present and shall direct the use of the fire apparatus and equipment, and command the fire fighters in the discharge of their duties. He or she shall take such measures as he or she shall deem proper and necessary in the preservation and protection of property and extinguishing of fires.

(b)   DUTIES. It shall be the duty of the chief of the fire department to adopt all prudent measures for the prevention of fires and for this purpose he or she, or his or her assistant under his or her direction may, upon request or whenever he has reason to believe that the safety of life and property demands it, and as often as he or she may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the city during reasonable hours of the purpose of inspection, and where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist he or she shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as he or she may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-110.; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

The chief of the fire department shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. Such information shall include the time and location, construction of building, owner, occupancy, how extinguished, value of building and contents, loss on building and contents, insurance on building and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-109; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

In the absence of the chief, the assistant fire chief shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the chief as conferred by this chapter.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-111; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take away or use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose or for any person willfully and without proper authority to remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance, equipment or other article used in any way by the fire department.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-116; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

(a)   All fire apparatus and equipment is hereby given and granted the exclusive right-of-way over and through all streets, avenues, alleys and public thoroughfares in the city while enroute to fires or in response to any alarm, and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to in any manner obstruct or hinder the apparatus or equipment.

(b)   All emergency vehicles of the fire department, while proceeding on official business, shall be operated in strict accordance with the requirements of the Kansas Statutes regarding the operation of emergency vehicles, and each departmental member assigned to the operation of emergency vehicles shall familiarize himself or herself with the requirements of the law and govern himself or herself accordingly. Any operator violating the provisions of the state law shall be liable for disciplinary action.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-112; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to drive any vehicle over any fire hose laid on any street, alley or lot. This section shall not apply to any apparatus or vehicle being driven by members of the fire department.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-113; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence or other obstruction of any character, or in any manner obstruct, hinder, or delay the fire department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person fasten to any fire hydrant any guy rope or brace, nor stand any vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-114; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)

It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly make or sound or cause to be made or sounded, or by any other means, any false alarm.

(Ord. 435, Sec. 6-115; Code 1994; Code 2003; Code 2015)