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 not less than 10 firefighters. Members of the fire department shall be appointed by the City Administrator.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 1; Code 1994, 6-101; Ord. 1314; Ord. 1332; Code 2022)

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. 568, Sec. 1; Ord. 612; Code 1994, 6-102; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the City Administrator 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 chiefs 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.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 3; Code 1994, 6-103; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

The chief of the fire department shall be responsible for the discipline of members and is hereby given the authority to suspend or expel any member for the refusal to obey orders, for misconduct or failure to do his or her duty at a fire. The chief also shall have the right to summon any and all person 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.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 4; Code 1994, 6-104)

(a)   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.

(b)   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.

(c)   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.

(d)   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 the chief or assistant chief under the chief’s direction may, upon request or whenever they have reason to believe that the safety of life and property demands it, and as often as they may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the city during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection, and where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist they shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as he may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 5; Code 1994, 6-105; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

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. 568, Sec. 6; Code 1994, 6-106; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

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 his assistant under his 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 may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the city during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection, and where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist he shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as he may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 7; Code 1994, 6-107)

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. 568, Sec. 8; Code 1994, 6-108; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

(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 en route 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. 568, Sec. 9; Code 1994, 6-109; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to drive any wagon, carriage, automobile, truck, locomotive, railroad car or any other vehicle over any fire hose laid in any street, avenue, alley, bridge or vacant lot; provided, that this section shall not apply to any apparatus or vehicle belonging to the fire department.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 10; Code 1994, 6-110)

No person shall place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence, or other obstruction of any character whatsoever, in any manner to obstruct, hinder, or delay the fire department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person hitch or cause to be hitched to any fire hydrant, any animal or animals, nor fasten to same any guy rope or brace, nor back or stand any wagon, truck, automobile or other vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 11; Code 1994, 6-111; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to make or sound or cause to be made or sounded or by any other means any false alarm of fire without reasonable cause.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 12; Code 1994, 6-112)

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 ordinance used in any way by the fire department.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 13; Code 1994, 6-113; Ord. 1314; Code 2022)

Any person violating any of the provisions of this article or refusing or neglecting to comply with any of the requirements thereof, shall, upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than $5.00 nor more than $50.00.

(Ord. 568, Sec. 14; Code 1994, 6-114)