The fire department of the city is hereby established, and the department shall be organized to consist of a Fire Chief appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the council, an Assistant Fire Chief appointed by the Fire Chief, three Captains appointed by the Fire Chief and not more than 24 members appointed by the Fire Chief.

(Code 1961, 5-101; Code 1987; Ord. 1079)

Members of the fire department shall all be volunteers. They shall meet at least once each month for business meetings and training. The chief of the fire department shall keep a record of attendance of such meetings. Any member fails to attend 75 percent of meetings and 25 percent of calls for service may be dismissed from membership.

(Code 1961, 5-104: 105; Code 1987; Ord. 1079)

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the city administrator and shall have immediate supervision 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.

(Code 1961, 5-102; Code 1987; Ord. 991)

(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 fire chief or senior ranking fire officer 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. The fire chief or senior officer will take such measures as he or she shall deem proper and necessary in the preservation and protection of property and extinguishing fires.

(Code 1961, 5-102; Code 1987; Ord. 1079)

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 buildings and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable. These records shall be entered in the National Fire Incident Reporting System/National Emergency Response Information System and uploaded in accordance with Kansas State Fire Marshall requirements.

(Code 1961, 5-106; Code 1987; Ord. 1079)

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.

(Code 1961, 5-103; Code 1987)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take away or use any fire apparat us 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.

(Code 1987)

(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.

(Code 1987)

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.

(Code 1987)

(a)   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.

(b)   It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to ensure snow is removed from around any fire hydrant located on their property. When snow accumulation is greater than six inches, a five-foot diameter circle shall be cleared around the hydrant.

(Code 1987; Ord. 1079)

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.

(Code 1987)

The members of the fi r e department shall organize themselves into a fireman’s relief association and incorporate under K.S.A. 40-1701 through 40-1707, the firefighter’s relief act.

(Code 1961, 5-108; Code 1987)