Paso Robles Municipal Code Ch. 16.08 Fire Department

Footnotes:

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Cross reference— For provisions concerning the salary scale, see § 2.44.030 of this Code.

The fire service shall be organized and operated as a volunteer fire department whose object shall be the prevention of fire and the protection of life and property from fires within the limits of the city of El Paso de Robles and purposes incidental thereto.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 1, 1962)

The fire department shall consist of a chief, an assistant chief and as many other officers and firemen as may be deemed advisable by the said fire department members but shall consist of not more than forty active members unless authorized by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 2, 1962)

The chief of the fire department shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the city council.

The chief shall be the ranking executive officer of the fire department and shall exercise supreme command over the department at fires and over all equipment belonging to the department. The chief shall be accountable to the city council for the conduct and the condition of the department and its equipment and shall make a yearly report upon the general condition of the department, and recommendations for any changes or improvements in the department. The chief shall also make any additional reports as may be requested by the city council.

An assistant chief shall be selected by the department from among its members in a manner provided for by the department. The assistant chief shall rank second to the chief and shall be accountable to the chief for all of his actions in the absence of the chief. As many other officers shall be selected as the fire department shall deem it advisable and they shall be selected in the same manner as the assistant chief. The duties of these officers shall be as provided for in the by-laws or rules and regulations adopted by the fire department.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 3, 1962)

Members of the fire department shall be United States citizens, at least twenty-one years of age. New members shall be admitted to the fire department under such rules and regulations and conditions as may be provided for by the department. All firemen shall be trained to operate any and all of the apparatus of the fire department and shall be trained in the approved methods of fire fighting.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 4, 1962)

The fire department shall hold drills at least once a month at which members shall practice approved methods of fire fighting. Other drills and meetings shall be as provided for by the fire department by-laws, rules and regulations.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 5, 1962)

The chief of the department shall have the following records maintained and available at all times:

FIRES: Date; Time; Location; Probable origin or cause; Method of extinguishment; Amount of property loss; Valuation of property involved; Amount of insurance carried on property; Amount of insurance paid on property; Description of building and contents damaged or destroyed; Name of owner and occupant.

ATTENDANCE: Complete records shall be maintained of the attendance of every officer and fireman to fires, drills and meetings.

PERSONNEL: A complete roster of all members of the Department shall be kept up to date at all times showing the names, official capacity and date of appointment. A copy of said roster shall be furnished the city personnel office files also.

The above record of fires shall be submitted in the reports made by the fire chief to the city council.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 6, 1962)

The fire department shall be equipped with the fire fighting apparatus and equipment as provided from time to time by the city council to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property from fire.

All equipment of the department shall be safely and conveniently housed in the buildings or such other places as may be designated by the city council.

No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for private purposes, nor shall any person wilfully or without proper authority take away any article belonging to and used in any way by the fire department.

Persons not connected with the fire department shall not be permitted to borrow, use and help with the handling of any equipment belonging to the department except with the consent of the chief or other person in command of the fire department.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 7, 1962)

The fire department is hereby authorized to adopt any by-laws and/or rules and regulations as it may deem advisable for the successful operation of the department and the use of equipment. All by-laws and/or rules and regulations so adopted by the department shall be approved by the city council before they become effective.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 8, 1962)

Salaries of the fire chief and the assistant fire chief shall be paid in the amount and in the manner provided for all full time employees of the city under the city payroll procedure.

Payments shall be paid quarterly into the fire department treasury to dispose of in such manner as a majority of the department may elect, as full compensation for services rendered as follows:

Five dollars per member for each regular monthly practice or such other amount as may be determined by resolution of the city council.

For each member attending a fire, one dollar for the first sixty minutes or fraction thereof and fifty cents for each succeeding thirty minutes or fraction thereof or such other amount as may be determined by resolution of the city council.

Payments as provided for above shall be made on an itemized statement prepared and approved by the fire chief being submitted to the city council for approval.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 9, 1962)

The fire department services shall be confined within the city limits of the City of El Paso de Robles with the following exceptions:

(a) A request being made from another public agency under a mutual aid assistance agreement.

(b) A written contract agreement between the city council and a bona fide legal agency or district.

(c) A resolution of the city council setting such policy and procedure. In the event services outside the City of El Paso de Robles are rendered, the fire chief shall make a full written report to the city council within thirty days therefrom relating the full circumstances as to who made the request, the equipment used, the number of personnel and their time utilized.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 10, 1962)

Any person, firm or corporation who violates, neglects, or refuses to comply with provisions of this chapter, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by imprisonment in the city jail or in the county jail for not exceeding three months or by a fine of not to exceed three hundred dollars, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

(Ord. 260 N.S. § 11, 1962)