Chapter 2.32
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Sections:
2.32.010 Composition.
2.32.020 Chief—Appointment—Removal.
2.32.030 Chief—Accountable to city manager.
2.32.040 Other officers—Appointment and removal by chief.
2.32.050 Chief—Duty to formulate department’s rules.
2.32.060 Chief—Duty to determine composition of companies.
2.32.070 Chief—Duty to instruct in fire safety matters.
2.32.080 Chief—Right of entry for inspection.
2.32.090 Chief—Duty to investigate and suppress arson.
2.32.100 Chief—To be notified when fire hazard abated.
2.32.110 Chief—Recordkeeping required.
2.32.120 Chief—Monthly report to city manager required.
2.32.130 Chief—Annual report to city manager required.
2.32.140 Requirements for appointment to department.
2.32.150 Removal or suspension.
2.32.160 Equipment—Required.
2.32.170 Equipment—Purchase procedure.
2.32.180 Equipment—Housing requirements.
2.32.190 Equipment—Alarm system for citizens required.
2.32.200 Equipment—Private use or concealment prohibited.
2.32.210 Equipment—Unauthorized use prohibited.
2.32.220 City authorized to establish mutual aid system.
2.32.230 Procedure for calls for outside aid.
2.32.240 Fire apparatus permitted outside city limits when.
2.32.250 Badges.
2.32.260 Motor equipment to have right-of-way.
2.32.270 Car insignia.
2.32.280 Driving vehicle over fire hose prohibited.
2.32.290 Obstructing fire station entrance or apparatus prohibited.
2.32.300 Unauthorized following of fire apparatus prohibited.
2.32.310 False alarms prohibited.
2.32.320 Special officers—Election— Terms—Duties.
2.32.330 Special officers—Functions and duties.
2.32.340 Enforcement authority.
2.32.350 Special duties of chief of police.
2.32.360 Violation—Penalty.
2.32.010 Composition.
The department shall consist of a chief, two assistant chiefs and other officers as the chief and the council may deem necessary for the effective operation of the department. (Ord. 37 § 1 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.020 Chief—Appointment—Removal.
The chief shall be appointed by the city manager for an indefinite period of time and his tenure of office shall depend upon his good conduct and efficiency and he shall be removable by the city manager at any time for any cause. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 1 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.030 Chief—Accountable to city manager.
The chief shall be held accountable to the city manager only and shall make written and verbal reports thereto as the city manager may require. All other department and company officers shall be accountable to the chief only. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 1, Art. 3, 1954)
2.32.040 Other officers—Appointment and removal by chief.
The assistant chiefs and all other department and company officers shall be appointed by the chief. Such officers shall be accountable to the chief and subject to removal by him; provided, that within ten days after removal, such officer may ask the council in writing to review such removal, and the council shall within forty-five days of receipt of such notice either affirm or disaffirm such removal. (Ord. 37 § 1 Art. 4, 1954)
2.32.050 Chief—Duty to formulate department’s rules.
The chief shall formulate a set of rules and regulations to govern the department and shall be responsible to the council for the personnel, morale and general efficiency of the department. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.060 Chief—Duty to determine composition of companies.
The chief shall determine the number and kind of companies of which the department is to be composed and shall determine the response of such companies to alarms. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.070 Chief—Duty to instruct in fire safety matters.
The chief shall, at least once a month, conduct suitable drills or instructions in the operation and handling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study of buildings in the city of Battle Ground, fire prevention, water supplies, and all other matters generally considered essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property from fire. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 3, 1954)
2.32.080 Chief—Right of entry for inspection.
The chief is empowered to enter any and all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making inspections and to serve written notice upon the owner or occupant to abate, within a specified time, any and all fire hazards that may be found. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 4, 1954)
2.32.090 Chief—Duty to investigate and suppress arson.
The chief is required to assist the proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by investigating or causing to be investigated the cause, origin, and circumstances of all fires. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 5, 1954)
2.32.100 Chief—To be notified when fire hazard abated.
Any person served with a notice to abate any fire hazard or hazards shall comply therewith and promptly notify the chief. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 6, 1954)
2.32.110 Chief—Recordkeeping required.
The chief shall see that complete records are kept of all fires, inspections, apparatus and minor equipment, personnel, and other information about the work of the department. (Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 7, 1954)
2.32.120 Chief—Monthly report to city manager required.
The chief shall report monthly to the city manager the condition of the apparatus and equipment; the number of fires during the month, their location and cause, date of same and loss occasioned thereby; the number and purpose of all other runs made; and the number of members responding to each fire or other run and any changes in membership. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 2 Art. 8, 1954)
2.32.130 Chief—Annual report to city manager required.
The chief shall make a complete annual report to the city manager within one month after the close of the fiscal year, such report to include the information specified in Section 2.32.110, together with comparative data for previous years and recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the department. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 2, Art. 9, 1954)
2.32.140 Requirements for appointment to department.
The membership of the department shall consist of such persons as may be appointed by the chief and shall be able-bodied male citizens residing within the city of Battle Ground or in the vicinity thereof, preferably property owners whose business activities are normally within the confines of Battle Ground and who have telephones in their homes. Determination of whether candidates for appointment are able-bodied shall be made by the chief after a medical and physical examination has been made in a manner prescribed by the chief and approved by the council. (Ord. 298 § 1, 1977: Ord. 210 § 1, 1974: Ord. 131 § 1, 1970: Ord. 37 § 3 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.150 Removal or suspension.
Any member of the department may be suspended or discharged from the department by the chief at any time he may deem such action necessary for the good of the department; provided, that within ten days after removal, such member may in writing ask the city manager to review such removal, and the city manager shall, within forty-five days of receipt of such notice, either affirm or disaffirm such removal. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 3 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.160 Equipment—Required.
The department shall be equipped with such apparatus and other equipment as may be required from time to time to maintain its efficiency and to protect property and life from fire. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.170 Equipment—Purchase procedure.
Recommendations of apparatus and equipment needed shall be made by the chief and, after approval by the city manager, shall be purchased in such manner as may be designated by the city manager. (Ord. 98-023 (part), 1998; Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.180 Equipment—Housing requirements.
All equipment of the department shall be safely and conveniently housed in such places as may be designated by the council. Such places shall be heated during the winter season. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 3, 1954)
2.32.190 Equipment—Alarm system for citizens required.
Suitable arrangements or equipment shall be provided for citizens to turn in an alarm and for notifying all members of the department so that they may promptly respond. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 4, 1954)
2.32.200 Equipment—Private use or concealment prohibited.
No person shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person wilfully and without proper authority take away or conceal any article used in any way by the department. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 5, 1954)
2.32.210 Equipment—Unauthorized use prohibited.
No person shall enter any place where fire apparatus is housed or handle any apparatus or equipment belonging to the department unless accompanied by, or having the special permission of, an officer or authorized member of the department. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 6, 1954)
2.32.220 City authorized to establish mutual aid system.
The city of Battle Ground is authorized to enter into agreements or contracts with nearby incorporated communities or governing bodies of other organizations to provide the members of such communities or organizations with fire protection or to establish a mutual aid system. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 7, 1954)
2.32.230 Procedure for calls for outside aid.
No apparatus shall be hired out or permitted to leave the city of Battle Ground except in response to a call for aid at a fire in a neighboring community without the consent of the fire chief. The officer in charge of the department shall have power to assign equipment for response to calls for outside aid in accordance with Section 2.32.220 and in other cases only when the absence of such equipment will not jeopardize protection in this city of Battle Ground. (Ord. 37 § 4 Art. 8, 1954)
2.32.240 Fire apparatus permitted outside city limits when.
A. It shall be lawful for any fire trucks, fire apparatus and firefighting equipment and personnel operating the same to go outside the limits of the city of Battle Ground but not to exceed a radius of twenty-five miles from said city.
B. The city fire chief shall establish such rules in accordance with this section as shall be necessary to regulate the priority of use of equipment, the extent of and items of equipment as shall be used outside the city limits and the manner in which the same shall be used and the personnel required to operate the same, and in general shall be allowed to establish such other regulations as shall be reasonably necessary for the efficient use of the equipment outside of the city limits. (Ord. 69 §§ 1, 2, 1962)
2.32.250 Badges.
Each member of the department shall be issued a badge designating his rank. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.260 Motor equipment to have right-of-way.
All motor equipment and all personal cars of the department shall have the right-of-way over all other traffic when responding to an alarm. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.270 Car insignia.
Each member of the department driving a car shall be issued a suitable insignia to be attached to the car. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 3, 1954)
2.32.280 Driving vehicle over fire hose prohibited.
No person shall drive any vehicle over a fire hose except upon specific orders from the chief or other officer in charge where the hose is used. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 4, 1954)
2.32.290 Obstructing fire station entrance or apparatus prohibited.
No person shall park any vehicle or otherwise cause obstruction to be placed within fifty feet of the entrance to any fire station, or other place where fire apparatus is stored, or within ten feet of any fire hydrant or cistern. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 5, 1954)
2.32.300 Unauthorized following of fire apparatus prohibited.
No unauthorized person with any vehicle shall follow within six hundred feet of any apparatus belonging to the department nor park any vehicle within three hundred feet of a fire. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 6, 1954)
2.32.310 False alarms prohibited.
No person shall maliciously turn in or cause to be turned in a false alarm. (Ord. 37 § 5 Art. 7, 1954)
2.32.320 Special officers—Election— Terms—Duties.
The department may elect a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer to be known as special officers. Such officers may be elected in any manner and for any term the membership may decide upon, and their duties shall be to arrange and manage any or all social functions sponsored by the department. (Ord. 37 § 7 Art. 1, 1954)
2.32.330 Special officers—Functions and duties.
The functions and duties of the special officers shall in no way interfere with those of the regular department officers who are charged with responsibility for all fire service activities of the department. (Ord. 37 § 7 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.340 Enforcement authority.
All regularly appointed members of the department are given the necessary special police powers for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of this chapter, except Section 2.32.240. (Ord. 37 § 6 Art. 2, 1954)
2.32.350 Special duties of chief of police.
It is the special duty of the chief of police, and/or other peace officers who may be on duty and available for fire duty, to respond to all fire alarms and to assist the department in the protection of life and property, in regulating traffic, maintaining order, and enforcing observance of all sections of this chapter. (Ord. 37 § 6 Art. 3, 1954)
2.32.360 Violation—Penalty.
Any person violating the provisions of Sections 2.32.100, 2.32.200, 2.32.210, 2.32.260, and 2.32.290 through 2.32.310 shall, upon conviction in police court of this city of Battle Ground, pay a fine of not less than ten dollars nor more than one hundred dollars for each offense. (Ord. 37 § 6 Art. 1, 1954)