Chapter 7 · Fire

Article 1. Fire Department

Sections 7-101 to 7-111 · 11 sections

7-101 City fire department established.

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 up to 25 firefighters. Members of the fire department, firefighters, shall be appointed by the fire chief and confirmed by the council.

(Code 2014; Ord. 2065)

7-102 Membership; fire drill.

Members of the fire department shall 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 at such meetings. Any member who shall fail to attend six consecutive meetings shall automatically become expelled from membership.

(Code 2014)

7-103 Supervision of department.

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the mayor and shall have immediate superintendence 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 April of each year.

(Code 2014; Code 2025)

7-104 Fire chief; powers.

(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)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 of property and extinguishing of fires.

(Code 2014; Code 2025)

7-105 Same; records.

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.

(Code 2014)

7-106 Assistant chief.

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 2014)

7-107 Private use of fire equipment.

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.

(Code 2014)

7-108 Fire equipment; emergency right-of-way use.

(a)All fire apparatus and equipment are hereby given and granted the exclusive right-of-way over and through all streets, avenues, alleys, and public thoroughfares in the city while in 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 him or her with the requirements of the law and govern him or herself accordingly. Any operator violating the provisions of the state law shall be liable for disciplinary action.

(Code 2014)

7-109 Same; fire hose.

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 2014)

7-110 Obstruction of fire hydrant.

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 guide rope or brace nor park any vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant.

(Code 2014)

7-111 False alarm.

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 2014)