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 nor more than 25 firefighters. Members of the fire department shall be appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council.

(Code 1956, 6-101; Code 1997)

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.

(Code 1956, 6-102; Code 1997)

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the mayor 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 chiefs 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 1956, 6-103; Code 1997)

(a)   The fire chief shall be responsible for the discipline and training 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.

(Code 1956, 6-104; Code 1997)

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 1956, 6-107; Code 1997)

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. Provision may be made for the appointment of other ranking officers to have control of the department in the absence of both the fire chief and the assistant fire chief.

(Code 1956, 6-108; Code 1997)

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 1956, 6-108; Code 1997)

(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 1997)

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 1997)

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.

(Code 1997)

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 1997)

It shall be the duty of all members of the fire department to attend any alarm of fire or practice drill in accordance with the regulations of the department and at the direction of their superior officers. Any subordinate officer or firefighter who refuses or neglects to attend any alarms of fire or practice drill without submitting an excuse satisfactory to the chief, or who neglects or refuses to do his or her duty or obey the orders of a superior officer, or who shall leave his or her post of duty while at a fire or drill without the permission of the fire chief or superior officer may be expelled from the department in accordance with regulations.

(Code 1956, 6-106)