That there be and hereby is established a fire department in the City of Pretty Prairie, Kansas to consist of a chief, and assistant chief, and not less than 10 nor more than 15 men per company, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Councilmembers. There shall be a total of one company.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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. The chief shall receive the sum of $2.00 and the other members of the department shall receive the sum of $2.00 for attendance at fires.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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 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.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

(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 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.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

In the absence of the chief, the assistant fire chief to adopt all prudent measures for the prevention of fires and for this purpose he or his assistant under his direction may upon request or whenever he has reason to believe that the safety of life and property demands it, and as often as he may deem necessary, enter any building, yard or premises in the city during reasonable hours for the purpose of inspection, and where dangerous, unsafe or hazardous conditions are found to exist he shall give such directions for the alteration, change or removal or better care or management of the same as he may deem proper, and such directions shall be obeyed and complied with by the person directed in that regard and at their expense.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

In the absence of the chief, the assistant shall perform all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the chief as conferred by this article.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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 as afore said stated.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to drive any wagon, carriage, automobile, truck, locomotive, rail road car or any other vehicle over any hose laid in any street, avenue, alley, bridge or vacant lot. Provided, that this section shall not apply to any apparatus or vehicle belonging to the fire department.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

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 of fire without reasonable cause.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

No person or persons shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority remove, take away, keep or conceal and tool, appliance or other article used in any way by the fire department.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)

Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this article or refusing or neglecting to comply with any of the requirements thereof, shall upon conviction, be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and fined not less than five ($5) dollars nor more than fifty ($50) dollars.

(Ord. 99; Ord. 117; Code 2018)