The fire department of the city shall be composed of the fire chief, assistant fire chief, and fifty (50) members classified as follows:
(1) 
Four (4) deputy chiefs;
(2) 
Thirteen (13) fire captains;
(3) 
Nine (9) engineers/drivers; and
(4) 
Twenty-four (24) firefighters.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; Ordinance 2012-019, sec. 2, adopted 7/9/12; Ordinance 2013-003, secs. 4, 6, adopted 2/11/13; Ordinance 2015-030, sec. 2, adopted 10/26/15; 1988 Code, sec. 12-1; Ordinance 2021-040 adopted 9/27/21; Ordinance 2022-005 adopted 1/24/22)
The chief of the fire department shall designate an officer of the fire department to serve, at the pleasure of the fire chief, as the assistant fire chief.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; Ordinance 2015-030, sec. 2, adopted 10/26/15; 1988 Code, sec. 12-2)
(a) 
Members of the fire department below the rank of chief shall be entitled to receive seniority pay on the basis of years in rank achieved in the city's fire department, said seniority pay to be in addition to each firefighter's base pay as follows:
Years in Rank–Tiers
Biweekly Seniority Pay
Tier 1: 0 years in rank
$0.00
Tier 2: 1 year in rank
$25.00
Tier 3: 2 years in rank
$49.99
Tier 4: 3 years in rank
$74.99
Tier 5: 4 years in rank
$99.99
Tier 6: 5 years in rank
$124.98
Tier 7: 6 years in rank
$149.98
Tier 8: 7 years in rank
$174.98
Tier 9: 8 years in rank
$199.97
Tier 10: 9 years in rank
$224.97
Tier 11: 10 years in rank
$249.97
Tier 12: 11 years in rank
$274.96
Tier 13: 12 years in rank
$299.96
Tier 14: 13 years in rank
$324.96
Tier 15: 14 years in rank
$349.95
(b) 
The seniority pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular base pay received by the member or members of the fire department qualifying for same.
(Ordinance 2014-027, sec. 2, adopted 12/8/14; 1988 Code, sec. 12-5; Ordinance 2019-010 adopted 2/11/19; Ordinance 2021-040 adopted 9/27/21; Ordinance 2023-013 adopted 2/27/2023; Ordinance 2023-062 adopted 9/25/2023
The fire department of the city shall allow assignment pay to the following positions:
(1) 
Fire marshal.
(A) 
“Fire marshal” shall mean a member of the fire department assigned to perform the duties and responsibilities of the fire marshal.
(B) 
The fire marshal shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of three hundred seventeen dollars and thirty-one cents ($317.31) per pay period.
(C) 
The assignment pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular pay received by the member of the fire department assigned as the fire marshal.
(2) 
Assistant fire marshal.
(A) 
“Assistant fire marshal” shall mean a member of the fire department assigned to and performs the duties and responsibilities of the assistant fire marshal.
(B) 
The assistant fire marshal shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of two hundred seventy-five dollars and nineteen cents ($275.19) per pay period.
(C) 
The assignment pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular pay received by the member of the fire department assigned as the assistant fire marshal.
(3) 
Hazardous materials team member/dive team member.
(A) 
“Hazardous materials team member” shall mean a member of the fire department assigned to perform the duties and responsibilities of the hazardous materials team member.
(B) 
“Dive team member” shall mean a member of the fire department assigned to and perform the duties and responsibilities of the dive team member.
(C) 
Hazardous materials team members and dive team members shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of thirty-seven dollars and fifty cents ($37.50) per pay period when assigned to either team.
(D) 
Hazardous materials team members and dive team members shall be entitled to compensation at the rate of sixty-two dollars and fifty cents ($62.50) per pay period when assigned to both teams.
(E) 
The assignment pay provided by this section shall be in addition to the regular pay received by the member or members of the fire department assigned as a hazardous materials team member or dive team member.
(Ordinance 2022-019 adopted 3/28/22)
(a) 
Established; composition.
(1) 
There is hereby established a bureau of fire prevention in the fire department of the city. Such bureau shall be operated under the direct supervision of the fire marshal as delegated by the chief of the fire department.
(2) 
The bureau of fire prevention shall consist of the fire marshal, fire investigators, fire inspectors, and such assistants and/or other members of the fire department as designated by the chief of the fire department.
(b) 
Powers and duties.
(1) 
It shall be the duty of the officers of the bureau of fire prevention to enforce all laws and ordinances of the federal, state, county, and local codes, laws and ordinances pertaining to the following:
(A) 
The prevention of fires.
(B) 
The storage and use of explosives and flammables.
(C) 
The installation and maintenance of automatic and other fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment.
(D) 
The maintenance and regulation of fire exits.
(E) 
The means and adequacy of fire exits.
(F) 
The investigation of the cause, origin, and circumstances of fires.
(G) 
The provision for life safety and property protection in new and existing buildings, structures and premises.
(2) 
The officers of the bureau of fire prevention shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as are set forth in other sections of this article and as may be conferred and imposed from time to time by law.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, secs. 12-6, 12-7)
(a) 
Every fire which occurs within the city shall be reported, in writing, to the bureau of fire prevention within two (2) days after the occurrence of the same by the fire department officer in command at the time the fire occurred. The report shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the chief of the fire department and shall contain a statement of all facts relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire, the extent of the damage thereof, the insurance on the property, and such other information as may be required.
(b) 
The chief of the fire department shall prepare instructions and forms for use in making the reports required by this section.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, sec. 12-8)
(a) 
The chief of the fire department will ensure a record is prepared and maintained for all incidents in which the department responds.
(b) 
Such records will include all pertinent facts and information related to each incident.
(c) 
Upon completion of an official request, and as authorized by the bureau of fire prevention, such records may be provided to the public.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, sec. 12-9)
(a) 
All fires occurring within the city will be investigated, at some level, so as to determine cause and origin.
(b) 
Such investigation will begin immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire, by the deputy chief or officer in charge. Those fires deemed to be of a suspicious nature, or where a definite cause of origin is unclear, will prompt the notification of the fire marshal or a member of the bureau of fire prevention.
(c) 
The fire marshal or designee will proceed to the incident scene and immediately take charge of the investigation and any physical evidence, request assistance from any other agency necessary, investigate cause and origin, and pursue ultimate prosecution of the case.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, sec. 12-10)
The chief of the fire department will ensure the inspectors of the bureau of fire prevention, upon an official complaint or as deemed necessary, shall inspect all buildings and premises within the city and, as provided by the city council, those within its extraterritorial jurisdiction.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, sec. 12-11)
The chief of the fire department, or any member of the bureau of fire prevention, may enter any building, structure, or premises for the purpose of making any inspection or investigation which, under the provisions of this article, may be deemed as necessary.
(Ordinance 2010-028, sec. 2, adopted 8/23/10; 1988 Code, sec. 12-13)