§ 32. Fire department.

The fire department shall be composed of a chief and such other officers, firefighters and employees as the council may determine. The fire chief shall have immediate direction and control of the department, subject, however, to the supervision of the city manager, and to such rules and regulations and orders as the city manager may prescribe. The city manager shall issue all orders, rules and regulations for the government of the whole department.

The members of the fire department shall be appointed and removed by the city manager or his or her designee. In case of riot, conflagration or emergency, the city manager or his or her designee may appoint additional firefighters and officers for temporary service.

The chief of the fire department and the chief's assistants are authorized to exercise the powers of police officers while going to, attending or returning from any fire or alarm of fire. The fire chief shall prescribe the uniform and badges for the members of the fire department.

Whenever any building in the city shall be on fire it shall be lawful for the chief of the fire department to order and direct such building or any other building that the chief may deem hazardous and likely to communicate fire to other buildings, or any part of such buildings, to be pulled down or destroyed; and no action shall be maintained against the chief or any person acting under the chief's authority or against the city therefor.

The council may establish within the fire department an emergency medical service.

(Acts 1980, Ch. 71, § 1; Acts 2002, Ch. 685, § 1)

Editor's note— The references in the fourth paragraph of the above section to the hustings court are obsolete in view of the present court system.

(Acts 1980, Ch. 71, § 1; Acts 2002, Ch. 685, § 1)

Editor's note

The references in the fourth paragraph of the above section to the hustings court are obsolete in view of the present court system.