The text
Footnotes:
--- (2) --- Cross reference— Duties and responsibilities of fire department during civil defense, § 6-7.
State Law reference— Payments to fire companies, G.L. 1956, § 45-18-1; relief of injured and deceased firemen and policemen, G.L. 1956, § 45-19-1 et seq.
Sec. 8-26. - Bureau of fire prevention.#
(a)
The fire prevention code shall be enforced by the bureau of fire prevention in the fire department of the town which is hereby established and which shall operate under the supervision of the chief of the fire department.
(b)
The officer in charge of the bureau of fire prevention shall be appointed by the chief of the fire department with the approval of the town council, and shall hold the rank of chief inspector in the fire department.
(c)
The officer in charge of the bureau of fire prevention will have four (4) assistants with the rank of inspector in the fire department who shall be appointed by the fire chief.
(d)
The chief of the fire department may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary.
(e)
A report of the bureau of fire prevention shall be made annually and transmitted to the town council; it shall contain all proceedings under the fire safety code, with such statistics as the chief of the fire department may wish to include therein; the chief of the fire department shall also recommend any amendments to the code which, in his judgment, shall be desirable.
(f)
It shall be the duties of the officers of the bureau of fire prevention to assist the fire chief with inspection of buildings and investigation of fires, also to arrange for and to conduct fire prevention lectures, demonstrations and activities, to direct the operation of the fire police, and to supervise the clearing of fire hydrants during snow storms. The officer in charge of the bureau of fire prevention will act as liaison for the fire chief or whoever the assistant chief is that is in charge at fires.
(g)
The officer in charge of the bureau of fire prevention by virtue of his office shall sit as an advisory member of the board of fire engineers.
(Code 1967, § 13-7; Ord. of 4-18-72, § 2)
Sec. 8-27. - Fire chief.#
(a)
Appointment, term. The town council shall appoint one (1) fire chief to serve the town at the pleasure of the town council.
(b)
Council's representative. The fire chief shall be the town council's representative and shall be answerable to the town council only.
(c)
Duties. The fire chief shall be the administrative and technical head of the fire department of the town and shall have the following duties:
(1)
He shall be responsible for the control and supervision of all activities and operations of the fire department including, but not limited to, fire extinguishment, fire prevention, fire investigations and inspections.
(2)
He shall establish rules and regulations and procedures necessary for the efficient operation of the fire department and he shall submit the same to the town council for approval before implementing the same.
(3)
He shall make recommendations to the town council for expenditure of fire department money appropriated at the financial town meeting.
(4)
He shall, annually, submit recommendations for a budget request to the town council. The town council shall, with the assistance of the fire chief, prepare the annual budget request for the fire department.
(5)
He shall meet with the board of fire engineers monthly to discuss matters relating to the fire department.
(6)
He shall meet with the town council monthly and submit his report on fire department business.
(7)
He shall insure proper management, discipline and training of members of the fire department.
(8)
He shall schedule, conduct and supervise fire drills with primary regard for the protection of life and property.
(9)
He shall cause to be maintained accurate records of all business transacted by the fire department, including but not limited to buildings, apparatus and equipment and also cost of maintenance and operating expenses.
(Code 1967, §§ 13-11—13-13)
Sec. 8-28. - Assistant chiefs.#
(a)
Recommendation; appointment; term; to be known as board of fire engineers. One (1) assistant fire chief shall be recommended to the town council annually by each fire company. The assistant chiefs shall be appointed by the town council and shall serve at the pleasure of the council. This group shall be known as the board of fire engineers and shall assist the fire chief in the governing of the fire department. The rescue squad shall recommend to the council a member to sit on the board. This individual shall be the rescue representative to the board of fire engineers.
(b)
Duties. The assistant fire chiefs shall have the following duties:
(1)
Put into effect the policies and procedures of the fire department. In the absence of the fire chief they shall be responsible for the respective company's performance of duties with the exception of the rescue squad representative who shall not have any authority in the extinguishment of fires.
(2)
They shall respond to all alarms of fires and other emergencies as required by the fire chief. The first assistant chief arriving at the scene of the fire or emergency shall be in overall charge until the fire chief arrives.
(3)
They are responsible for the upkeep of all town equipment in their respective stations such as building, apparatus and all other property furnished by the town. They shall report to the fire chief any discrepancies in the above.
(4)
They are responsible for the drilling and training of their company members.
(5)
They shall meet with the fire chief monthly to discuss fire department business.
(Code 1967, §§ 13-14, 13-15; Ord. of 1-19-93)
Sec. 8-29. - Unauthorized riding, etc., upon fire department apparatus.#
(a)
Every person, other than the members of the fire department of the town, who shall climb, ride or remain upon any fire truck or any other fire apparatus belonging to the town and used by the fire department of the town while the same shall be going to or returning from any fire or any alarm of fire, after being ordered to desist or remove therefrom by any member of the fire department, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided by section 1-8.
(b)
Every person, other than the members of the fire department of the town, who shall climb or remain upon any fire truck or any other fire apparatus belonging to the town and used by the fire department of the town, after being ordered to desist or remove therefrom by any member of the fire department, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided by section 1-8.
(Code 1967, § 13-16)
Cross reference— Motor vehicles and traffic, Ch. 12.