Ordinance No. 57-58-2 v ORDINANCE NO. ./I-
AN
7-AN ORDINANCE CRE"TING A DEPARTMENT TO BE
KNOWN AS THE ATLANTIC BEACH FIRE DEP.^RTMENT,
AND PROVIDING FOR ITS ORGANIZ"TION
BE IT ENACTED by the People of the City of Atlantic Beach,
that a Department to be hereafter known as the Atlantic Beach
Fire Department, the object of which shall be the prevention and
extinguishment of fire and the protection of life and property
within the limits of the City of Atlantic Beach, is hereby
created as follows:
SECTION 1. OFFICERS.
Article 1. The Department shall consist of a Chief, Ass-
istant Chief, Captain, Lieutenants and other officers as the
Chief and Director of Public Safety may deem necessary for the
effective operation of the Department.
Article 2. The Chief shall be appointed by the Director
of Public Safety with the approval of the City Commission and
shall serve at the pleasure of said Director of Public Safety and
the City Commission. The Chief shall be technically qualified
by training and experience, shall have ability to command men
and hold their respect and confidence, and shall be a resident
of the City of Atlantic Beach during the time of his employment
Article 3. The Assistant Chief and all other Department
and Company officers shall be appointed by the Chief. Such
officers shall be accountable only to the Chief, and subject to
removal by him.
SECTION II. DUTIES OF THE CHIN'.
Article 1. The Chief shall formulate a set of rules and
regulations to govern the Department, and shall be responsible
for the personnel, morale and general offielercy of the Depart-
ment.
Article 2. The Chief shall determine the number and kind
of companies of which the Department is to be composed and shall
determine the response of such companies to alarms.
isa cl e. The a. ;f shall at l e_. .s rs ene ) a 1`{'.✓.a!1 .t con-
1'N
on-p., duct suitable drills or instruction in the operation mid hand-
ling of equipment, first aid and rescue work, salvage, a study
of buildings in the City of Atlantic Beach, fire prevention,
water supplies, andall other matters generally considered
essential to good firemanship and safety of life and property
from fire.
Article 4. The Chief is hereby required to assist the
proper authorities in suppressing the crime of arson by
investigating or causing to be investigated the cause,,
origin, and circumstances of all fares.
Articlt. o The Chief is hereby empowered to enter
all buildings and premises at any reasonable hour for the pur-
pose of making inspections and to serve written notice upon
the owner or occupant to abate, withi.-i a specified time any and
all firs hazards that may be found.
Article us Any person so served v;ith a notice to abate
any fir"e hazard or hazards, shall comply therewith and prompt-
ly notify the Chief.
Article 7o The Chief shall see that complete records
are kept of all fires, inspections, appar.tus and minor
equipment, personnel and other informationabout the work
of the Department
Article $a The Chief shall report monthly in Writing
to the City Commission the conditions of the apparatus and
equipment; the number of fires during the molth, their location
and cause, and data of same and loss occasioned thereby; the
number and purpose of all other runs made; ar.d the number of
members responding to each fire or other run, and any changes
in membership,
Article d Ths Chief shall make a complete annual
report to the City Commission within one month : `'ter the close
of the fiscal year, such report to include the information
specified in Article 7, together with cornparativa data for
previous years and recommendations for improving the effec-
tiveness of the Department.
SECTION III. MEMBERSHIP
Article 1. The membership of the Department shad
consist of such persons as may be appointed by the Chi.
and shall be able-bodied citizens, determination of whet ter
candidates for appointment are able-bodied shall be medal -y
the Chief after a medical and physical eazimiaAtihi hnu b,eei1
made in a manner prescribed by the Chief and approved by the
Director of Public safety.
Article 2, Any member of the Department may be sus-
pended or discharged from the Department by the Chief at
any time he may deem such action necessary for the good of
the Department; On written request of such member to the
City Commission he shall be given a public hearing on the
charges brought by the Chief.
SECT ION IV, EaUImENT.
Article l. The Department shall be equipped with such appara-
tus and other equipment as may be required from time to time
to maintain its efficiency and properly protect life and property
from fire.
Article 2. Relommendations for purchase of apparatus and
equipment needed shall be made by the Chief, in accordance with
appropriate purchasing proceedureb
Article . Afl equipment of the Department shall be
safely and conveniE:r_Lly housed in such places as may be de-
signated by the Chief .
Article 4. Suitable arrangement or equipment shall be
provided for citiz nr; to turn in an alarm, and for notifying
all members of the Department so that they may prolaptAy
respond .
Article_",. ?:o person shall use any fire apparatus or
equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person wil-
fully and without proper authority take away or conceal any
article used in ,ae� way by the Department,
Article 6. ?'o person shall enter any place where fire
apparatus is ho.,leed or handle any apparatus or equipment be-
longing to the Department unless accompanied by, or having the
special permiEeien of, an officer or authorized member of the
Department.
SECTION V. GENERAL,.
Article J Each member of the Department shall be
issued a care. ;lesignal-ing his rank.
Artivie 2. All motor equipment of the Department shall
have riTc-of-way over all other traffic when responding to
an alar--s
Article /2. No person shall drive any vehicle over fire
hose except upon specific orders from the Chief or other
officer in charge.
Article !�. No person shall park any vehicle or oth+:l:'-
wise cause any obstruction to be placed within fifty ( 50)
feet of the entrance to any fire station or other place
where fire apparatus is stored, or within ten (10) feet of
any fire hydrant or Astern.
Article 5. Nc person shall maliciously turn in or cause
to be turned in a false alarm.
SECTION VI. ENFORCEMENT.
Article i., Any person violatiQ 'the provisions of Section
II, Article ;' section V, Articles 3, 4, and 5, shall upon
conviction to punished by fine not exceeding X50000, by im-
prisonment no,, exceeding thirty (30) days, or both such fine
and imprisonment.
Article:2. All regularly appointed members of the
Department uay be given the necessary special police powers
for the pul.pose of enforcing the provisions of this ordinance.
Arti11.2.1 It is hereby made the special duty of the
Chief of Police and/or other peace officers who may be on
duty and available for fire duty, to respond to all fire alarms
and as3ist the Department in the protection of life and pro-
perty, in regulatim traffic, maintaining order, and in
enfor:ing observance of all sections of the ordinance.
SECTION VII.
This ordinance shall become effective February 1, 1958.
Passed by the City Council on first reading 0
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Passed by the City Council on second and final reading1 /i32
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Attest:
a/d.•
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City perk