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by Chapter of Revised Municipal Code
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The ordinances reproduced on this website are derived from the updated computer files used to produce the official Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The ordinances on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables and maps that are a part of the official Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point are not included in the ordinance files reproduced on this website. Please consult the bound Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text.
Chapter 6 - Fire Department and Regulations
Section
6.01
Organization of Fire Department
6.02
Board of Police & Fire Commissioners
6.03
Fire Chief
6.04
General Rules & Regulations
6.05
Fire Beyond City Limits
6.06
Duties of Citizens
6.07
Bureau of Fire Prevention
6.08
Prohibit Outdoor Solid Fuel Burning Furnaces.
6.01 ORGANIZATION OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
(1) Personnel. The fire department of the city shall consist of one chief, three deputy chiefs, one training officer,
three captains, three lieutenants, nine motor pump operators, and such firefighters emergency medical technicians
as the common council and police & fire commission may, from time to time, designate or authorize.
(2) Platoon System. The officers and members shall be divided, as equally as is practical, into three platoons.
6 .02 BOARD OF POLICE & FIRE
COMMISSIONERS.
(1) Organization & Procedure. See Section 3.29 of this code.
(2) The board shall have such powers, duties, and functions as are prescribed in section 62.13 of the Wisconsin
statutes.
(3) Additional Powers.
(a) The board shall have the power to organize and supervise the fire department and prescribe rules and regulations for its control and management.
(b) The board shall have the power to contract for and purchase all necessary apparatus and supplies for the use of the department, exclusive of the erection and control of the fire station buildings.
(c) The board shall have the power to audit all bills, claims, and expenses of the fire department before they are paid by the city treasurer.
6.03 FIRE CHIEF.
(1) Appointment and Term. See Section 3.31 of this code.
(2) Supervision of the Department. The chief shall have sole and absolute control and command over all persons
connected with the fire department, with full power and authority over its management and discipline.
(3) Department Rules. The chief may prescribe and establish such rules and regulations as he may deem advisable,
subject to the approval of the board of police & fire commissioners.
(4) Reports and Records.
(a) Inventory and Fire Reports. The chief shall cause inquiry into the cause of all fires in the city and keep a correct record thereof at his office, making a monthly report to the commissioners of the number of fires and such other essential information as they may require. An annual inventory report shall be presented as of July 1st of each year and an annual fire and department report as of January 1st of each year.
(b) Budget Report. The chief shall prepare and submit to the commissioners on or before the first meeting in October of each year an estimate in detail of the whole cost and expense of providing for and maintaining the fire department during the coming year.
(5) Command at Fires. The chief, assistant chief, or officer in command at a fire shall have complete charge of
all activities and procedures involved in fighting the fire and may cause the removal of any property or structure,
either for its preservation or to prevent the
spreading of fire or to protect adjoining property.
(6) Police Powers. The chief, assistant chief, and other officers of the department, when on duty at a fire or
in response to an alarm for a fire, shall have authority to suppress any tumult or disorder and to order all individuals
or companies to leave the neighborhood of any fire, and to command from the inhabitants of the city all needful
assistance for the suppression of fires and in the preservation of property exposed to fire. Such officers shall
also have authority to go upon and enter any property or premises and to do whatever may be reasonably necessary
in the performance of their duties while engaged in the work of extinguishing any fire or performing any duties
incidental thereto.
(7) Appointment of Subordinates, Promotions.
(a) Eligible List. The chief shall appoint subordinates subject to the approval of the board of police & fire commissioners. Such appointments shall be made by promotion when this can be done with advantage, otherwise from an eligible list provided by examination and approval by the board and kept on file with the secretary.
(b) Qualifications, Probation. Validity of such appointments must be established by subsequent approval of the commission. Any person appointed to the department shall be placed on trial for a twelve month probationary period after which he/she may be recommended to the board for permanent appointment. No person shall be appointed who is under 18 years of age. He/she must be a citizen of the United States and shall not have been convicted of a felony. He/she must have completed a high school educational course or its equivalent, and receive in testing a passing grade as determined by the commission. Veterans of the armed services shall receive a bonus of 10% added to the score of their competitive examination. Eligibility lists shall remain in effect for two years.
(c) Promotion. No member of the department shall be considered for promotion unless he/she has served a minimum of 5 years. Such promotion shall be recommended by the chief to the commissioners for their approval. Promotions shall be on a probationary basis, extending for one year at the discretion of the chief.
(d) Personnel must qualify for and keep in force a Wisconsin EMT license. This shall be required of all new members and any member who currently holds a Wisconsin EMT license.
(e) All members of the department must be able to qualify for and maintain a Wisconsin driver's license.
(8) Designation of Drivers. The chief shall designate the regular drivers of all apparatus and in the absence of
a regular driver on any crew, the officer in charge shall designate an acting driver, subject to the approval of
the chief.
6.04 GENERAL RULES & REGULATIONS.
(1) Officer in Charge. The officer in charge at each station shall be responsible, while in quarters, for his/her
shift, the apparatus and equipment, cleanliness and order in and about the station, and any such other duties as
the chief may require. In responding to fire or any emergency alarm, he/she shall be in complete charge of the
department if he/she be a deputy chief, and in the absence of a deputy chief, the next officer in the chain of
command shall be in charge until the arrival of the chief or other superior ranking officer.
(2) Reporting for Duty. No shift or crew shall go off duty until properly relieved. If a member fails to report
for duty, the officer in charge shall retain a full crew until such adjustments as approved by the chief may be
effected. It shall be incumbent upon members to notify their station at least one-half hour before change of shift
if they are unable to report for duty, giving the reason.
(3) Uniforms. The chief shall make suitable regulations under which the officers and members of the department
will provide themselves with uniforms to be properly worn when on duty and any official business or on any detail,
as the chief may require. Coat badges, cap badges, shirt emblems, helmets, and turnout coats, boots, and pants
shall be provided by the city.
(4) Familiarity with Regulations. All members of the department shall familiarize themselves with the rules and
workings of the department and perform such duties as their officer in charge may direct.
(5) Care & Operation of Apparatus.
(a) Daily Check. All apparatus and equipment thereon shall be checked daily, immediately after change of shifts by the assigned driver and any vehicle or equipment found not to be in good order shall be reported to the officer in charge who shall be responsible for correction or report to the chief.
(b) Speed Limitations. While driving apparatus, engineers shall never exceed a rate of speed that will endanger life or property. When returning to quarters after a run, drivers shall not exceed the posted speed limit.
(6) Accidents. All accidents or injuries, sustained while on duty, shall be reported to the officer in charge and
a report made with complete details as to the cause. A brief entry shall be noted in the daily log.
(7) Training Programs. A comprehensive training program shall be maintained in the department so that all members
may be familiar with all practical phases of fire fighting, pumping operations, first aid, use of all types of
hand tools and equipment, and all other subjects which the chief may deem advisable.
(8) Off Duty Emergencies. All personnel of the department, while on or off duty, may always be required to assist
in the protection of life and property in the event of conflagration or unusual fires at any time and be subject
to call under any circumstances which the chief or the officer in charge may designate as an emergency.
(9) Rules of Behavior.
(a) Liquor and Drugs. No intoxicating liquor, beer, or other drugs shall be kept or consumed in or about the fire station or premises occupied by the department. Any member taking medication under doctor's orders, which may cause impaired reaction, shall notify the officer in charge at the start of the tour of duty.
(b) Alertness. Members of the department, while on floor duty at the stations, shall maintain an alert and wide-awake attitude and avoid lounging and dozing and generally maintain an appearance of an alert emergency service. No member shall retire before 9:00 o'clock p.m. while on duty unless permission is granted by the chief or officer in charge.
(c) Giving Out Information. No member of the department shall divulge any department information to an outsider. Newspaper and radio information such as date, time, location of fires or other calls for service may be given representatives of these agencies by the officer in charge. All other information will be given out at headquarters. No information shall be given out except as authorized by the chief.
(d) Profanity and Disrespectful Language. Profanity, immoral, or indecent language by officers or members is prohibited, nor shall disrespectful language be used when speaking to or of any superior officer. Criticisms of superior officers, discourtesies to the public or to members of the department, unjust treatment of members by officers, or vice versa, or movements tending to create dissension or appearing to ignore responsible officials will be considered breeches of discipline and treated accordingly.
(e) Off-duty Occupations. Members of the fire department will not engage in off-duty occupations which call for regular hours and places a firefighter on a regular payroll other than that of the city. The intent and purpose here is to preserve and retain the fidelity and duty of the firefighter exclusively to the fire department, but not to arbitrarily prohibit an otherwise industrious and energetic member from augmenting his/her income by participating in odd jobs where such participation imposes no hardship or penalty on any other person and does not divert or divide the allegiance of the firefighter.
(f) Offenses Subject to Suspension & Dismissal. It is the duty of all officers and members to familiarize themselves with the following offenses and wherever evidence tending to substantiate any offense is possessed by any member, he/she shall forward such evidence in writing to the chief as formal charges:
1. Intoxication
2. Neglect of duty
3. Absence without leave
4. Disobeying orders of superior officers
5. Disrespect to superior officers
6. Conduct prejudicial to good order
7. Conduct unbecoming a member
8. Cowardice or shirking duty at a fire
(g) Improper Conduct. Any member may be subject to dismissal under any circumstances where he/she may be found guilty of conduct unbecoming an officer or member, or of conduct in any manner prejudicial to the good of the department, its good order and smooth functioning, or its discipline.
6.05 FIRE BEYOND CITY LIMITS.
(1) When Authorized. No fire runs shall be made beyond the city limits, except in those instances where the board
of police & fire commissioners has taken official action to provide such service to outlying areas either by
contractual relationship or by reciprocal agreement.
(2) Attendance at Fire by Chief. The chief shall attend and direct those fire fighting operations within the city
which, in his/her judgment, shall require his/her attention. The chief shall, at his/her discretion, accompany
apparatus on out-of-city runs.
6.06 DUTIES OF CITIZENS.
(1) False Alarms, Meddling, Etc. No person shall give, or cause to be given, a false fire alarm with intent to
deceive any public official or employee, or to pull the lever of any fire signal box, except in accordance with
regulations established for its use or to tamper, meddle, or to interfere in any way with such boxes, or any part
thereof, or to cut, injure, break, deface, or remove any of such boxes, or any of the wires or supports thereof
connected with any part of any system; or to make any connection or communication therewith so as to interrupt
or interfere with the proper working of said systems, or with intent to injure, break, or destroy any machinery
or fixtures connected with said systems.
(2) Assistance from Citizens. No person shall neglect or refuse to render assistance when lawfully called upon
to do so by any fire department officer at a fire, or shall refuse to obey any lawful order of any officer or person
connected with the department while on duty at a fire.
(3) Injury to Fire Hose. No person shall wantonly or maliciously cut or otherwise injure any hose or apparatus
belonging to or used by the fire department.
(4) Obstruction of Fire Hydrants. No person shall obstruct or interfere with the use of any fire hydrant in the
city by piles of lumber, building material, articles of merchandise, the excavation or removal of buildings, dirt
or rubbish or in any other way or manner unless by permission of a duly authorized city officer. Every day that
said interference or obstruction shall continue shall be regarded as a separate offense.
(5) Interfering with Fire Fighting Equipment. No person shall interfere with, tamper with or remove, without authorization, any fire extinguisher, fire hose or any other fire fighting equipment.
6.07 BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION.
(1) That Chapter 14 of Commerce of the Wisconsin Administrative Code is hereby adopted by reference including amendments
that the State of Wisconsin may from time to time create.
(2) Establishment and Duties of Bureau of Fire Prevention.
(a) The Fire Prevention Code shall be enforced by the Bureau of Fire Prevention in the fire department of the City of Stevens Point.
(b) The chief, or deputy chief, in charge of the bureau of fire prevention shall be appointed by the board of police & fire commissioners.
(c) The chief of the fire department may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The chief of the fire department shall recommend to the common council the employment of technical inspectors who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and non-members of the fire department and appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term with removal only for cause.
(d) A report of the bureau of fire prevention shall be made annually and transmitted to the chief executive of the police & fire commissioners. It shall contain all proceedings under this code, with such statistics as the chief may wish to include therein. The chief shall also recommend any amendments to the code which, in his/her judgment, shall be desirable.
(3) Definitions.
(a) Municipality shall mean the City of Stevens Point.
(b) Corporation Counsel shall mean the attorney for the City of Stevens Point.
(4) Establishment of Limits of Districts in Which Storage of Explosives and Blasting Agents is to be Prohibited.
The limits referred to in section 12.5b of the Fire Prevention Code in which storage of explosives and blasting
agents is prohibited are hereby established as follows: The city limits of the City of Stevens Point.
(5) Establishment of Limits of Districts in Which Storage of Flammable Liquids in Outside Aboveground Tanks is
to be Prohibited.
(a) The limits referred to in section 16.22a of the Fire Prevention Code in which storage of flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited are hereby established as follows: The city limits of the City of Stevens Point.
(b) The limits referred to in section 16.61 of the Fire Prevention Code in which new bulk plants for flammable or combustible liquids are prohibited are hereby established as follows: All areas within the city limits of the City of Stevens Point except those areas designated "B Industrial" by the Zoning Ordinance of the city and in such "B Industrial" districts in accordance with the regulations and requirements of said Zoning Ordinance.
(6) Establishment of Limits in Which Bulk Storage of Liquefied Petroleum Gases is to be Restricted. The limits
referred to in section 21.6a of the Fire Prevention Code in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted
are hereby established as follows: The city limits of the City of Stevens Point as further limited, prohibited,
or restricted by the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Stevens Point.
(7) Establishment of the Motor Vehicle Routes for Vehicles Transporting Explosives and Blasting Agents. The routes
referred to in section 12.7m of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting explosives and blasting agents
are hereby established as follows: There is no established or designated route. Persons transporting explosives,
or other dangerous articles, shall contact the police department for escort in or through the city.
(8) Establishment of Motor Vehicle Routes for Vehicles Transporting Hazardous Chemicals or Other Dangerous Articles.
The routes referred to in section 20.14 of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals
and other dangerous
articles are hereby established as follows: There is no established or designated route. Persons transporting dangerous
explosives, hazardous chemicals, or other dangerous articles shall contact the police department for escort in
or through the city.
(9) Establishment of Fire Lanes on Private Property Devoted to Public Use. The fire lanes referred to in section
28.16 of the Fire Prevention Code are hereby established as follows: None.
(10) Amendments Made in the Fire Prevention Code. The Fire Prevention Code is amended and changed in the following
respects: The chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the Fire
Prevention Code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee, or his/her duly authorized agent, when there
are difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code, providing that the spirit of the code
shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when
granted or allowed by the decision of the chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall be entered upon the records
of the department and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.
(11) Appeals. Whenever the chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall disapprove an application or refuse to
grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true
intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the
decision of the chief of the bureau of fire prevention to the board of police & fire commissioners within 30
days from the date of the decision appealed.
(12) New Material, Processes, or Occupancies Which May Require Permits. The mayor, the chief of the fire department,
and the chief of the fire prevention bureau shall act as a committee to be heard, any new materials, processes,
or occupancies which shall require permits in addition to those now enumerated in said code. The chief of the bureau
of fire prevention shall post such list in a conspicuous place in his/her office and distribute copies thereof
to interested persons.
(13) Above and Below Ground Storage Tanks.
(a) No person shall install, remove, or upgrade a tank or system over 60 gallons and under 5000 gallons without first obtaining a permit from the fire chief or duly appointed certified inspectors. The schedule of permit fees for tank removal or installation shall be as follows:
1. Initial permit fee....................................................$75.00
2. Tank removals and or installations (per tank)....$50.00
3. System upgrades. (For system upgrades including the installation of overfill protection, installation of spill
protection, installation of tank leak detection, and the installation of line leak detection)...$65.00
(b) All tanks, dikes, appurtenances, piping, pumping equipment, and other equipment must comply with Wis. Adm. Code DILHR 10.
(14) Penalties.
(a) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the code hereby adopted or fails to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the board of police & fire commissioners or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $200 or by imprisonment for not less than five days nor more than 30 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each ten days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.
(b) The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.
(15) Repeal of Conflicting Ordinances. All former ordinances or parts thereof conflicting or inconsistent with
the provisions of this ordinance or of the code hereby adopted are hereby repealed.
Should any section, paragraph, sentence, or word of this ordinance be declared for any reasons to be invalid, it
is the intent of the common council that it would have passed all other portions of this ordinance independent
of the elimination herefrom of any such portion as may be declared invalid.
6.08 Prohibit Outdoor Solid Fuel Burning Furnaces.
(a) No person shall install, use, or maintain an outdoor solid fuel burning furnace in the City of Stevens Point.
(1) An outdoor solid fuel burning furnace is any equipment, device, or apparatus, or any part thereof, which is installed, affixed, or situated outdoors or in an accessory building for the purpose of combustion of solid fuel such as wood, coal, corn cobs, wood or coal pellets, or other combustible solid fuels to produce heat or energy used as a component of a heating system providing heat for any interior space or water source.
The ordinances reproduced on this website are derived from the updated computer files used to produce the official Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The ordinances on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables and maps that are a part of the official Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point are not included in the ordinance files reproduced on this website. Please consult the bound Revised Municipal Code for the City of Stevens Point, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text.