Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-05-12
AN ORDINANCE
Relating to the Fire Department.

ICiutlHo " tilc EHc department.
b. it ordained dy the city Council Of independence,
SEC. i. The fire department of this city shall
consist of a Chief Engineer and one Assistant En-
mine, and the members of such fire companies and
hook and ladder companies, may from time to
time be organized by authority Of the City Coun-
Gil.
SEC. 2. The whole fire department shall be I'M
der the command of the Chief Engineer. 1t shall
be his duty to exercise constant supervision over
the fire department, he shall have the general
charge of the property of the city connected with
the fire department, and shall that the same is
always kept in good repair and ready for immedi-
ate use. He shall order and procure such repairs
to be made upon the engines or other fire appara-
tus as may be necessary, but shall not incur al any
one time an expenditure exceeding five dollars,
without tie consent of the Mayor. lie shall have
charge of the public cisterns, and shall see thai
the sane are at all times supplied with water and
in proper condition for use. He shall attend at
all fires which may occur in the city, and all or
ders given by him nj any fire to any Assistant En-
ginecr, company or fireman shall be promptly
obeyed. 1t shall be his special duty to that
the provisions of this ordinance are strictly en-
forced and Obeyed. The duties required by this
ordinance of the Chief Engineer shall. in his alb
sence inability to act. be performed by the As
sistant Engineer highest in rank present: He shall
make report semi annually in the month of Janu-
airy and July. or oftener il required, to the City
Council of the property of the city connected with
the fire department and the condition of the same,
and from time to time of such additions and i'm
provements as he may deem needful to preserve
the efficiency of the department, and such other
matters relating thereto as may require the action
of the Council. He shall certify to all bills pre-
scented to the Council for expenses incurred by his
order or consent. He shall make return 10 the
City Council at every regular session thereof OF
the names of all the officers and members Of COM
panies belonging to the department, with the date
of admission of each as have become members
since his last report.
SEC. 3. II shall be the duty Of the Assistant En-
gineers to repair Immediately to every ire that
may occur in the city a. soon as the alarm may lie
given, to obey all orders of the Chief Engineer
given to them or either OF them while on fire
duty, and TO assist him in the discharge OF his du
ty as far as possible. In any Assistant En-
giueer shall be guilty Of disobedience, dsrespecl
other improper conduct, or neglect of duty. it
shall be the duty of the Chief Engineer to report
the same to the City Council
SEC. 4. The Chief Engineer and Assistant En-
gineers shall be appointed by the City Council.
and shall hold their offices for the term of one
year. and until their successors shall be appointed
and duly qualified.
I,rveuteI, That the ChiefEngineer and assistants
first elected under this ordinance shall hold their
offices until the second Monday III March, 1872.
SEC 3. When on duty the Chief Engineer and
Assistant Engineers shall each wear red lie cap
with the name Of his office on the front. No cap
OF the same color shall be worn by any other fire
man. The Chief Engineer and the Assistant En-
ginecrs shall scyeraliy have power TO command
such assistance from the inhabitants of the city Tor
the suppression or eNIingushing OF fires and I0r
the preservation OF property exposed to fire. as
may be required They or either Of them shan
have fun DOW err TO suppress all tumuls and disor-
der al fires, and the Chief Engineer or Assistant
any company, fireman or other person away from
the ngi.hborhood OF said fire.
In case any person shall refuse or neglect to
render assistance as above required. aid shall not
be excused by thu engineer i'll command, or shall
refuse to obey any other lawful command OF the
Chief Assistant Engineer. or ii such fireman or
other person shall refuse or neglect to depart
when ordered so to do. as aforesaid, the fireman
or other person in either case so offending, shall
for each offence forfeit and pay fine not exceed
ing twenty or less than five dollars.
SEC. q. The lire department shall continue as
at present organized with such additional engines,
hose, hook and ladder or bucket companies as
may from time TO time be needed; but no fire COM
pany shall hereinafter be established except by
authority of the City Council, and subject TO all
the provisions Of this ordinance.
SEC. :. Each company in the fire department
shall be under the immediate command of fore
man, and other officers TO be elected by the men,
bcrs of said company from their own number.
The foreman of such company shall have the spec
ial charge of the property OF the city 10 winch MS
company may be attached. Ii shall be his duty to
See that said property is properly taken care OF,
and to report any deficiency, defect or want OF re-
pair therein rs soon as known to him. to the CHIEF
Engineer Each foreman and the company under
his command unless excused or otherwise direct
ed shall proceed soon US practicable with their
engines and apparatus to every fire that shall oc-
cur IN the city and shall proceed under such di
rcciions may be given by the Chief Engineer or
either of the Assistant Engineers, to locate their
engines ana ana no all lildI uc
essary towards cXln"ushing the fire and the pre-
seryation of property exposed to fire. and shall not
remove thereirOm without permission OF an en-
ginecr. il any be present, and on snch permission
they shall return their engines and fire apparatus
to their respective places OF deposit Ii any COM
pany shall without permission leave any fire with
their engine or fire apparatus or shall neglect to
return the same as aforesaid, the Chief Engineer
shall! report said company TO the City Council,
who shall take snCh action as they may deem prop
err No person shall he admitted a. member of
who is not OF the age OF eighteen years or more.
SEC. 3. No engine or other property belonging
to the city. connected with the fire department.
shall he taken ont of the city unless under such
regulations as the Chief Engineer may from time
to time establish, nor shall more than two fire en-
gines leave the city at any one time. No engine
or other fire apparatus shall be applied to private
uses or be taken from the house where 1t is usual
" kept except in case of an alarm of fire or for
practice, without permission of the Chief Enein
ecr of assistant il the chief Is absent from the
city.
SEC Q. No fire engine, hook and ladder truck
hose bucket cart shall in going to or return
ing from any fire, or at any other time he run OF
drawn upon any sidewalk, except by the special
order of the Chief or Assistant Engineer. under a
penalty Of five dollars for each offence, to be for
fcited and paid by each and every person adjudg
ed guilty of aiding or assisting IN such offence.
SEC TO- No cards, dice or other articles used
for gaming shall be brought into suffered to
main in any building used as an engine house, nor
shall any spirituous liquors be used therein. and
no such buildings shall be opened on Sunday ex-
ccpt in case of an alarm of fire.
SEC H. Any person who shall be convicted OF
insulting. menacng, or wantonly interfering with
any engineer or fireman while on duty, or shall
without authority give any order to any engineer
or fireman Will: on duty shall for each offence
forfeit and pay fine of not less than five dollars.
SEC H. There shall be paid to each fire com
pany in quarterly paymentsin each year. for keep
ing clean their engines, fire apparatus and houses
and for other expenses. except repairs, such sums
as the City Council may from time to time deter
mine.
SEC. 49, No person shall open or leave uncov-
cred any of the public cisterns or take any water
thcrerrom, except for the purpose Of extinguish-
ing fires or washing fire apparatus, under penal
ty Of not exceeding ten dollars for each offence.
SEC Il. The fire engines, hook and ladder
trucks, hose carts, hose buckets, hooks and lad
dcrs and other fire apparatus and the houses and
lands used, therefore are and shall be subject to
control and direction Of the City Council. and
nothing herein contained shall divcst the city of
finn n tukc nnsseSSinu of the same any