Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1874-01-15
Fire Department.
AN ORDINANCES ESTABLISHING AND
REGULATING a FIRE DEPARTMENT

That the fire department of the city OF
Knoxville shall consist of a chief en-
gineer aud assistant engineer, one
fire warden in each ward, in addition
10 the aldermen who shall be eT-o0icio
fire wardens, and such engine, hose
aud hook and ladder companies as
may he from time TO time organized
by the city council.
SIC. .. The chief engineer, and in
lis absence the assistant engineer,
shall have sole and absolute control
over all the members of the fire de-
partment IL shall he the duty of the
chief engineer To report quarterly, ION
the first AIonday Of March. June, Sep
teriber and December to the city
council, in writing, the condition of
the engines, hose, hooks, and ladders,
and other fire apparatus belonging 10
the city, and of the buildings in which
such apparatus IL kept, and also to rec
ommend such improvements as may
seem TO him desirable. 1t shall! also
be his duty to examine and report, as
aforesaid, whether the records of the
several fire companies are properly
kept, and whether the bylaws of such
companies are observed by the mem
beers thereof; and whenever the fire
apparatus shall need repairing he
shall cause the same 10 be done with
out delay.
SEC 3. The assistant engineer shall
assist the chief engineer and obey his
orders, and in the absence Of the latter
shall be vested with his powers and
obligated to perform his duties, and i'll
the absence from fire Of both engi-
neers the fire warden for the ward in
which the fire is shall command as
such engineer; or in the absence of
the foregoing officers, the first fire
warden at the fire shall command.
SEC. t. Every fire warden Except
those who are eT-oBicio wardensl shall
report himself at the fire TO the person
i'm command, and it shall be the duty
Of said wardens Immediately oil an
alarm of fire to repair to the place OF
the fire and assist in such manner as
the engineer in command may direct,
to prevent the hose from being run
over or tempered with and to keep all
suspicious persons from the vicinity of
the fire.
SEC. 5. The firemen shall be organ
lied into companies as hereinafter
provided and it shall be the duty of
firemen to attend the fire apparatus of
the city which may he committed to
their charge, and use the same as re-
CURED by ordinance, and by the pro-
visions of their charter and bylaws Of
the company; and each company may
adopt such organization and such con-
stitution, subject to the approval of
the city council, and such bylaws
subordinate to the ordinances Of the
81 = Lon lai fD
the accomplishment of the objects
herein contemplated.
SEC. 6. The different fire compan-
les, each under the control and direct
ion Of it's proper officers, shall on an
alarm of fire repair to the place of the
fire, with the apparatus under its care,
and shall there work the same under
the direction of the officer in COM
mand at such fire, and in case of the
absence Of the engineer or other officer
entitled to command, then in the most
efficient manner, as the judgment OF
its officers may dictate, until the fire
shall have been eXtinguished and
the companies shall not remove the
| fire apparatus from the scene of the
fire, but by permission Of the officer in
command, if such officer be present,
and upon such permission shall return
their apparatus TO its place of Keeping
well cleaned. If any company shall,
without the permission Of the officer III
command leave any fire with or with
out their apparatus, the officer or fore
man in command Of such company
shall forfeit and pay not less than
three nor more than one hundred dol
lars for every such Oflense.
SEC. 7. The fire apparatus belong
ing TO the city shall be kept in such
place or places as the city council
shall provide, and the company 10
which the same may be entrusted
shall keep the same in constant readi-
ness for use.
SEC. s. If any person having charge
of any fire apparatus suffers the same
TO be applied to private use without
the consent Of the chief engineer, he
SINH forfeit not less than five or more
than twenty five dollars for each and
every offense, and shall also be liable
for all damages.
SEC. 0. Ifany fireman, q. any time,
shall refuse to obey the orders OF the
engineer or person in command at the
fire. he shall forfeit and pay TO the
city a penalty Of not less than one nor
more than three dollars for every Of
Tense.
SIC. 10. The engineer in command,
or in his absence, three or more alder
men may direct The pulling down or
removal of any building or fence for
the purpose OF checking the progress
Of the fire, and the engineer in com
mand. with the advice aud concur
renee Of three or more members Of the
city council, shall have power to blow
up with powder or otherwise any
building or supprstructure, during the
progress OF Il fire. for the purpose Of
distinguishing or checking the same.
SEC. II. During the time Of fire,
and twenty-four hours thereafter, IL
shall lie lawful for any fire warden,
engineer, mayor, alderman, marshal,
foreman OF fire company Tor officer In
command, in any part OF the city 10
arrest any suspected person, or any
person hinderiDg, resisting, or refus-
ing TO obey any such officer, while act
ing in the discharge OF his duty, and
take the same before the mayor 10 an
swer such charge Of disobedieDce.
a - III