The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-10-29
ARTICLE xxi.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.

FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Sec. 231. The Fire Department and all
property appcrtaining thereto shall be
under the management and control of the
Board of Fire Commissioners. consisting
OF five members, who shall be appointed
by the Mayor. each OF whom shall serve
without compensation. No person shall
be appointed as Fire Commissioner who
shall not have been an elector of the city
for at least five years next preceding his
appointment.
Sec. 232. The Board shhll never be so
constituted as to contain moro than
three members of the same political par
ty. The term of office Of the Commits
sioners shall be four years. Those FIRST
appointed shall SO classify themselves by
lot that they shall respectively go out OF
office. one at the end Of one year, one at
the end OF two years, one at the end OF
three years, and two at the end OF four
years.
Sec. 233. The commissioners shall or
ganize by electing one of their number
President, who shall hold office for one
year. The board shall appoint a Secre-
tary not OF their number, who shall be
clerk OF tho department and Secretary OF
the board, and shall keep all accounts
and records of the department and OF the
relief and pension fund. and perform
such duties as the board may prescribe.
The board shall meet once week and as
often as tho business OF the department
may require, and all Its meetings snail
be public.
Sec. 234. The board shall organize tho
department. create and establish such
fire companies as 1t may deem necessary,
appoint and prescribe the number and
duties OF the officers, members and en-
ployees OF the department and tho uni
form and badges to be worn by them.
have control of all property. buildings
and equipments Of the department and
the purchase. erection and repairs there
OF. and exercise full power and authority
over all appropriations made for the use
Of the department, and over all expendl-
lures OF all moneys for the use thereof.
The board shall classify the service and
make the rules for appointments and pro-
motions under the civil service require
ments of this charter. and shall enforce
all ordinances affecting fire interests re-
lating to fire limits boring for oil, stor-
age Of hay. fire escapes. erection OF en-
gines. establishment of laundries. shops
and factories and all matters which by
ordinance have been or may be entrusted
to the board. The salaries of all officers
and employees of tho department. except
when prescribed by this charter, shall
be fixed by ordinance.
Sec. 235. The board shall make such
rules and regulations rs may be neces-
sary to secure discipline and efficiency Of
the department.: and for any violation
of such rules and regulations may i'm
pose reasonable fines upon officers. mem
bers and employees of the department
reprimand. reduce in grade or dismiss. or
suspend any of them, as the board may
by rule prescribe. Such fines shall be de-
Quoted from the monthly warrants of the
officers. members and employees upon
whom they are imposed and shall be
transferred by the Treasurer to the Fire
mans Relief and Pension Fund.
Sec 2ss. No member or employee of
the Fire Department. except callmen.
shall be engaged in any other employ
ment.
Sec. 49, The Board shall. Immediately
upon their appointment and qualifca-
partment in accordance with the .provis-
Ions of this charter, and in so doing the
board shall make Its appointments Of Of
fcers and members from the persons
t the 11irs Department at the time this
charter goes into effect. Such officers
and members shall not be required to
pass any civil service examination. All
shall be made by the board. subject to
the provisions of Article XVII Of this
charter.
Sec 23s. No officer. member or en-
ployee shall be reduced In rank. fined or
after a trial. The accused shall be fur
nished with a written copy of the charges
against him, at least three days previous
to the trial. He shall have the right to
in his behalf All witnesses shall be ex-
amined under oath and all trials shall
be public.
Sec. 2S9. When any officer. member or
employee shall become temporarily disa
bled by reason of injuries received while
In the actual performance OF his duties,
80 as TO incapacitate him from perform
ing his duty. the board may allow any or
all OF his salary during the continuance
or such temporary disability.
Sec. $40. The board shall see that all
contracts awarded and work done for the
department are faithfully performed and
snail, upon the awarding of any such
contracts, exact an adequate bond for
me prompt and faithful performance OF
the same. The provisions of Article XIV
OF this charter shall, so far as the same
can be made applicable, apply to all pro-
posals and contracts made, awarded or
of buildings and apparatus and for fur
nishing supplies to tho department. Any
contract made in violation of any Of the
provisions Of this charter shall be void.
nv ooaiu Snali cause 10 pe Haue eAaCt
property returns from each company OF
division, which shall show in detail all
stores and property received, used and
remaining on hand for each quarter, and
shall enter the issuance of each article
to each company or division in appropri-
ate books.
Sec 2t1. Tho board shall appoint
Chief Engineer. who shall have control
of the department under the board. He
shall be charged with the special duty of
experimenting the extinguishment OF
fires. The Chief Engineer shall be the
chief executive officer OF the department,
and 1t shall be his duty to see that all
laws, orders and regulations in force in
the city or made by the board concerning
the department. are enforced.
Sec. 242. The Chief Engineer may sus-
pend any subordinate officer, member or
employee OF the department for incom-
potency, or any violation of the rules and
regulations Of the department. and shall
forthwith report In writing such suspen-
sion. with his reasons therefor. to the
board for their action. He shall vigllant-
ly observe the condition OF tho apparatus
and workings of the department and re-
port in writing thereon at least once a
month to the board and make such rec
concentrations and suggestions respect
Ing the same as he may deem proper.
Sec 24s. The Chief Engineer may, dur
ing conflagration, cause to be cut down,
structure for the purpose OF checking the
progress Of such conhagration.
Sec. PA. The Council shall have power.
whenever in Its judgment 1t shall be
proper. to provide by ordinance for .