The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-03-10

Mdrch TO- 1915.
| SUBSTITUTE FOR SENATE BILL No.
800.
| AN ACT to create the office of state fire
marshal, prescribing his duties, and pro-
vfding for his compensation and for the
maintenance of the state fire marshars
office.
Be 1t enacted by the I1egisIature of the
State of Kansas: -.~ef-ss7es
Section L. There is hereby created the
, office of state fire marshal. and upon the
taking effect of this act the governor
shall with the advice and consent of the
Senate, within thirty days after the pas
sage Of this act and every four years
thereafter. appoint suitable person who
is citizen of this state TO fill the position
hereby created. The term of office of the
state fire marshal shall be four
years until his successor is
appointed and qualified. The per-
son so appointed shall assume the
duties of his office within thirty days af
ter the date of his appointment The state
fire marshal may be removed at any time
by the governor, at his discretion, and Il
successor appointed by him for the uneX-
pired term The state fire marshal shall
maintain office in the city of Topeka.
and for that purpose the Executive Coun-
Gil shall provide him with suitably fur
nished rooms, furniture, books, printing
and stationery necessary for the proper
conduct of his office. Before entering
upon the discharge of his duties he shall
give bond in the penal sum of five
thousand dollars, conditioned for the faith
full performance of the duties of his Office,
ent of insurance.
Sec. >. The state fire marshal is hereby
empowered to appoint a deputy fire mar
shall and such office assistants as may
be necessary for the proper and efficient
conduct of his office.
Sec g. While any vacancy shah exist
in the office of the state fire marshal or
during his absence or inability to perform
his duties. the same shall devoIve upon
and be performed by the deputy state fire
marshal.
Sec. 1. The state fire marshal may. in
addition to the provision of section 2 ap-
point any person or persons state in
Spector or inspectors, who may be known
to him to be competent and skilled in
the inspection of buildings and their con-
all the power of a deputy fire marshal
to enter and inspect buildings and their
contents as provided in section 9 hereof,
and ii shall be the duty of such inspector
TO report to the state fire marshal any
dangerous condition found. Such state
inspector or inspectors shall be duly COM
missioned by the state fire marshal.
Sec. D. The state fire marshal either by
himself through other persons as in
this act provided, may investigate the
cause, origin and circumstances of anv
fire occurring within the state. and in
such cases it shall be the duty of the
chief of the fire department of every
city or town, the mayor of any city or
town where no fire department exists,
and of the township clerk of every organ
lied township outside the limits of any
organized city town, to investigate the
cause, origin and circumstances of every
fire occurring In such city, town or town
ship by which property has been DESTROY
ed or damaged, and to specially make in
VeStiSation to whether such fire was
the result of design. Such investigation
shall begin within two days, not incIud-
ing Sunday. of the occurrence of each
fire. The state. fire marshal shall have
the right 10 supervise and direct such in
vestigation whenever he deems it neces-
sary. The officer making the investigation
of fires occurring in cities. towns OF town
ships shall forthwith notify the state fire
marshal and shall. within one week of
the occurrence of the fire, furnish to the
state fire marshal a written statement of
all facts relating to the cause, origin and
circumstances of the fire and such other
information may be called for by the
blanks provided by the state fire marshal
Sec g. The state fire marshal shall keep
in his office a record of all fires occurring
in the state, showing the name or names
of the owners of personal and real proper
~ and the name names of the occu-
pants of buildings where fires occur, the |
total amount OF insurance collected. the /
CT. together with all the facts. statistics
and circumstances. including the origin /
of the fire, which may be determined by |
the investigation provided by this act |
Such records shall at all times be open TO |
public inspection and such portions of it /
as the state superintendent OF insurance |
may deem necessary shall be transcribed /
and forwarded 10 him Whenever any ssIch |
is requested by him.
Sec I. Tho stale fire marshal shall.