The fire department of the city is hereby established, and the department should be organized to consist of a fire chief, an assistant fire chief, and not less than 10 firefighters nor more than a number selected by the majority vote of the fire department.

(Ord. 619, Sec. 1; Code 1987; Code 2021)

The members of the fire department shall meet at least once each month for practice and drill. The chief shall keep a record of attendance of members at such meetings. Members of the fire department shall be paid according to the following pay scale:

(Ord. 714, Sec. 1; Code 1995; Ord. 1041; Code 2021)

The chief of the fire department shall be under the supervision of the safety committee and shall have immediate superintendence and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the fire apparatus and equipment. It shall be the chief s duty to see that all such apparatus and equipment is ready at all times for immediate use in case of a fire alarm.

(Ord. 619, Sec. 3, Code 1987; Code 2021)

The chief of the fire department shall be a member of the fire department and shall be elected by the fire department. The chief of the fire department shall be responsible for the discipline and training of the members, and may suspend any member for failure to attend practice drills or after refusal to obey orders. He or she shall direct the use of all fire apparatus and equipment, and command all firefighters in the discharge of their duties. He or she shall take such prudent measures as deemed necessary for preservation of life, and the protection of property while extinguishing a fire, and shall have full power, control and authority over all persons whomsoever present during any fire.

(Ord. 619, Sec. 5; Code 1987)

The assistant chief of the fire department shall, during the absence of the chief, have all the powers and perform all the duties herein imposed upon the chief of the fire department. Provision may be made for the appointment of other ranking officers to have control of the department and firefighters in the absence of the chief and assistant chief.

(Ord. 619, Sec. 8; Code 1987)

It shall be the duty of all members of the fire department to attend any alarm of fire or practice drill in accordance with regulations of the department and at the direction of their superior officers. Any subordinate officer or firefighter who refuses or neglects to attend any alarm of fire or practice drill without submitting an excuse satisfactory to the chief, or who neglects or refuses to do his or her duty or obey the order of his or her superior officer, or who shall leave his or her post of duty while at a fire or drill without the permission of the chief or superior officer may be expelled from the department in accordance with regulations.

(Code 1987)

The chief of the fire department shall keep in convenient form a record of all fires, drills and the attendance thereof, and a list of all equipment belonging to the department. The chief shall also make such reports as are required by the city council and the office of the state fire marshal.

(Code 1987)

It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take away or use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose or for any person willfully and without proper authority to remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, equipment or other article used in any way by the fire department.

(Code 1987)

(a)   No employer within the city limits of Yates Center, Kansas shall discharge, or cause to be discharged, or in any manner discriminate against any employee who is an active volunteer firefighter or member of a volunteer ambulance service or company because such employee is late arriving to work or absent from work as a result of responding to a fire or ambulance call prior to or during the employee’s regular hours of employment.

(b)   Each employee covered by this section shall:

(1)   Not later than thirty days after August 21, 2023, or the date on which the employee is certified as a volunteer firefighter or member of a volunteer ambulance service or company, whichever is later, submit to the employer a written statement signed by the chief of the volunteer fire department or the medical director or chief administrator of the ambulance service or company, as the case may be, notifying the employer of the employee’s status as a volunteer firefighter or member of a volunteer ambulance service or company;

(2)   Make every effort to notify the employer that the employee may report to work late or be absent from work in order to respond to an emergency fire or ambulance call prior to or during the employee’s regular hours employment;

(3)   If unable to provide prior notification to the employer of a late arrival to work or an absence from work in order to respond to an emergency fire or ambulance call, at the employer’s request, submit to the employer a written statement signed by the chief of the volunteer fire department or the medical director or chief administrator of the volunteer ambulance service or company, explaining why the employee was unable to provide such prior notification;

(4)   At the employer’s request, submit a written statement from the chief of the volunteer fire department or the medical director or chief administrator of the volunteer ambulance service or company verifying that such employee responded to a fire or ambulance call and specifying the date, time and duration of such response;

(5)   Promptly notify the employer of any change to the employee’s status as a volunteer firefighter or member of a volunteer ambulance service or company, including, but not limited to, the termination of such status.

(c)   Any employer of labor, his agent or employee, who shall violate the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall upon conviction be fined for each offense the sum of $100 and 30 days imprisonment in the county jail.

(d)   For purposes of this section, employer means a person engaged in business who has employees, including the state and any of its political subdivisions.

(Ord. 1174)