The Fire Department of the City of Wakefield shall consist of a Chief, an Assistant Chief, such other officers as may be necessary, and not less than ten (10) nor more than Twenty-four (24) men, who shall be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, in the same manner as other officers of the City.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-101)

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 such meetings and any member who shall fail to attend six (6) consecutive meetings shall be deemed to have resigned. The members of the department shall receive reasonable amounts of compensation to be determined by the Governing Body for each fire attended and each regularly called practice drill attended.

(Ord. 1067, Sec. 1)

The Chief of the Fire Department shall be under the supervision of the Mayor and shall have superintendency and control over and be responsible for the care and condition of the fire apparatus and equipment which shall be at all times ready for immediate use. He shall submit a written report as to its condition to the Mayor and Council at their first meeting in October.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-103)

The Chief of the Fire Department shall be responsible for the discipline of members and is hereby given the authority to suspend any member for the refusal to obey orders, or for misconduct for failure to do his duty at a fire. The Chief shall also have the right to summon any and all persons present to aid in extinguishing a fire, or to aid in removing personal property from any building on fire or in danger thereof, and in guarding the same.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-104)

The Chief of the Fire Department shall have full power, control and command over all persons whomsoever present at fires, and he shall direct the use of all fire apparatus and equipment, and command all firemen in the discharge of their duties. He shall take such measures as he may deem necessary in the preservation and protection of property and the extinguishing of fires.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-105)

The Chief of the Fire Department shall keep in convenient form a complete record of all fires. Such information shall include the time and location, construction of building, owner, occupancy, how extinguished, value of building and contents, loss of building and contents, members responding to the alarm, and any other information deemed advisable or required by the rules and regulations of the State Fire Marshal.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-106)

In the absence of the Chief, the Assistant Chief shall perform all of the duties and have all the duties and have all the authority and responsibility of the Chief as conferred by this Article.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-107)

It shall be the duty of all members of the Fire Department to attend any alarm or fire or practice drill in accordance with the regulation of the Department and at the direction of their superior officers. Any subordinate officer or fireman who refuses or neglects to attend any alarm of fire or practice drill without submitting an excuse satisfactory to the Chief, or who fails to attend six (6) consecutive meetings, drills and fire calls or who neglects or refuses to do his duty or obey the orders of his superior officer, or who shall leave his post of duty while at a fire or drill without the permission or excuse of the Chief or superior officer, may be expelled from the Department in accordance with regulations.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-108)

No person shall place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence or other obstruction of any character whatsoever, in any manner to obstruct, hinder, or delay the Fire Department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person hitch or cause to be hitched to any fire hydrant, any animal or animals. (Vehicles parking by hydrant prohibited--see Sec. 85, S.T.O.)

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-109)

No person or persons shall use any fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose, nor shall any person willfully and without proper authority, remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance or other article used in any way by the Fire Department.

Any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this Article or refusing or neglecting to comply with any of the requirements thereof, shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned not more than ninety (90) days or fined not more than Fifty Dollars ($50.00), or be both so fined or imprisoned.

(R.O. 1965, Sec. 5-111)