close
There is hereby created the Pittsburg Fire Department which shall be operated as a departmental function of the city by the members acting with the authority hereinafter provided. The department shall serve the city and such other areas as the city council may approve. The head of the fire department shall be the fire chief.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The city council shall procure and maintain firefighting and rescue apparatus and related equipment necessary for the protection of life and property.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The membership of the fire department may consist of paid-per-call volunteers and/or full-time, and/or part-time paid firefighters to provide for appropriate protection of life and property.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The fire chief of the fire department shall be appointed by the city manager and confirmed by the city council. The fire chief shall be under the control and supervision of the city manager and the city council may terminate or discipline the chief upon the recommendation of the city manager or upon its own motion.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The fire chief of the fire department shall:
(1) 
Carry out the functions of the fire department related to public safety and enforcement of the fire code, ordinances, state and federal laws; organize the fire department in conformity with the laws of the state and ordinances of the city; and promulgate directives, orders, rules, regulations and procedures for the operation of the department and administration of discipline within the department;
(2) 
Be responsible for the appointment, stationing and transfer of all firefighters and other officers and employees, including paid-per-call volunteers, constituting the fire department, under such policies and regulations as may be established by the city manager, to whom the fire chief shall be immediately responsible, or according to ordinances of the city.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The city will provide funds on account in the amount called for by the formal budget submitted by the fire chief and approved by the city council. This budget will provide for all expenditures and maintenance of vehicles, associated equipment, and operations.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
The fire department will have an account drawn from its paid-for-call volunteer members and by any fundraising activities. This bank account will be opened by the city and managed like other bank accounts by the city. These funds will be used to provide the fire department with items that it needs or desires not provided for in the formal budget and for the general operation of the organization. Any equipment bought with these funds immediately becomes the property of the city.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
(a) 
There is hereby adopted by the city council a manual entitled "Pittsburg Fire Department Policies and Procedures Manual" for the purpose of establishing policies, procedures and guidelines for the general operation and organization of the fire department. A copy of the manual shall be on file in the office of city secretary and the office of the fire chief and the same is hereby adopted and incorporated as fully if set out at length herein.
(b) 
Any amendment to the city's fire department policies and procedures manual will be submitted in writing by the fire chief and presented to the city manager and city council for adoption.
(c) 
Any policy, procedure or ordinance, or part thereof, adopted prior to this date which are in conflict with the provisions of the city's fire department policies and procedures manual referenced herein are to the extent of such conflict repealed. However, when any policy stated herein is in conflict with any state or federal law, the most stringent provision shall take precedence.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
(a) 
All full-time and part-time personnel of the fire department shall be required to satisfactorily complete, within the prescribed time, the minimum requirements for basic certification as established by the state.
(b) 
All paid-per-call volunteer personnel of the fire department shall be required to participate in departmental training and are encouraged to participate in volunteer firefighter certification programs administered by the State Firemen's and Fire Marshal's Association of Texas or the Texas Commission on Fire Protection.
(c) 
No person shall be certified as a full-time or part-time firefighter or fire inspector who has not satisfied the basic requirements established by the state for fire department personnel and such rules and regulations as may be established by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection. All personnel of the fire department shall be bound by the most current directives, orders, rules, regulations and procedures for the operation of the fire department as promulgated or as may hereafter be amended by the chief of the fire department, and failure to abide thereby shall subject the violating personnel to such disciplinary action as may be determined by the chief of the fire department within the limits of applicable state law or city ordinance.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
Neither the city council nor the individuals composing such council, nor the city manager, nor the fire chief, nor any members of the fire department shall in any way be held responsible for damages occasioned to property during the attempt to conduct operations and/or manage an incident to which the department responds to or for damage done to any person or animal, or for damage to any vehicle coming into collision with the fire apparatus or vehicles driven by members of the department when in performance of their official duties.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)
(a) 
Full-time and part-time personnel hired by the city will be compensated at a rate of pay and on a payroll schedule as described in the city's personnel policy § 5.0.
(b) 
Paid-per-call volunteer firefighters appointed by the fire chief, in accordance with the city's fire department policies and procedures manual, will be compensated at a rate of pay and on a payroll schedule as described in the city's personnel policy § 5.0.
(Ordinance 987-23 adopted 11/13/2023)