The city manager shall appoint a chief of the fire department, and shall appoint an assistant chief of the fire department and make appointments of such other firefighters of the city. The city manager may designate two members of the fire department as fire inspectors, upon the recommendation of the chief of the fire department. The members of the fire department shall have the duties as shall be prescribed by the laws of the city, and shall receive compensation for each fire run and practice drill as shall be provided by ordinance. The chief of the fire department and an assistant chief shall be appointed from the membership of the department. In addition, a rural assistant chief shall be appointed by the chief of the fire department.

(Code 1959, 8-101:102; Code 1984)

A chief of the fire department shall be appointed who in addition to his or her duties as chief of such department, shall exercise the duties imposed by law on the fire chief of the city.

(Code 1984)

The chief of the fire department, under the direction of the city manager, shall have complete control and supervision of the fire department and the firefighting equipment of the city. He or she shall be responsible for the proper organization, training, discipline and operation of the fire department and the fire apparatus belonging to the city and the rural fire truck. The chief shall have full power, control and command over all persons at fires. As fire marshal of the city he or she shall take the proper steps to correct and abate the fire hazards thus reported, as provided by ordinance and the state laws; provided, the rules and regulations of the state fire marshal shall be enforced by the fire chief.

(Code 1959, 8-103; Code 1984; Code 2015)

The assistant chief of the fire department, in the absence of the chief thereof, shall have full responsibility and charge of the operation of the fire department and fire apparatus of the city, and the rural fire truck belonging to the county, and shall be responsible to the city manager for the discharge of his or her duties. The rural assistant chief shall have like powers on all fire or practice runs outside the city.

(Code 1959, 8-104; Code 1984)

City firefighters including the chief of the fire department, shall receive at least $12.50 for each alarm answered; and $15 for answering any fire alarm where water or chemicals are used. The chief and each member of the fire department shall each receive at least $12.50 for attending each drill and the instruction meeting incident thereto held by the fire department; provided however, not more than two such drills and instruction meetings shall be held during anyone calendar month for which such payment shall be made. The fire chief may call additional meetings as necessary.

(Code 1959, 8-109; Code 1984; Code 2015)

Any subordinate officer or firefighter of the department who neglects to attend any fire or drill, without submitting an excuse which is satisfactory to the chief (or the assistant chief as the case may be) or shall neglect or refuse to do his or her duty or obey the orders of the chief or his , or her proper commanding officer, or shall leave his or her post of duty while performing the same at a fire without permission of the chief or his or her proper commanding officer shall be subject to suspension from the department by the chief and shall forfeit the amount of compensation otherwise due him or her for answering a fire call. In the event any member of the fire department shall be absent from any fire or fire drill for three consecutive times, without sufficient excuse, he or she shall be removed from the department and the city manager may fill the vacancy therein as in the case of the original appointment.

(Code 1959, 8-105, 107; Code 1984)

The chief of the fire department shall keep an accurate list of all equipment belonging to the city for use of the fire department and he or she shall maintain an accurate record of all fire alarms, practice drills, and the attendance of members of the department at the same. He or she shall further make all reports required by the city manager and by the laws of the state which shall be necessary for the proper and effective discharge of the affairs of the department, and may include his or her recommendations for the improvement of the firefighting services of the city.

(Code 1959; 8-108; Code 1984)