Chapter 46
FIRE PREVENTION AND PROTECTION*

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Cross references: Adoption of Standard Fire Prevention Code, § 22-36(a)(8); civil emergencies, ch. 34; fire lanes, § 82-37.

State law references: Obstruction or hindering of firefighters, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24.1; fireworks, O.C.G.A. § 25-10-1 et seq.; Georgia Fire Sprinkler Act, O.C.G.A. § 25-11-1 et seq.; regulation of fire and other hazards to persons and property generally, O.C.G.A. § 25-2-1 et seq.; smoke detector requirements, O.C.G.A. § 25-2-40; the Uniform Act for the Application of Building and Fire Related Codes to Existing Buildings, O.C.G.A. § 8-2-200; statewide application of Standard Fire Prevention Code, O.C.G.A. § 8-2-25(a); fire escapes in buildings, O.C.G.A. § 8-2-50.

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Article I. In General

Sec. 46-1. Fire district one.

Sec. 46-2. Damaging equipment.

Sec. 46-3. Injury to property.

Sec. 46-4. Obstructing engines.

Sec. 46-5. False alarms.

Sec. 46-6. Open burning.

Secs. 46-7? 46-40. Reserved.

Article II. Volunteer Fire Department

Sec. 46-41. Membership.

Sec. 46-42. Workers' compensation.

Sec. 46-43. Appointment of fire chief.

Sec. 46-44. Duties of the officers.

Sec. 46-45. Rules and regulations.

Sec. 46-46. Equipment.

Sec. 46-47. Funds.

Sec. 46-48. Interference.

ARTICLE I.
IN GENERAL

Sec. 46-1. Fire district one.

There is established fire district one, which shall consist of the entire area within the corporate limits of the city.

(Code 1976, § 5-4)

Sec. 46-2. Damaging equipment.

It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or knowingly to injure or damage in any way or manner any engine, hose, hook, ladder or any other implement, material or fixture of any kind connected with or used by the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(Code 1976, § 9-6)

State law references: Crossing fire hose, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-248.

Sec. 46-3. Injury to property.

It shall be unlawful for any person to injure any house, ground, tree or shrub which is the property of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(Code 1976, § 9-7)

Sec. 46-4. Obstructing engines.

It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or knowingly to put any trash or other obstruction of any kind in front of any engine, hook and ladder or hose house of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(Code 1976, § 9-8)

State law references: Obstruction or hindering of firefighters, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24.1; obstruction or hindering of firefighters, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24.1; following fire apparatus or emergency vehicle, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-247; crossing fire hose, O.C.G.A. § 40-6-248.

Sec. 46-5. False alarms.

It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or knowingly to give or cause to be given a false alarm of fire.

(Code 1976, § 9-9)

State law references: False fire alarms, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-27.

Sec. 46-6. Open burning.

It shall be unlawful for any person to burn refuse such as trash, lumber, leaves, straw, grass or other similar combustible material; provided, however, the fire chief or his authorized agent shall be authorized to waive such prohibition upon application duly approved by him and provided such application conforms to such regulations as the fire chief shall promulgate to regulate such burning. Persons convicted of a violation of this section shall be punished as provided in section 1-12.

(Ord. of 11-19-1990, § I)

Secs. 46-7? 46-40. Reserved.

ARTICLE II.
VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT*

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State law references: Local fire departments generally, O.C.G.A. § 25-3-1 et seq.; local fire safety standards authorized, O.C.G.A. § 25-3-4; Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Act, O.C.G.A. § 25-4-1 et seq.; mutual aid resource pacts, O.C.G.A. § 25-6-1 et seq.; Georgia Fire Academy Act, O.C.G.A. § 25-7-1 et seq.

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Sec. 46-41. Membership.

The membership of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department shall consist of any person 18 years of age or older who is a resident of the city or the territory surrounding the city, and who desires to participate in the activities of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department. Condition of membership shall be voluntary obedience to the terms of the rules and regulations of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department. All volunteers must attend at least 50 percent of the drill meetings per quarter in order to maintain active membership in the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(Code 1976, § 9-22)

Sec. 46-42. Workers' compensation.

The city's volunteer firefighters are to be included within the definition of "employee" under O.C.G.A. § 34-9-1(2) for the purposes of workers' compensation coverage while performing their duties.

Sec. 46-43. Appointment of fire chief.

The fire chief of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department shall be appointed by the mayor and aldermanic board and shall serve at the pleasure of the mayor and aldermanic board.

Sec. 46-44. Duties of the officers.

(a) Fire chief. It shall be the duty of the fire chief of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department to recruit and train volunteer firefighters; to exercise direct supervision over the personnel and the equipment of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department; to see that drills are performed by each company periodically; to take full charge of all operations during a time of emergency; to give periodic reports on the condition of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department; to submit each year for the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department a budget and to countersign all checks given for purchases for the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(b) Assistant fire chief. The assistant fire chief for the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department shall perform all the duties of the fire chief in his absence and shall otherwise assist him in the performance of the duties of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(c) Captain. The captain of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department shall perform all duties of the assistant fire chief in his absence. The captain shall also have the responsibility of scheduling all training programs for the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department as a whole.

(d) Lieutenants. Lieutenants of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department shall be responsible for the efficiency of their company and shall perform all duties delegated to them by the fire chief and/or assistant fire chief. It shall be the duty of each lieutenant to hold drills as instructed by the captain, to make proper assignment of personnel within their company for the most efficient handling of equipment during drills and/or fires and to otherwise discharge the duties of their office in the best possible manner.

(Code 1976, § 9-24; Ord. of 6-19-1981, §§ I? IV)

Sec. 46-45. Rules and regulations.

The Pooler Volunteer Fire Department operates under the rules and regulations as set forth in the Standard Operating Procedures as set by the fire chief.

(Code 1976, § 9-25)

Sec. 46-46. Equipment.

(a) The city may purchase from funds of the city and furnish to the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department such equipment and supplies for the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department as the aldermanic board at the time shall, in their discretion, deem necessary and advisable.

(b) Legal title to all uniforms, equipment and property of the existing Pooler Volunteer Fire Department is now vested in the city and all acquired equipment, property and uniforms shall continue to vest in the city.

(Code 1976, § 9-26)

Sec. 46-47. Funds.

(a) All monies collected in the name of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department are funds of the city and shall be accounted for in the same manner as all other funds of the city.

(b) All funds earned by the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department or its volunteers, or donated to the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department, shall be earmarked solely for the use of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department and shall be deposited in a federally insured bank in the name of the City of Pooler? Pooler Volunteer Fire Department Account. Such funds may be obtained from such account on approval of the board of fire commissioners and upon the signature of the chief of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department and the counter signature of the treasurer of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department.

(Code 1976, § 9-27)

Sec. 46-48. Interference.

It shall be unlawful for any person to interfere with the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department, or the chief of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department, or any member of the Pooler Volunteer Fire Department, while they, or any of them, are engaged in the discharge of their duties in extinguishing or preventing a fire or handling a medical emergency service.

(Code 1976, § 9-28)

State law references: Obstruction or hindering of firefighters, O.C.G.A. § 16-10-24.1.