Los Angeles Charter - Fire Department PDF

Los Angeles Charter and Administrative Code FIRE DEPARTMENT Sec. 520. Powers and Duties of the Department. The Fire Department shall have the power and duty to: (a) control an...

Los Angeles Charter and Administrative Code FIRE DEPARTMENT Sec. 520. Powers and Duties of the Department. The Fire Department shall have the power and duty to: (a) control and extinguish injurious or dangerous fires and to remove that which is liable to cause those fires; (b) enforce all ordinances and laws relating to the prevention or spread of fires, fire control and fire hazards within the City, and the waters under the jurisdiction of the City, and vessels or structures thereon, provided however that nothing herein shall require the Fire Department to provide services to, on, in, or for the benefit of any lands, waters, properties or waterfront under the control of the Harbor Department, except pursuant to an agreement by the Board of Harbor Commissioners to reimburse the General Fund for the costs of those services; (c) conduct fire investigations; and (d) protect lives and property in case of disaster or public calamity. The scope and extent of those emergency powers and duties and the manner of their exercise shall be prescribed by ordinance consistent with Section 231(i). Sec. 521. Authority of Officers. The officers of the Fire Department who are in charge at the scene of any fire or emergency shall have full power and authority to direct the operation of controlling and containing the fire or emergency. The officers may prohibit approach to the fire or emergency site and may remove any person, vehicle, vessel or thing not needed in controlling and containing the fire or emergency or preserving property in the vicinity. This section shall not limit the authority of the master or officers of any vessel requiring Fire Department response, subject to the Fire Department's authority to control the operations in protection of the public interest. Sec. 522. Fire Chief. The chief administrative officer of the Fire Department shall be known as the Fire Chief and shall be appointed and removed as provided in Section 508. Sec. 523. Independent Assessor. The Independent Assessor shall report to the Board of Fire Commissioners and shall have the same access to Fire Department information as the Board of Fire Commissioners. The Independent Assessor shall have the power and duty to: (a) under rules established by the Board of Fire Commissioners, audit, assess and review the Fire Department's handling of complaints of misconduct committed by employees, sworn or civilian, of the Fire Department; (b) conduct any audit or assessment requested by majority vote of the board; (c) initiate any assessment or audit of the Fire Department or any portion of the Fire Department with prior notice to the Board of Fire Commissioners, and subject to the authority of the board by majority vote to direct the Independent Assessor not to commence or continue an assessment or audit; (d) keep the board informed of the status of all pending assessments and audits; and (e) appoint, discharge, discipline, transfer and issue instructions to employees under his or her direction.  SECTION HISTORY Added by Charter Amendment A, approved March 3, 2009, effective April 1, 2009. Sec. 524. Appointment of Independent Assessor. The Board of Fire Commissioners shall have the power to appoint and remove an Independent Assessor of The Fire Department subject to Section 245, whose position shall be exempt from the civil service provisions of Chapter X of the Charter and who shall not be a member of the Fire Department. This power shall be in addition to any other powers conferred upon the Board by the Charter. SECTION HISTORY Added by Charter Amendment A, approved March 3, 2009, effective April 1, 2009.