§ 2-177. Head of department; powers and duties.

(a)

The head of the fire rescue department shall be known as the fire chief.

(b)

The powers and duties of the fire chief shall be: to appoint deputy and assistant chiefs and such other officers as he may deem necessary, subject to the approval of the mayor. It shall be his duty to inspect or cause to be inspected by the fire rescue department, as often as necessary, all buildings, premises and public thoroughfares, except the interiors of private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any condition liable to cause fire, or any violations of the provisions or intent of any provision of this Code or other ordinance of the city affecting fire hazards. The fire chief shall control the department at all times. In case of fire, the fire chief shall have the power to tear down or in any manner remove any house, building or structure whenever it shall be absolutely necessary to do so in order to protect other buildings and property from fire in case of serious conflagration.

(Code 1979, §§ 11-23, 11-47)