It shall be the duty of the fire chief of the department and his assistants whenever
an emergency shall occur in the city to immediately report to the place of such fire
and take proper measures for placing apparatus in the most advantageous position.
The assistant chiefs, battalion chiefs, captains, lieutenants and drivers of the respective
companies on arrival at an emergency shall immediately report to the fire chief; provided
that in the absence of the fire chief or assistant chief, the battalion chief or the
first captain to arrive at the fire shall be the person in command. When the fire
chief shall arrive at a fire, he shall have sole command over all other officers,
all members of the department and all other persons who may be present at the fire.
The fire chief shall take all proper measures for extinguishing the fires and protection
of property and for preservation of the laws of the state and ordinances of the city
and regulations respecting fires.
