Powers and duties of the Chief of Police in his capacity as ex-officio chief of fire department.
Section 77
SEC. 77. Powers and duties of the Chief of Police in his capacity as ex-officio chief of fire department.—The chief of police, in his capacity as ex-officio chief of the fire department shall have the following powers and duties: He shall issue supplementary regulations not incompatible with law or general regulations issued by the proper department head of the National Government in accordance with law, for the governance of the fire force; He shall have charge of the fire-engine houses, the fire engines, hose trucks, hooks and ladders, trucks and other fire apparatus; He shall have the full police powers in the vicinity of fires; He shall have authority to remove or demolish any building or other property whenever it shall become necessary to prevent the spreading of fire or to protect adjacent property; He shall investigate and report to the city mayor upon the origin and cause of all fires occurring within the city; He shall inspect all buildings erected or under construction or repair within the city, and determine whether they provide sufficient protection against fire and comply with the ordinances relating thereto; He shall have charge of the city telegraph, telephone and fire alarm service; He shall have exclusive power, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, to supervise and regulate the stringing, grounding, and installation of wires for all electrical connections with a view to avoiding conflagrations, interference with public traffic or safety or the necessary operation of the fire department; He shall condemn all defective electrical installations, and shall take the necessary steps to effect immediate corrective actions, informing the city mayor of the action thus taken, He shall supervise the manufacture, storage, and use of petroleum, gas, acetylene, gunpowder, and other highly combustible matter and explosives; No permit for the construction or repair of buildings within the city shall be granted unless the plans relative thereto have been approved by the chief of the lire department. He shall have the power to alter or disapprove such plans as do not provide for adequate protection against the occurrence of fires; and He shall have such powers and perform such duties as may further be prescribed by law or ordinance.