Section 737.08. Composition and control of city fire department

(A) The fire department of each city shall be composed of a chief of the fire department and other officers, firefighters, and employees provided for by ordinance. Neither this section nor any other section of the Revised Code requires, or shall be construed to require, that the fire chief be a resident of the city.

(B) No person shall be appointed as a permanent full-time paid member, whose duties include fire fighting, of the fire department of any city, unless either of the following applies:

(1) The person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(2) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a village or other city prior to July 2, 1970, and receives a fire training certificate issued under section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(C) No person who is appointed as a volunteer firefighter of a city fire department shall remain in that position, unless either of the following applies:

(1) Within one year of the appointment, the person has received a certificate issued under former section 3303.07 of the Revised Code or section 4765.55 of the Revised Code evidencing satisfactory completion of a firefighter training program.

(2) The person began serving as a permanent full-time paid firefighter with the fire department of a village or other city prior to July 2, 1970, or as a volunteer firefighter with the fire department of a township, fire district, village, or other city prior to July 2, 1979, and receives a fire training certificate issued under section 4765.55 of the Revised Code.

(D) The director of public safety shall have the exclusive management and control of other surgeons, secretaries, clerks, and employees provided for by ordinance or resolution of the legislative authority of the city.

Effective Date: 01-25-2002; 04-05-2007