Oklahoma § 19-901.7 - Powers and duties of directors

§ 19-901.7. Powers and duties of directors

A. The board of directors shall have the power and duty to:

1. Manage and conduct the business affairs of such district;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

2. Make and execute all necessary contracts;

3. Purchase or lease-purchase and maintain all necessary and

convenient engines, hoses, hose carts or other appliances and

supplies for the full equipment of a fire company or department;

4. Appoint fire company officers and employees, sufficient to

maintain and operate the equipment owned by such district;

5. Take by grant, purchase, condemnation, gift, devise or

lease, and to dispose of, real or personal property of every kind

necessary for the operation of the district;

6. Construct or otherwise acquire suitable firehouses and other

buildings or structures suitable for the housing of equipment and

supplies of the district, or for carrying on its own business and

affairs;

7. Employ such officers and employees as may be required, fix

their compensation and prescribe their duties;

8. Establish rules and regulations for the district and for the

prevention of fires and conflagrations within the district and for

the protection of property at and during any fire;

9. Prepare an annual budget and follow existing laws pertaining

to the budget process such as public notices, public hearings,

protest periods and filing requirements in the same manner as they

apply to other forms of government in Oklahoma;

10. Determine vacancies of the board of directors, fill

vacancies and conduct board elections in the event of a vacancy on

the board of directors;

11. Develop bylaws for the due and orderly administration of

the affairs of the board of directors and for its responsibilities

specified pursuant to this chapter, and may compel the attendance of

absent members in the manner and under penalties as the board may

prescribe; and

12. Do any and all other things necessary and proper in the

management and operation of the district for the purpose of

protecting property within its boundaries from fire.

B. A fire protection district, created pursuant to this

chapter, shall be deemed a political subdivision of this state. The

board may submit an application to include the firefighters of the

district in the Oklahoma Firefighters Pension and Retirement System.

The application for affiliation shall be submitted in accordance

with subsection A of Section 49-105.2 of Title 11 of the Oklahoma

Statutes.

C. The Board of Directors may acquire a certification or

license to operate an emergency medical services agency from the

State Department of Health or contract for services with a certified

or licensed emergency medical service agency. The district’s

emergency medical service agency may respond outside of the district

boundaries; provided, that the political subdivisions having

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

jurisdiction over the area provide to the Department proper

documentation of their support.

Added by Laws 1949, p. 155, § 7. Amended by Laws 1982, c. 89, § 1;

Laws 1982, c. 320, § 7, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1983, c. 95, §

2, emerg. eff. May 9, 1983; Laws 1987, c. 202, § 21, eff. June 1,

1987; Laws 1992, c. 397, § 5, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1997, c. 221,

§ 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1997; Laws 2021, c. 179, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.

§19-901.7a. Fire chief for certain districts – Qualifications Duties.

All Fire Protection Districts having more than two full-time

paid firefighters shall have one full-time fire chief who shall

supervise and administer the fire protection district in accordance

with the policies and procedures prescribed by the board of

directors. The fire protection district shall be under the

direction and control of the fire chief. The fire chief, whether

permanent or interim, of any paid or combination fire protection

district shall have had at least three (3) years actual experience

as a paid firefighter before assuming the position of fire chief.

During the initial transition from a volunteer fire protection

district to one having more than two full-time firefighters, the

paid fire chief shall have had at least three (3) years of

experience as a paid firefighter or at least five (5) years of

experience as a volunteer fire chief officer with that department

before assuming the position of paid fire chief. The board may add

additional requirements to the position as necessary.

1. The fire chief:

a.

shall be at the head of the department, subject to the

laws of the State of Oklahoma, rules of the board of

directors and the rules and regulations herein

adopted,

b.

shall be held responsible for the general condition

and efficient operation of the department, the

training of members and the performance of all other

duties imposed upon him or her by law or the board of

directors,

c.

may inspect or cause to be inspected by members of the

department, the fire hydrants, cisterns and other

sources of water supply at least twice a year,

d.

shall maintain a library or file of publications on

fire prevention and fire protection and shall make use

of the library or file to the best advantage of all

members,

e.

shall make every effort to attend all fires and direct

the officers and members of the fire department in the

performance of their duties,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 19. Counties and County Officers

f.

shall see that the citizens are kept informed on fire

hazards within the boundaries of the department and on

the activities of the department,

g.

shall see that each fire is carefully investigated to

determine its cause, and in the case of suspicion of

incendiarism shall notify proper authorities. The

fire chief shall secure and preserve all possible

evidence for future use in the case of a suspicious

incendiarism, and

h.

shall file the appropriate activity reports utilizing

the National Emergency Response Information System

(NERIS) with the Office of the State Fire Marshal in

Oklahoma City. The activity report forms shall

include, but not be limited to, the amount of property

and vehicle fire loss, types of fires, inspections and

investigations. The report shall include notification

of all fire-related civilian deaths and injuries in

the respective jurisdiction and of firefighter deaths

in the line of duty and of firefighter injuries in the

line of duty requiring the services of a hospital or

physician or both, and these fire-related burn

injuries and death reports shall be completed within

forty-eight (48) hours of the incident.

2. Assistant fire chief. In the absence of the fire chief, the

assistant fire chief on duty shall command the department and be

held responsible therefore in all respects with the full powers and

responsibilities of the fire chief.

3. Company officers. The company officers shall be selected

upon their ability to meet the following requirements:

a.

knowledge of firefighting,

b.

leadership ability, and

c.

knowledge of firefighting equipment.

Added by Laws 2019, c. 206, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 2019. Amended by Laws

2025, c. 76, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2025.