Opinion Number

Dear Chief Ford:

You advise that you are the Fire Chief of the Lincoln Parish Fire Protection District No. 1 (the District), a combination fire department, consisting of both paid, full-time employees and volunteer members. You further advise that the District has twenty-nine (29) pieces of fire suppression or rescue apparatus.

Given these facts, you ask this office to advise how your department must proceed in order to be in compliance with La.R.S.33:1967(A), a statute requiring "a member of the department holding the rank of captain shall be in charge of each force in each fire company during…