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August 19, 2002 Page 430 minimum requirements; therefore, efforts should be made toward improving fire protection through equipment purchases and water supply development. All equipment specified shall be kept in good condition and operative at all times. Primary pumpers shall be subjected to an annual service test, as prescribed by the ISO, and records of the test shall be filed with the fire marshal. (8) Each department shall carry liability insurance on its personnel and equipment in the indemnity amount of at least $1,000,000.00, and further holding the county harmless from any responsibility for damages, claims, or expenses resulting from the activities of its firefighters or from the operation of its equipment. Each fire department shall also carry worker's compensation insurance on its active members in order to provide those members with the benefits of the worker's compensation act. A certificate of insurance for each department shall be on file at the fire marshal's office. (9) The fire department shall carry out an organized training program which shall provide a minimum of 36 hours per year training. The training program shall include the training and qualifying of apparatus drivers. Written records shall be kept on all drills and include subject taught, instructor, hours, and members attending. (10) The fire chief for each department is responsible for stressing safety throughout the department and all phases of the department activities. Emphasis shall be placed on safe driving of department owned apparatus and the firefighter's personal automobile to emergencies, as well as on safe practices while fighting a fire. Only qualified drivers shall drive the fire apparatus. Drivers shall operate apparatUs with caution at all times and allow no one but active firefighters to ride the apparatus when it is on call to a fire or other emergency. (11) The senior fire officer within whose area a fire emergency occurs is the authority on the fire scene or when a fire occurs outside a recognized fire district the senior fire officer of the first arriving department shall be the authority. Each fire department shall respond to the call of the fire marshal who shall assist the officer in charge in coordinating the activities of the responding fire departments, when requested, at the fire emergency. (12) The senior fire officer responsible for the fire emergency shall make a full investigation of each fire to determine, if possible, the cause of the fire. A report of the findings 'of this investigation shall be forwarded to the fire marshal within 30 days of the fire on forms supp!icd designed by the firc marshal National Fire Reporting System. If evidence shows the fire may be incendiary or if persons are injured or killed, the fire marshal and other necessary state and local officials shall be notified immediately. (13) The department shall furnish to the board of county commissioners an independent audit of receipts and disbursements for the fiscal year conducted by an accountant certified by the state. This audit, including a financial statement for the previous fiscal year and an auditor's opinion, shall be submitted annually with the department's budget request. If the audit was completed more than 120 days before the budget request is due, an additional financial statement of fund balances and expected expenditures will be furnished with the audit. (14) The fire chief shall be responsible for filing all reports required by local, state and federal agencies. (15) Each department involved with the medical first responders program shall provide basic life support to sick and injured persons and shall work under the guidelines set forth by the first responder ordinance. (16) Each department shall provide a means of notifying members of a fire call. This system may include a siren capable of being activated by the county fire dispatch center and should include radio receivers for individual members or a telephone call system to be used by members. (Ord. of 12-2-85, § 5; Ord. of 4-3-86, § 5; Ord. of 4-7-86, § 5) Sec. 34-31. Duties of fire marshal. The duties of the county fire marshal are : (1) Act as a liaison between the fire departments and the county manager and the board of county commissioners and shall keep them informed on matters involving fire departments, fire districts, and tax districts.