§ 23.55.400. Responsibility for payment.

A.

The responsibility for payment of the charges in section 23.55.300 shall rest jointly and severally upon the following:

1.

Owners of the property upon which the fire originated;

2.

Tenants of the property upon which the fire originated;

3.

Persons residing on the property upon which the fire originated; and

4.

Any person legally responsible for the fire by reason of negligence or otherwise.

B.

For the purpose of this section only, the term "fire" is meant to include not only fires but any action or omission to act which results in a needless or accidental alarm.

C.

A person responsible for payment of a charge under section 23.55.300 may file a request with the fire chief of the fire department that provided the charged-for services for a charge waiver or reduction, or to pay such charges on an installment plan. The fire chief shall act on such requests giving due regard to:

1.

Whether the charged-for services were provided to preserve the life or property of the person charged, or to preserve the life or property of others;

2.

Whether the charged-for services were requested by the person charged;

3.

Whether the charged-for services were provided to protect lives, and if the charged-for services were provided primarily to preserve property, whether the magnitude of the charges are significantly out of proportion to the value of the property preserved; and

4.

The financial circumstances of the person charged.

( AO No. 2015-127, § 1, 4-1-16 ; AO No. 2016-36(S), § 5, 3-22-16 )