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2017-16 ORDINANCE NO.- AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 13 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (2006) (FIRE PROTECTION AND PREVENTION) BY AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTIONS 13 -57 AND 13 -58 TO GRANT AND CONFIRM CERTAIN POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE FIRE MARSHAL AS AUTHORIZED BY STATE LAW. BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That Section 13 -57 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006) be amended and reordained to read as follows: Sec. 13 -57. - Assignment of inspectors. The chief of the department of fire, rescue and emergency services is hereby authorized to assign to the office of the fire marshal as chief inspector and fire marshal a properly qualified member of the department of fire, rescue and emergency services, who shall, ex officio, have the rank of battalion chief or captain. This person may also be designated by the chief of the department of fire rescue and emergency services as the fire official. Other members of such division may be assigned as deputy fire marshal or assistant fire marshal when so authorized and provided by the city manager or the chief of the department of fire, rescue and emergency services. In the absence of the fire marshal deputy and assistant fire marshals shall have the powers and perform the duties of the fire marshal. 2. That Section 13 -58 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia (2006) be amended and reordained to read as follows: Sec. 13 -58. — General powers, duties of fire marshal. (a) The fire marshal and all deputy and assistant fire marshals before entering upon their duties, shall respectively take an oath before any, officer authorized to administer oaths, faithfully to discharge the duties of such office; the certificate of oath shall be returned to and preserved by the city clerk on behalf of the city council (b)—The fire marshal shall be under the general supervision of the chief of the department of fire, rescue and emergency services and it shall be his duty to supervise and direct the work of the deputy and assistant fire marshals and by appropriate inspections to enforce all state laws and city ordinances relating to the prevention of fires, the storage and use of explosives and inflammables, the installation and maintenance of fire extinguishing equipment, the maintenance, regulation, location and construction of fire escapes, the means and adequacy of exits in case of fire, panic or accidents from factories, apartment houses, schools, lodginghouses, asylums, hospitals, churches, halls, theaters, amphitheaters, and all other places in which a number of persons work, live or congregate from time