STAGE FIREMEN AND FIREGUARDS (15-4-720 et seq.)

Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 15, ch. 15-4, art. XII

in effect

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-720 Requirements.

15-4-720 Requirements. It shall be the duty of every person conducting, operating or maintaining any theater which is used regularly for motion picture, theatrical or vaudeville purposes and having a seating capacity of 300 or more persons, to procure and keep at his, their or its own expense, one adult male person as a special stage fireman and one adult male person as a fireguard, who shall wear such uniforms and badges as the fire commissioner may prescribe. Such special stage fireman shall be kept on duty by every such person at every such theater conducted by him at least thirty minutes prior to the commencement of every performance and continuously thereafter during the entire time of such performance and until the entire audience shall have left the building; provided, however, that there shall be no necessity for the employment of a special stage fireman where the stage portion of any building is less than 72 square feet in area. (Prior code § 90-70; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 96)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-730 Duties of stage firemen.

15-4-730 Duties of stage firemen. It shall be the duty of the special stage fireman to see that all fire appliances on stage and above and below it, in the dressing rooms and throughout the basement of every such building used as theater are in their proper places and in good working order, that the tanks supplying the standpipes and sprinkler system are full of water; and that any ventilator above the stage is in good working order, to be determined by actually opening such ventilator(s) at least once in every two weeks. The result of such test shall be noted in daily reports hereinafter described. Such special stage firemen shall make daily reports in duplicate, in such manner and form as the fire commissioner shall prescribe which report shall be countersigned by the fireguard. The original of the said report shall be forwarded each day to the fire commissioner and the duplicate thereof shall be delivered to the owner of the theater where such special stage fireman is employed or to the person having the management thereof. Said special stage fireman shall be subject to the orders of the fire commissioner during such time as the theater shall be opened to or occupied by the public. (Prior code § 90-71; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 97)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-740 Duties of fireguard.

15-4-740 Duties of fireguard. It shall be the duty of the fireguard to see that all exit doors are unfastened and unobstructed, and that the aisles, corridors and fire escapes are kept clear and free from all obstructions. In the event of a fire, it shall be the fireguard's duty to see that the operation of the ventilation system in the auditorium is discontinued, and the fireguard shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the fire commissioner. Such fireguard may in the discretion of the owner or manager of the theater wherein the fireguard is employed, act as chief usher or auditorium superintendent during performance. (Prior code § 90-72; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 98)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-750 Monthly reports.

15-4-750 Monthly reports. It shall be the duty of any special stage fireman and fireguard to report in person to the fire commissioner at least once in each month. All special stage firemen and fireguards shall be subject to, and required to obey, such rules and regulations as the fire commissioner may prescribe governing the duties to be performed by special stage firemen and fireguards in conformity with this Code. (Prior code § 90-73; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 99)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-760 Other duties.

15-4-760 Other duties. This part of this chapter dealing with stage firemen and fireguards shall not be construed so as to prevent the owner or manager of a theater employing special stage firemen or fireguards from assigning such person so employed to duties other than those herein enumerated when the theater is not open to the public. (Prior code § 90-74)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 15-4-770 License required.

15-4-770 License required. The Fire Commissioner shall examine all persons who desire to seek employment as special stage firemen or fireguards as to their qualifications and fitness for the duties for which they seek to be employed. If the Fire Commissioner finds any such applicant to be competent, the Fire Commissioner shall, upon payment of $40.00 by the applicant to the Comptroller, issue a license to such applicant. The Fire Commissioner may revoke any such license at any time when the Fire Commissioner finds such special stage fireman or fireguard to be incompetent, inefficient, or neglectful of the duties required under this Article XII. Provided, however, that the Fire Commissioner shall give the licensee a reasonable opportunity to be heard before revocation. No person shall employ anyone as a special fireman or fire guard unless the person so employed is licensed as required in this section. (Prior code § 90-75; Amend Coun. J. 12-15-92, p. 27387; Amend Coun. J. 11-16-11, p. 13798, Art. I, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 5-18-16, p. 24131, § 100; Amend Coun. J. 11-14-18, p. 90376, Art. V, § 2)

Source: City of Chicago, Municipal Code of Chicago (American Legal Publishing, codelibrary.amlegal.com)URL: https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/chicago/latest/chicago_il/0-0-0-2677156Fetched: 10/24/2026