Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act(N.J.S.A. 52:27D-192 et seq.; P.L. 1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code (N.J.A.C. 5:70-1 et seq.) shall be locally enforced the Township of Little Falls.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention in the Little Falls Township Fire Department, which is hereby created herein. The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall hereinafter be known as the local enforcing agency.
[Amended 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 1418]
A. 
The local enforcing agency shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings, structures and premises within the established boundaries of Little Falls, other than owner-occupied one-family and two-family dwellings, and shall faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Uniform Fire Safety Code.
B. 
In accordance with N.J.A.C. 5:71-3.3(a)25 investigate the cause, circumstances and origin of fires and report to the Township Police Department and to the Passaic County Prosecutor every case of suspicion of arson.
C. 
Support and administer the National Fire Incident Reporting System within the Township. The Fire Official or his designee shall certify all reports and submit required data.
The local enforcing agency established by § 82-2 of this chapter shall be under the direct supervision and control of a Fire Official who shall report to the Township Administrator.
[Amended 6-21-2004 by Ord. No. 938; 12-28-2015 by Ord. No. 1236]
A. 
Appointment and qualifications of the Fire Official. A person who holds a valid Fire Official's Certification issued by the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety and appointed by the Mayor.
[Amended 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 1418]
B. 
Appointment and qualifications of the Senior Fire Inspector. The Senior Fire Inspector shall be certified as a Fire Official by the State of New Jersey and appointed by the Township Administrator. The Senior Fire Inspector shall report to the Fire Official and be in charge of the Bureau of Fire Prevention in the event the Fire Official is absent for more than one week.
[Amended 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 1418]
C. 
Appointment and qualifications of fire inspectors and other employees. Fire inspectors and other employees shall be appointed by the Township Administrator. The Board of Fire Officers of the Little Falls Township Fire Department may provide the Township Administrator with recommendations for the appointment of fire inspectors and other employees, which recommendations shall be advisory and not binding upon the Township Administrator. The fire inspectors and other employees shall report to the Fire Official. All life hazard use inspectors shall be certified by the State of New Jersey.
[Amended 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 1418]
D. 
Term of office. The Fire Official, Senior Fire Inspector, each fire inspector and other employees shall serve for a term of one year. Any vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term.
E. 
Removal from office. The Fire Official, Senior Fire Inspector, fire inspectors and other employees shall be subject to removal by the Mayor for just cause. Before removal from office, the Fire Official, each fire inspector or other employees shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard by a hearing officer designated by the governing body. In the event of an adverse decision by the hearing officer, there shall be a right of appeal to the governing body.
[Amended 7-26-2021 by Ord. No. 1418]
The Board of Fire Officers of the Little Falls Township Fire Department may provide the Administrator with recommendations regarding any changes in the ordinance governing the Little Falls Township Bureau of Fire Prevention, which recommendations shall be advisory and not binding upon the governing body.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention established by § 82-2 of this chapter shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. Registration and inspection fees for life hazard uses shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 12-20-2004 by Ord. No. 952; 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 1060; 9-26-2011 by Ord. No. 1136]
In addition to the registrations and inspection fees required by the Uniform Fire Code, the following non-life-hazard uses shall register with the Bureau of Fire Prevention. These fees shall not be used for life-hazard uses as defined in the Uniform Fire Code.
A. 
Additional inspections and fees shall be required with regard to any use in the Township subject to the Uniform Fire Code. These uses shall be inspected not less than once every two years and pay an annual fee set forth in Chapter 71, Fees.
B. 
In the Discretion of the Fire Official, vacant buildings will be charged and inspected according to the previous use of the building.
C. 
Uses required to register with the state as life-hazard uses shall not be required to register under this section.
D. 
Payment of fees shall be made to the Township Bureau of Fire Prevention within 30 days of notice. Failure to pay the required fee on time will result in a penalty, equal to one times the amount of the unpaid fee.
A. 
The application fee for Type 1-4 permits listed in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.7 shall be in accordance with the provisions in N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9.
B. 
The cost for the issuance of a certificate of Fire Code status shall be as set forth in Chapter 71, Fees.
[Amended 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 1060]
[Amended 12-22-2008 by Ord. No. 1060]
In addition to the application fees for certificates of smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance set forth under N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.3 and N.J.A.C. 5:70-2.9, the reinspection fee for a certificate of smoke detector and carbon monoxide alarm compliance shall be as set forth in Chapter 71, Fees.