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.
[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.
