[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Town of Rock Hall 10-6-1977 by Ord. No. 26. (The provisions of this chapter are derived from Chapter 7 of the former Code of Ordinances of the Town of Rock Hall, adopted 10-6-1977 by Ord. No. 26. Former Section 705 pertaining to false alarms was omitted from this chapter and included in Ch. 159, Peace and Good Order, § 159-11.) Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 81.
Housing standards and property maintenance — See Ch. 133.
[Amended 8-10-1979 by Ord. No. 79-6]
There is hereby adopted by the Town of Rock Hall for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion that certain code known as the "Fire Prevention Code, Abbreviated Edition, recommended by the American Insurance Association," being particularly the 1976 Edition thereof and the whole thereof, save and except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended, of which code not fewer than three copies have been and now are filed in the office of the Clerk of the Town of Rock Hall. The same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and, from the date on which this chapter shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the town.
The office of Fire Official may be created. If such office is created, the Fire Official shall be appointed by the Mayor and Council and his compensation shall be determined by the Mayor and Council.
[Amended 4-2-1992 by Ord. No. 92-3]
A person may not cause or permit an open fire within the town limits except as provided in this regulation.
A. 
The Town Fire Official may issue or approve a permit, in writing, upon receipt of an application made on forms provided by the town, allowing an open fire, provided that all of the following conditions are met:
(1) 
The Fire Official is satisfied that there is no practical alternative method to dispose of the material to be burned.
(2) 
A hazardous condition or air pollution or nuisance will not be created.
(3) 
Fire control laws or regulations of other governmental agencies will not be violated.
(4) 
Materials which produce dense smoke when burned, including but not limited to tires and roofing material, will not be burned.
(5) 
Material to be burned shall have originated on the premises on which it is to be burned.
(6) 
A permit is obtained from the Kent County Public Health Department.
B. 
Permitted burning shall be between the hours of 4:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. except for Fire Department directed burning operations.
C. 
The Town Fire Official may impose other conditions to minimize creation of smoke, to prevent nuisances and air pollution and to protect the health, safety, comfort and property of any persons.
D. 
Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
OPEN FIRE
A fire where any material is burned in the open or in a receptacle other than a furnace, incinerator or other equipment connected to a stack or chimney.
Every person(s) or corporation engaged in conducting a hotel, boardinghouse, rooming house, restaurant or other business and the owner of every building within the town where flammable oil or other explosives are stored is required to keep and maintain on said premises a suitable fire extinguisher.
All public garages and repair shops within the town shall be fireproof. All private garages or other storerooms under any building used for human habitation wherein any motor or engine propelled by gasoline, coal-oil or other combustible material is kept shall be fireproof.
A. 
For the purposes of this section, "bulk plant" shall mean that portion of a property where flammable liquids are received by tank vessel, pipeline, tank car or tank vehicle and are stored or blended in bulk for the purpose of distributing such liquids by tank vessel, pipeline, tank car, tank vehicles or container; and "automotive service" station shall mean that portion of a property where flammable liquids used as motor fuels are stored and dispensed from fixed equipment into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles.
B. 
On or after the effective date of this chapter, no new bulk plant shall be constructed within the corporate limits of the Town of Rock Hall. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit the erection of automobile service stations within the town.
C. 
The Mayor and Council of Rock Hall or their designated representatives are hereby empowered to inspect any existing bulk plant facilities, including any flammable liquid transfer operations within the town. Whenever any dangerous or hazardous conditions, such as defective or improperly installed equipment or improper handling of flammable liquids, are found to exist, such conditions shall be ordered to be removed or remedied.
[Amended 8-10-1979 by Ord. No. 79-6; 5-5-1994 by Ord. No. 94-4]
Violations of this chapter shall be punishable as a municipal infraction. Violators shall be subject to a fine not to exceed $100. Repeat offenders may be assessed a fine not to exceed $200 for each repeat offense.