The purpose for the establishment of fire zones
is to ensure that fire equipment and other emergency vehicles have
unobstructed ingress and egress and fire-fighting and other emergency
personnel have unobstructed access to property devoted to public use,
areas where there exists public access to parking areas and buildings,
persons, vehicles, fire hydrants and standpipes thereon in case of
fire or other emergency.
Parking by any vehicles other than duly authorized
police, emergency or fire-fighting vehicles and equipment or placement
of any other obstruction is prohibited in any fire zone established
under this chapter.
Unless otherwise stated in this chapter, each
fire zone shall extend five feet from the curb or, if there is no
curb, from the building wall and shall be marked as follows:
A. Each fire zone shall be marked throughout its length
by a series of yellow diagonal lines or crosshatchings. The lines
shall be four inches wide, shall extend the width of the zone at an
angle of 60º from the curb or wall and shall be spaced 36 inches
apart.
B. The curb of each fire zone shall be painted yellow
for the entire length of the zone.
C. Each fire zone shall be posted with metal signs reading
"Fire Zone - No Parking." Each such sign shall be 18 inches high and
12 inches wide, shall be posted in a clearly visible area no more
than two feet from the curb and shall be posted with its lower edge
54 inches above grade level. There shall be such a sign at each end
of the fire zone and one for every 75 feet between, evenly spaced
between the ends.
[Amended 5-14-1985 by Ord. No. 85-5]
D. Where the crosshatching required in Subsection
A is not appropriate or not feasible, the Fire Prevention Inspector may authorize or permit the substitution of clearly visible yellow lettering, reading "FIRE ZONE, NO PARKING" in place of the crosshatching. The letters shall be 18 inches high, shall face away from the curb or wall and shall be repeated every 30 feet. In such a case, the fire zone shall be outlined with a four-inch wide yellow band.
E. Where the metal signs required in Subsection
C is not appropriate or not feasible, the Fire Prevention Inspector may authorize alternate methods of satisfying the intent of this chapter if the material, method or work is at least the equivalent of that required by this chapter in quality, effectiveness, durability and safety and meets or exceeds the intent of this chapter.
The owner or owners of each property designated
herein as a fire zone shall, at their own expense, be responsible
for marking the zone as required and maintaining such markings.
[Amended 11-25-1997 by Ord. No. 97-36]
It shall be unlawful for any person to obscure
from view, damage, deface or obstruct or restrict the access within
10 feet of any hydrant or any Fire Department connection for the pressurization
of Fire Department suppression systems, including fire hydrants, underground
storage tank connections, and Fire Department connections that are
located on public, private or unaccepted streets and access lanes
or on private property.
[Amended 9-12-2006 by Ord. No. 2006-24]
A. The Hillsborough Township Fire Chiefs or duly authorized
representative, Fire Marshal or police officer may enforce this chapter
by issuing a summons. If the Hillsborough Township Fire Chiefs or
duly authorized representative, Fire Marshal or police officer deems
it necessary, or any obstructions or encroachments are not removed,
the Hillsborough Township Fire Chiefs or duly authorized representative,
Fire Marshal or police officer shall proceed to remove same. Costs
incurred in the performance of necessary work shall be paid by the
owner of said obstruction or his representative.
B. Hillsborough Township, the Hillsborough Township Fire
Department and its representatives, the Hillsborough Township Bureau
of Fire Safety, the Hillsborough Township Board of Fire Commissioners,
the Hillsborough Township Fire Marshals and the Hillsborough Township
Police Department and its representatives shall not be responsible
or liable for damages done to any obstruction during an emergency
situation.
Any violation of any section of this chapter shall be deemed a Class A violation as it is defined in this Code, §
1-15. The violation of any section or subsection of this chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense independent of the violation of any other section or subsection or of any order issued pursuant to this chapter. Each day of violation shall constitute an additional, separate and distinct offense.