A Bureau of Fire Prevention in the Borough of
Heidelberg is hereby established and it shall operate under the direct
supervision of the Fire Chief of the Heidelberg Volunteer Fire Department.
The Bureau shall in his absence be directed and operated by the Assistant
Fire Chief of the Heidelberg Volunteer Fire Department.
It shall be the duty of the officers of the
Bureau of Fire Prevention under the supervision of the Fire Chief
to enforce all laws and ordinances of the Borough of Heidelberg, relating
to the following:
B. The storage and use of explosives and flammables.
C. The installation and maintenance of fire alarm systems
and fire-extinguishing equipment.
D. The maintenance and regulation of fire escapes.
E. The means and adequacy of exit in case of fire from
factories, schools, hotels, lodging houses, asylums, hospitals, churches,
halls, theaters, amphitheaters, and all other places in which numbers
of persons work, live, or congregate from time to time for any purpose.
F. The investigation of the cause, origin, and circumstances
of fires.
The Bureau of Fire Prevention shall investigate
the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the
Borough of Heidelberg by which property has been destroyed or damaged
and, so far as possible, shall determine whether the fire is the result
of carelessness or design, and investigations shall begin immediately
upon the occurrence of such a fire by the Fire Chief and, if it appears
to be of suspicious origin, the Chief shall notify the proper authorities
designated by law to pursue the investigation of such matters and
shall further cooperate with the authorities in the collection of
evidence and in the prosecution of the case. Every fire shall be reported
in writing within two days after the occurrence of the same in the
Fire Company records. Such report shall contain a statement of all
facts relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire,
the extent of the damage thereof, and the insurance upon such property,
and such other information as may be required. The Fire Chief shall
submit an annual report to Borough Council of all fires that have
occurred in the Borough during the calendar year.
When a building or other structure is used commercially
or industrially, or where such building or structure is used as an
apartment house, or any combination of buildings or structures comprising
four or more units for family or individual residences, or where such
building or structure shall be used as a place of assembly, the owners
and/or developers and/or their rental agents, officers and employees
or any other persons connected with such buildings in some managerial
capacity shall provide, mark off and restrict certain parking area
or areas used by vehicles so as to provide the highest possible public
safety regarding the passage of fire vehicles, police cars and other
vehicles used in fighting or preventing fires or other disaster, and
the said owners and/or developers, rental agents, officers and employees
or any other persons connected with such buildings in some managerial
capacity shall restrict parking in those areas so designated and shall
maintain such areas so designated so as to be clear of obstruction
to the passage by any fire vehicles or police vehicles or other emergency
vehicles. Further, the same shall be so protected as to provide the
highest possible public safety conforming to approved rules and regulations
of the National Fire Protection Association.
Any person or persons, firm or corporation violating
any of the provisions of this chapter, in neglecting to comply with
any order issued pursuant to any section thereof, shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $300 and the cost
of prosecution or, upon default in payment of the fine and costs,
by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not exceeding 30 days.
Additionally, where the person or persons, firm or corporation convicted
of a violation of this chapter shall refuse to make any such correction
or removal, Borough Council may authorize the Fire Chief or any person
to remove the violation and charge the cost thereof to the owner or
occupant, or both, said cost to be liened where allowed by law and
to be collected as are other debts by the Borough of Heidelberg.