[HISTORY: Adopted by the Borough Council (now Municipal Council) of the Borough of Monroeville (now Municipality of Monroeville) 5-10-1960 by Ord. No. 197. Amendments noted where applicable.]
From and after the approval of this chapter there shall be and is hereby created a Division of Fire Prevention.
The Division of Fire Prevention is hereby delegated to carry out the enforcement of all laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Municipality of Monroeville bearing on fire prevention and covering the following in the manner and to the extent hereinafter set forth.
A. 
To provide for certain inspections to ensure against fire hazards.
B. 
To provide and require that the owner or occupant of any building shall remove any combustible or explosive matter therein and correct flammable conditions, upon the order of the Fire Chiefs, to safeguard life or property, and to provide that said Chiefs may close the building or premises pending such removal or correction, and if the owner or occupant fails to obey such order, may have the necessary work done at the expense of the Municipality, to be recovered by the Municipality.
C. 
To require the installation and maintenance, in such buildings as shall be designated, of standpipes, sprinkling systems, hose lines and other similar appliances.
D. 
To require the installation and maintenance, in such buildings as shall be designated, of portable fire apparatus such as axes, pike poles, hose and reels, ladders, chemical extinguishers, portable pumps and other similar appliances.
E. 
To provide for the keeping of all halls, doors, stairways, passageways, aisles, fire escapes and exits in such repair and so free from obstruction as to provide, in case of fire, full free, safe and adequate means of escape for those people who use frequently or are employed in such buildings.
F. 
To provide, for the purpose of preventing fire, the spread of fire, fire waste, danger to life in case of fire and loss of life or damage to the property from unsafe or improper construction or design of buildings, regulations and specifications for construction, equipment, arrangement, maintenance, alteration and inspection, heating, cooling and lighting, stairways, doorways, elevators, fire towers, fire escapes, exits, aisles, passageways, floor levels, seats, fire alarms and all other means of providing safe escape in case of fire for all buildings which may hereafter be constructed for use as stores, manufacturing establishments, churches, theaters, dance halls, lodging houses, tenements, dwellings, stables, storage houses, office buildings, hospitals, asylums, hotels, colleges, schools, dry-cleaning establishments, garages and all other buildings where a large number of people have homes, congregate or are employed.
G. 
To provide regulations and specifications for the construction and arrangement, maintenance, alteration and inspection of proper, adequate and safe means and appliances to prevent the spread of fire and to enable the occupants to escape safely in case of fire.
H. 
To provide for the preparation and distribution by the Division of Fire Prevention of rules and regulations to minimize the danger of fire and lessen fire waste, not inconsistent with the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the ordinances of the Municipality of Monroeville.
The Fire Chiefs or their designated assistants shall inspect, as often as may be necessary, all specially hazardous manufacturing processes, storage and installations of acetylene or other gases, chemicals, oils, explosives and flammable materials, all other interior fire alarms and automatic sprinkler systems in such other hazards or appliances and shall make such report as may be necessary for the enforcement of the laws and ordinances governing the same and for the safeguarding of life and property from fire.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Fire Chiefs or their designated assistants to inspect, as often as may be necessary, all buildings, premises and public thoroughfares, except the interiors of private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire or any violation of the provisions and intent of any ordinance of the Municipality affecting the fire hazard.
B. 
Whenever the Fire Chiefs, or their assistants so designated as authorized by the Chiefs in writing, shall find in any building or upon any premises or other place combustible or explosive matter or dangerous accumulation of rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of wastepaper, boxes, shavings or highly flammable material especially liable to fire which is so situated as to endanger property, or shall find obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows liable to interfere with the operations of a Monroeville Fire Company or the egress of occupants of said premises in case of fire, the Chiefs shall order the manner of improvement to ensure proper safety, which shall be complied with by the owner or occupant of such premises or buildings, subject to appeal within three days to the Mayor of the Municipality of Monroeville, as provided in this chapter.
C. 
Any owner or occupant failing to comply with such order within a reasonable period after the issuing of said order shall be liable for a penalty as hereinafter provided. Service of notice of such order may be made upon the occupant of the premises to whom it is directed, either by delivering a copy of same to such occupant personally or by delivering the same to and leaving it with an adult person in charge of the premises, or, in case no such adult person is found upon the premises, by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous place on the door at the entrance of said premises. Whenever it may be necessary to serve such an order upon the owner or occupant of the premises, such order may be served either by delivering to or leaving with said person a copy of said order; or, if said owner is absent from the Municipality of Monroeville and the premises should not be occupied, then service of such order may be made upon the owner by mailing such copy to the owner's last known post office address.
The Fire Chief, upon the complaint of any person or whenever he shall deem it necessary, shall inspect or designate any of his assistants to inspect the buildings and premises, except the interiors of private dwellings, within their jurisdiction.
Whenever any of said officers shall find any building or other structure which for want of automatic or other fire alarm apparatus or fire extinguishment equipment or by reason of age or a dilapidated condition or from any other cause is especially liable to fire and which is so situated as to endanger other property or the occupants thereof, and whenever such officer shall find in any building combustible or explosive matter or flammable conditions dangerous to the safety of said building or occupants thereof, he or they shall order such dangerous condition to be removed or remedied, and such order shall forthwith be complied with by the owner or occupant of said building. If such order is made by the Fire Chief, such owner or occupant may within three days appeal to the Mayor of the Municipality of Monroeville, who shall within three days review such order and file his decision thereon, and unless by this authority the order is revoked, it shall remain in full force and be complied with within the time fixed in said order.
The Fire Chiefs or their assistants' specially authorized thereto may, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., enter any building or premises, excepting the interior of private dwellings, within their jurisdiction for the purpose of making any inspection or investigation which under the provisions of this chapter may be necessary to be made.
Upon receipt of a written request by the property owner, the Fire Chiefs may inspect private property and give a written report of their findings.
The Fire Chiefs shall, at the first regular meeting in February, August and December, render to the Municipal Council a complete written report of their actions taken and contemplated.
No person shall be permitted to make any inspections under this chapter who has not filed his name with the Municipal Manager and received from him an identification card authorizing him as a proper person to make such inspections.
[Amended 7-8-1997 by Ord. No. 2042]
Any person or persons, firms or corporations violating any of the provisions of this chapter or neglecting to comply with any order issued pursuant to any section hereof shall, upon conviction thereof before any district justice of the Municipality of Monroeville, be fined in a sum not exceeding $1,000, plus costs of prosecution, and, in default of payment of such fine and costs, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 days.