[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted; Ord# 2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act (P.L. 1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code shall be
locally enforced in the Township of Bernards. This chapter supplements
the State Uniform Fire Safety Act and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder.
[Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020, added]
a. The definitions contained within the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code
shall be included herein by reference and shall be applicable to this
chapter.
b. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
AGRICULTURAL BURNING
The burning of herbaceous or infested plant life, the burning
of orchard prunings and cuttings, prescribed burnings and the clearing
of agricultural land by burning.
ANNUAL MOBILE FOOD VENDOR PERMIT
A permit issued by the Fire Official for a mobile food vendor
who may be operating in Bernards Township several times in a calendar
year. An annual mobile food vendor permit will only be available for
a calendar year expiring on December 31 of that year.
FIRE ALARM SYSTEM
A system or portion of a combination system consisting of
components and circuits arranged to monitor and annunciate the status
of fire alarm or supervisory signal-initiating devices and to initiate
the appropriate response to those signals.
FIRE LANE
A road or other passageway developed to allow the passage
of fire apparatus. A fire lane is designated by the Fire Official
and properly posted and marked in accordance with this chapter. The
terms "fire lane" and "fire zone" shall be interchangeable.
FIRE OFFICIAL
A person certified by the Commissioner of the Department
of Community Affairs and appointed by the Township Committee. The
terms "Fire Official" and "Fire Marshal" shall be interchangeable.
GREASE LADEN VAPORS
Vapors produced when cooking and/or preparing foods that
contain animal fat, vegetable shortening, and other such oily matter.
MOBILE FOOD VENDOR
A unit of closed construction designed to be driven or towed
from place to place, with equipment to cook, prepare, serve, or sell
food. This shall include but not be limited to mobile canteens, food
trucks, food trailers, and food carts.
OPEN BURNING
The burning of materials wherein products of combustion are
emitted directly into the ambient air without passing through a stack
or chimney from an enclosed chamber.
OUTDOOR FIREPLACE
An outdoor, solid-fuel-burning fireplace that may be constructed
of steel, concrete, clay, or other noncombustible material. An outdoor
fireplace may be portable, open in design, or may be equipped with
a small hearth opening and a short chimney or chimney opening in the
top.
PERMIT
An official document or certificate issued by the Fire Official
that authorizes performance of a specified activity.
RECREATIONAL FIRES
An outdoor fire burning materials other than rubbish where
the fuel being burned is not contained in an incinerator, outdoor
fireplace, portable outdoor fireplace, barbeque grill, or barbeque
pit and has a total fuel area of three feet or less in diameter and
two feet or less in height for pleasure, religious, ceremonial, cooking,
warmth or similar purposes.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted; Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bernards Township Bureau
of Fire Prevention. The terms "Bureau of Fire Prevention" and "Bureau
of Fire Safety" shall be equally recognized within this chapter and
shall be interchangeable.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcement 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 the Township of Bernards and shall faithfully comply
with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety Act and Uniform Fire
Code.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcing agency established by this
section shall carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses
required by the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of
Community Affairs.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
The local enforcing agency established by this
section shall be the Bernards Township Fire Prevention Bureau and
the Fire Official shall serve as the Chief Administrator.
[Ord. #1379, 3-27-2001, adopted]
a. Appointment of Fire Official. The Fire Official shall be under the direct supervision of the Township Engineer and shall be appointed by the Township Committee with consideration to the recommendation of the Township Administrator and Director of Human Resources in accordance with Chapter
2 of the Bernards Township General Ordinances.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]
b. Term of Office. The Fire Official shall serve for
a term of one year from January 1 in the year in which his appointment
is made.
c. Inspectors and Employees. Such inspectors and other
employees as may be necessary in the local enforcing agency shall
be appointed by the Township Committee upon the recommendation of
the Fire Official, Township Administrator and Director of Human Resources.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]
d. Identification Card. The Fire Official and inspectors of the enforcing
agency shall be issued a Township identification card and shall be
subject to carry said identification at all times as evidence of the
authority of the local enforcing agency.
[Ord. #2453, 9-29-2020, amended]
e. Removal from Office. The Fire Official, inspectors
and other employees of the enforcing agency shall be subject to removal
by the Township Administrator for inefficiency or misconduct. Each
inspector or employee to be so removed shall be afforded an opportunity
to be heard by the appointing authority or a designated hearing officer
in accordance with the Township's Employee Handbook of Personnel Policies
and Procedures, Employee Rights and Obligations, Disciplinary Actions
Procedures and Termination.
[Ord. #1839, 1-24-2006, amended]