As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the following meanings:
ALARM SYSTEM
The combination of sensory apparatus and related hardware
which, when activated by the appropriate stimulus, produces a signal
making known the existence of an emergency situation and requiring
immediate investigation and response by law enforcement agencies.
BUILDING OWNER
An individual, corporation, partnership or association owning
a structure within the Village of Ridgefield Park used for residential,
business, industrial, storage or charitable purposes or any related
purpose.
FALSE ALARM
The activation of an alarm system through mechanical failure,
malfunction, improper installation or the negligence of the owner
or lessee of such alarm system or his family, employees or agents.
"False alarm" shall not include alarms caused by hurricanes, tornadoes,
earthquakes or other acts of God.
TENANT
Any individual, corporation, partnership or association renting
a structure within the Village of Ridgefield Park used for residential,
business, industrial, storage or charitable purposes or any related
purpose.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
After a maximum of two false alarms in any one
thirty-day period, the owner or lessee of any alarm system shall be
assessed a fee of $25 plus a matching fee of $25 for Fire Department
use as per the Fire Code upon the occurrence of the third false alarm
during such thirty-day period. Such fee shall be paid to the Ridgefield
Park Fire Prevention Bureau after receipt of a written violation.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
The Fire Official or his representative shall
cause a written notice to be mailed to the owner or lessee of the
alarm system within 30 days of the third and each additional false
alarm, setting forth the fee due and payable under this chapter.
Police officers responding to all false alarms
shall file a written report indicating all pertinent information pertaining
thereto and a finding as to whether such false alarm was caused by
human carelessness, mechanical failure or by any other cause.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
If a determination is made by the Fire Prevention
Bureau or the Fire Department that the false alarm was caused by a
malfunction or mechanical failure of the equipment as opposed to human
carelessness or other cause, written notice of such determination
shall be given to the owner or lessee of the alarm system within 30
days thereof, who shall cause the same to be repaired promptly thereafter.
[Amended 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
In addition to the fee or fees payable under §
108-3, if three or more false alarms are caused by malfunction or mechanical failure of the alarm system, the Fire Official shall have the right to require the owner or lessee of such alarm system to disconnect the same until such time as it has been repaired, and the Fire Official may order the building vacated or a fire watch established as outlined under §
108-10. Neither the Village nor the Fire Official shall be responsible during the period the same is disconnected for any losses incurred by the owner or lessee.
Any owner or lessee may present evidence that
a false alarm was in fact not caused by human carelessness or negligence
or mechanical failure or malfunction, and the Police Chief may act
upon such evidence and determine that such was not in fact a false
alarm but was caused by hurricane, tornado or other violent act of
God.
All public buildings maintained by the governing
body of the Village of Ridgefield Park are specifically exempted from
the provisions contained in this chapter.
[Added 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
A. All fire alarm systems shall utilize a common access code as determined
by the Fire Official and the Fire Chief.
B. All new construction and new installations will be required to utilize
this code prior to final approval by the Fire Subcode Official. Existing
alarms will have one year from the most recent fire inspection to
update the system to utilize the new access code.
C. Failure to update or maintain the alarm system in the allotted time
and as required thereafter shall be a violation of this section, punishable
by a monetary penalty issued by the Fire Official as permitted by
the New Jersey State Fire Code.
D. This section shall not apply to single-family or two-family structures.
[Added 7-13-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-10]
A. There is hereby created a Fire Watch Program in the Village of Ridgefield
Park.
B. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
FIRE WATCH
A temporary measure intended to ensure continuous and systematic
surveillance of a building or portion thereof by one or more qualified
individuals for the purpose of identifying and controlling fire and
other hazards, detecting early signs of fire, raising an alarm of
fire to the occupants, notifying the Fire Department and engaging
in firefighting or other emergency activity.
C. A fire watch may be ordered by the Fire Official or his/her designee,
except that in an emergency, or in his/her absence, the ranking Fire
Department officer present may act on his/her own. Fire watches may
be posted in any portion of the Village and in any public or privately
owned buildings and/or properties as necessary. Such fire watches
shall be paid for by the applicable building owner, tenant, lessee
or management company of a specific property and are to be implemented
under the following circumstances:
(1) Required fire protection systems are out of service.
(2) Fire watch is requested by the building owner, tenant, lessee or
management organization.
(3) Public and private events with high occupancy loads as deemed appropriate
by the Fire Official and his/her assigned designee.
(4) All other situations as deemed necessary by the Fire Official or
his/her assigned designee.
D. Fire watches shall be performed by a member of Fire Prevention or
a member of the Ridgefield Park Fire Department with a minimum of
three years of experience.
E. Persons appointed to perform fire watch duties shall be considered
hourly, at-will employees of the Village, subject to all ordinances,
rules and regulations.
F. All fire watch services ordered for the protection of property shall
be paid at a rate of $50 per hour, per individual, and there shall
be a minimum fee of four hours per individual. If it is determined
that a fire apparatus is required, it will be manned by three firefighters
at the normal hourly rate per individual, plus a fee of $250 per hour
for the use of each piece of Village fire apparatus. An administrative
fee of 10% will be applied to all billings for fire watch services.
All payments shall be made within 10 days after the services are provided,
and payments shall be made payable to the Village of Ridgefield Park.