[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Melrose as Rev. Ords. 1976, §§ 5-2 and 8-1 to 8-4 (Rev. Ords. 1989, §§ 4-2, 4-3 and 7-1 to 7-4). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 24, Art. II.
Emergency management — See Ch. 30.
Alarm devices — See Ch. 89.
Inflammables and explosives — See Ch. 137.
For the purpose of further protecting the City against damage by fire, fire limits, to be known as "Districts A and B," are hereby established and provided for as follows:
A. 
District A. District A shall be bounded as follows: Beginning at a point on the southwesterly corner of Essex Street and Main Street; thence westerly on Essex Street to the Boston and Maine railroad tracks; thence southerly on said railroad tracks to the northeasterly corner of Berwick and Grove Streets; thence on a true line to the northeasterly corner of the Lincoln School building; thence 150 feet back on West Wyoming Avenue running easterly to 150 feet east of the southeasterly corner of East Wyoming Avenue and Main Street; thence northerly 150 feet back of Main Street to within 150 feet of the southeasterly corner of Grove and Main Streets; thence 150 feet back on said Grove Street running easterly to Walnut Street; thence northerly to within 150 feet of East Foster Street; thence 150 feet back on East Foster Street running easterly to Dell Avenue to the westerly side of Dell Avenue to the southwesterly corner of Upham Street and Dell Avenue; thence on Upham Street to the point of beginning.
B. 
District B. District B shall be bounded as follows: Essex Street a distance of 150 feet back on the north and east sides of said street and to the railroad on the west side; Tremont Street from West Emerson Street to the Lynn Fells Parkway on the east side to a depth of 150 feet and on the west side of the railroad; Main Street a distance of 150 feet back on both sides of said street from Upham and Essex Streets to Reading Hill Avenue; Green Street a distance of 150 feet back on both sides of said street from Franklin Square to Howard Street; Franklin Street a distance of 150 feet back on both sides of said street from Franklin Square to Greenwood Street; West Emerson Street a distance of 150 feet back on both sides of the street from the railroad tracks to Vinton Street.
[Added 9-17-1979 by Ord. No. 20322; amended 4-22-1980 by Ord. No. 20577]
A. 
All buildings or structures occupied in whole or in part for residential purposes and not regulated by MGL c. 148, § 26A, 26B or 26C, shall, upon the sale or transfer of such building or structure, be equipped by the seller with approved smoke detectors as provided in MGL c. 148, § 26E.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
B. 
The head of the Fire Department shall enforce the provisions of this section. The provisions of MGL c. 148, § 30, shall not apply to this section.
A. 
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to take cognizance of every building in the City in which any steam engine shall be used and of all buildings in the City in the process of erection or alteration and to make a record of such use thereof as in his/her judgment may, from any cause, be dangerous in case of fire and report the same to the State Fire Marshal forthwith.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
B. 
Whenever, in the Chief's opinion, any chimney, hearth, oven, stovepipe, fire frame or other fixture, or whatever else may give just cause for alarm, should be altered, repaired or removed, the Chief shall forthwith notify and direct the owner of the premises upon which the same is situated to alter, repair or remove the same as he/she may direct.
C. 
In case of neglect or refusal so to do, the Chief shall cause the same to be removed, altered or repaired at the expense of such owner, who shall also be liable to a penalty not exceeding $20 for such neglect or refusal. Any person who shall obstruct the Chief in carrying out the provisions of this section shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding $150 for each offense.
[Amended 8-21-2017 by Ord. No. 2018-4]
Whenever it shall be determined by the officer in command at any fire that it is necessary to pull down or demolish any building in order to prevent the spreading of fire, the same may be done by his/her order, in accordance with the statute in such case made and provided.
State law references — Demolition of buildings to prevent spread of fire, MGL c. 48, §§ 3 to 5; burnt or dangerous buildings as nuisances, MGL c. 139, §§ 1 to 3.
Any person intentionally raising a false alarm of fire shall be prosecuted by the Chief of the Fire Department according to law.
State law references — Interfering with fire signal system, MGL c. 268, § 32; punishment for causing a false alarm of fire, MGL c. 269, § 13.
No person, without the permission of the Chief of the Fire Department, the Assistant Chief or the officer in charge, shall drive a vehicle upon or over any hose placed in the street for use at a fire.
State law reference — Driving over fire hose, MGL c. 89, § 7A.
[Added 2-3-1992 by Ord. No. 92-118A; amended 3-2-1992 by Ord. No. 92-118; 11-15-2004 by Ord. No. 05-083; 12-16-2013 by Ord. No. 2014-56; 7-17-2023 by Order No. 2023-5]
The following fees shall be charged by the Melrose Fire Department for the following services:
A. 
Smoke detector inspection:
(1) 
One to five units: $50 per unit.
(2) 
Six to 25 units: $50 plus $25 per unit.
(3) 
Over 25 units: $125 plus $25 per unit.
B. 
Smoke detector reinspection: $50 per unit.
C. 
Installation or removal of above- or below-ground storage tank: $50 (up to 275 gallons); $150 (over 275 gallons).
D. 
Install oil burner equipment: $50.
E. 
Propane storage (annually): $50.
F. 
Storage of flammable liquid/gas/solid (annually): $50.
G. 
Storage of gunpowder/black powder (annually): $50.
H. 
Ammunition storage license (annually): $25.
I. 
Acetylene storage (annually): $50.
J. 
Tar kettle: $50.
K. 
Tank truck inspections (biannually): $100.
L. 
Blasting permit: $250.
M. 
Reissue permits: $25.
N. 
Supervised display of fireworks: $50.
O. 
Copy of fire reports: $50.
P. 
Sprinkler test: $150.
Q. 
Salamanders: $50.
R. 
Building demolition: $100.
S. 
Connection to municipal fire alarm system: $150.
T. 
Plans review:
(1) 
One to two families: $50.
(2) 
Three to five families: $100.
(3) 
Six to 25 families: $200.
(4) 
Twenty-six families or more: $250.
(5) 
Commercial: $150.
U. 
Hospital inspection: $200 annual.
V. 
Nursing home inspection: $100 annual.
W. 
Place of assembly inspection: $50 annual.
X. 
Fire inspection for common victualler: $50 annual.
Y. 
Underground tank, slurry filled: $100.
Z. 
Tent permit: $50.
AA. 
Model rocket: $25.
BB. 
Tank registration FP290: $100 (five years).
CC. 
Paint spray booth: $25 annual.
DD. 
Multifamily (four and above)/commercial/industrial inspection fee: $100 annual.
EE. 
Master box connection: $250 annual.
FF. 
Penalty for premature work: where any work is started without a permit, all required fees will be triple the scheduled fee.