[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the Borough
of Wood-Ridge as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 12-26-1975 by Ord. No. 700 as Ch. XI of the 1975
Revised General Ordinances (Ch. 146, Art. I, of the 1986 Code); amended 3-28-1979 by Ord. No.
746[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: The following original sections which appeared in this article were repealed 10-20-1986 by Ord. No. 86-16: § 11-1.1(a), Establishment; § 11-1.1(b), Adoption of Fire Prevention Code; § 11-1.2, Composition; § 11-1.3, Duties; § 11-1.4, Annual Report; § 11-2, Definition; § 11-3, Standards; § 11-4, Inspections; § 11-5, Fires; § 11-6, School Fire Drills; § 11-7, Licenses and Permits, as amended 3-28-1979 by Ord. No. 716, 7-11-1979 by Ord. No. 752 and 12-19-1983 by Ord. No. 21-83; § 11-8, Flash Point Determination; § 11-9, Modifications; § 11-10, Liability for Damages; and § 11-11, Interpretation.
There are hereby adopted by the Borough of Wood-Ridge the fire
control measures and regulations as herein set forth for the purposes
of controlling conditions which could impede or interfere with fire
suppression forces.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
The Fire Chief or his duly authorized representatives, as may
be in charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency involving the
protection of life and/or property, are empowered to direct such operations
as may be necessary to extinguish or control any suspected or reported
fires, gas leaks or other hazardous conditions or situations or to
take any other action necessary in the reasonable performance of their
duty. The Fire Chief may prohibit any person, vehicle or object from
approaching the scene and may remove or cause to be removed from the
scene any person, vehicle or object which may impede or interfere
with the operations of the Fire Department. The Fire Chief may remove
or cause to be removed any person, vehicle or object from hazardous
areas. All persons ordered to leave a hazardous area shall do so immediately
and shall not reenter the area until authorized to do so by the Fire
Chief.
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt to interfere
with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict the mobility
of or block the path of travel of any Fire Department emergency vehicle
in any way or to interfere with, attempt to interfere with, conspire
to interfere with, obstruct or hamper any Fire Department operation.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse to comply with any
lawful order or direction of the Fire Official or interfere with the
compliance attempts of another individual.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over any unprotected
firehose of the Fire Department when laid down on any street, alleyway,
private drive or any other vehicular roadway without the consent of
the Fire Chief in command of said operation.
A.
Authorized emergency vehicles shall be restricted to those which
are defined and authorized under the laws of the State of New Jersey.
B.
Upon the approach of any authorized emergency vehicle, giving audible
and visual signal, the operator of every other vehicle shall immediately
drive the same to a position as near as possible and parallel to the
right-hand edge or curb of the street or roadway, clear of any intersection,
and shall stop and remain in such position until the authorized emergency
vehicle or vehicles shall have passed, unless otherwise directed by
the Fire Chief or a police officer.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
It shall be unlawful for the operator of any vehicle, other
than one on official business, to follow closer than 300 feet to any
fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm or to drive any
vehicle within the block or immediate area where fire apparatus has
stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
A person shall not, without proper authorization from the Fire
Chief in charge of said Fire Department emergency equipment, cling
to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board or swing upon any
Fire Department emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion or
at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing device
thereon, or manipulate or tamper with or attempt to manipulate or
tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on or a part of any
Fire Department emergency vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage or deface or attempt
or conspire to damage or deface any Fire Department emergency vehicle
at any time or to injure or attempt to injure or conspire to injure
Fire Department personnel while performing departmental duties.
A.
The driver of any emergency vehicle shall not sound the siren thereon
or have the front red lights on or disobey any existing traffic regulation,
except when said vehicle is responding to an emergency call or when
responding to, but not upon returning from, a fire. Tactical strategies,
such as but not restricted to move-ups, do not constitute an "emergency
call." The driver of an emergency vehicle may:
(1)
Park or stand, irrespective of the provisions of existing traffic
regulations.
(2)
Proceed past a red or stop signal or other sign, but only after slowing
down as may be necessary for safe operation.
(3)
Exceed the prima facie speed limit, so long as he does not endanger
life or property.
(4)
Disregard regulations governing direction of movement or turning
in specified directions.
B.
The exemptions herein granted to an emergency vehicle shall apply
only when the driver of any such vehicle while in motion sounds audible
signal by bell, siren or exhaust whistle as may be reasonably necessary
and when the vehicle is equipped with at least one lighted lamp displaying
a red light visible under normal atmospheric conditions from a distance
of 500 feet to the front of such vehicle.
A.
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, obstruct or restrict
the access to any fire hydrant or any Fire Department connection for
the pressurization of fire suppression systems, including fire hydrants
and Fire Department connections that are located on public or private
streets and access lanes or on private property.
B.
If upon the expiration of the time mentioned in a notice of violation
obstructions or encroachments are not removed, the Fire Official shall
proceed to remove the same. Cost incurred in the performance of necessary
work shall be paid from the municipal treasury on certificate of the
Fire Official and with the approval of the chief administrative official,
and the legal authority of the municipality shall institute appropriate
action for the recovery of such costs.
A person shall not use or operate any fire hydrant intended
for use of the Fire Department for fire suppression purposes, unless
such person first secures a permit for such use from the Fire Official
and the water company having jurisdiction. This section shall not
apply to the use of such hydrants by a person employed by and authorized
to make such use by the water company having jurisdiction.
A.
The Fire Official shall recommend to the chief administrative official
of the municipality the location or relocation of new or existing
fire hydrants and the placement or replacement of inadequate water
mains located upon public property and deemed necessary to provide
an adequate fire flow and distribution pattern. A fire hydrant shall
not be placed into or removed from service until approved by the Fire
Official.
B.
All new and existing shipyards, oil storage plants, lumberyards,
amusement or exhibition parks and educational or institutional complexes
and similar occupancies and uses involving high fire or life hazards
and which are located more than 150 feet from a public street or which
require quantities of water beyond the capabilities of the public
water distribution system shall be provided with properly placed fire
hydrants. Such fire hydrants shall be capable of supplying fire flows
as required by the Fire Official and shall be connected to a water
system in accordance with accepted engineering practices. The Fire
Official shall designate and approve the number and location of fire
hydrants. The Fire Official may require the installation of sufficient
fire hose and equipment housed in accordance with the approved rules
and may require the establishment of a trained fire brigade when the
hazard involved requires such measures. Private hydrants shall not
be placed into or removed from service until approved by the Fire
Official.
A person shall not obstruct, remove, tamper with or otherwise
disturb any fire hydrant or fire appliance required to be installed
or maintained under the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code except
for the purpose of extinguishing fire, training or testing purposes,
recharging or making necessary repairs or when permitted by the Fire
Official. Whenever a fire appliance is removed as herein permitted,
it shall be replaced or reinstalled as soon as the purpose for which
it was removed has been accomplished. Defective and nonapproved fire
appliances or equipment shall be replaced or repaired as directed
by the Fire Official.
A person shall not sell, trade, loan or give away any form,
type or kind of fire extinguisher which is not approved by the Fire
Official or which is not in proper working order or the contents of
which do not meet the requirements of the Fire Official. The requirements
of this section shall not apply to the sale, trade or exchange of
obsolete or damaged equipment for junk, and if said units are permanently
disfigured or marked with a permanent sign identifying the unit as
junk.
A person or persons shall not erect, construct, place or maintain
any bumps, fences, gates, chains, bars, pipes, wood or metal horses
or any other type of obstruction in or on any street within the boundaries
of the municipality. The word "street," as used in this section, shall
mean any roadway accessible to the public for vehicular traffic, including
but not limited to private streets or access lanes, as well as all
public streets and highways within the boundaries of the municipality.
[Adopted 7-29-1985 by Ord. No. 85-7 (Ch. 146, Art. II, of
the 1986 Code)]
[Amended 11-18-1985 by Ord. No. 85-13]
Pursuant to Section 11 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act[1] (P.L. 1983, c. 383), the New Jersey Uniform Fire Code
shall be locally enforced in the Borough of Wood-Ridge.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-202.
The local enforcing agency shall be the Bureau of Fire Prevention
in the Wood-Ridge Fire Department.
The Fire Prevention Bureau shall enforce the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and the codes and regulations adopted under it in all buildings,
structures and premises within the boundaries of the Borough of Wood-Ridge,
other than owner-occupied one- and two-family dwellings, and shall
faithfully comply with the requirements of the Uniform Fire Safety
Act and the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-19]
The local enforcing agency established by this article shall
carry out the periodic inspections of life hazard uses required by
the Uniform Fire Code on behalf of the Commissioner of Community Affairs.
[Amended 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-19]
A.
The Bureau
of Fire Prevention is an independent agency in, but not of, the Fire
Department, responsible for enforcing the New Jersey Uniform Fire
Code. The Bureau shall consist of one Fire Official and any number
of Assistant Fire Officials and Fire Inspectors as may be determined
by the Mayor and Council. It may also include a Deputy Fire Official
to assist the Fire Official with the operation of the Bureau and the
supervision of its personnel and to act in the absence of the Fire
Official. The Fire Official, Deputy Fire Official, and all Assistant
Fire Officials must be certified as Fire Officials by the State of
New Jersey.
B.
The Fire
Official shall be the Director of the Bureau and shall report for
administrative purposes to the Borough Administrator and for operational
purposes to the State Fire Marshal. The Fire Official shall provide
regular reports of the activity of the Bureau to the Borough Administrator
and to the Fire Chief. The Fire Official shall be available for meetings
and consultation with the Fire Chief and other officers of the Wood-Ridge
Fire Department.
C.
The Borough
Administrator may assign, temporarily or otherwise, any number of
clerk-typists and/or other Borough employees to provide administrative
support to the Bureau as may be needed.
[Amended 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-19]
The Fire Official shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the
advice and consent of the Borough Council, for a term of one year
from January 1 to December 31 and shall receive a salary as determined
by the annual salary ordinance and resolution. The filling of any
vacancy shall be for the remainder of the unexpired term.
[Amended 11-18-1985 by Ord. No. 85-13; 12-20-2022 by Ord. No. 2022-19]
The Deputy Fire Official, all Assistant Fire Officials, and
all Fire Inspectors shall be appointed by the Mayor, with the advice
and consent of the Borough Council, for a term of one year from January
1 to December 31 and shall receive salaries as determined by the annual
salary ordinance and resolution. The filling of any vacancy shall
be for the remainder of the unexpired term and shall be submitted
to the New Jersey Division of Local Government Services.
Pursuant to Sections 15 and 17 of the Uniform Fire Safety Act,[1] any person aggrieved by any order of the local enforcement
agency shall have the right to appeal to the Construction Board of
Appeals of Bergen County.
[1]
Editor's Note: See N.J.S.A. 52:27D-206 and 52:27D-208.
In addition to the inspections and fees required pursuant to
the Uniform Fire Code and the regulations of the Department of Community
Affairs, the following additional inspections and fees shall be required:
A.
Additional inspections. All buildings, structures or uses within
the Borough of Wood-Ridge, except owner-occupied one- and two-family
dwellings and dwelling units within two-family and multifamily dwellings,
shall be inspected as often as necessary to secure compliance with
the intent of the Uniform Fire Code or any other ordinance affecting
fire safety, but not less than once each year. In the absence of good
cause, inspections shall not include dwelling units.
B.
Additional permits.
[Amended 11-18-1985 by Ord. No. 85-13]
(1)
The following additional types of buildings, structures or portions
thereof not classified as life hazard uses shall be added to the types
of permits required by the Uniform Fire Code.
[Amended 12-15-1986 by Ord. No. 86-21]
(a)
Within Type 1:
[1]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group B or
M occupying less than 3,000 square feet gross.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
[2]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group R-3
with 10 or fewer dwelling units.
[3]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group R-2
or R-3 having a common means of egress and with 10 or fewer dwelling
units.
[4]
Any non-owner-occupied building in Use Group R-3 (one- or two-family).
[5]
The installation, removal, repair or alteration of any tank
used for the purpose of storing flammable or combustible liquids up
to 1,000 gallons.
[6]
Modification or replacement of any line or dispensing device
connected to a flammable or combustible liquid tank or container over
five gallons.
(b)
Within Type 2:
[1]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group B or
M occupying more than 3,000 square feet gross but less than 10,000
square feet gross.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
[2]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group R-2
or R-3 having a common means of egress with more than 10 dwelling
units.
[3]
The installation, removal, repair or alteration of any tank
used for the purpose of storing flammable or combustible liquids over
1,000 gallons.
[4]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in any use group
storing or selling, in original approved closed containers of less
than 30 gallons, flammable or combustible liquids.
[5]
Exceptions:
[a]
Storage of paints, oils, varnishes or similar mixtures
when stored for painting, maintenance or similar purposes upon the
premises for a period of not more than 30 days.
[b]
Foodstuffs, medicines, beverages and cosmetics.
[c]
Buildings, structures or portions thereof that
are registered as life hazard uses with the Bureau of Fire Safety
for the sale or storage of flammable or combustible liquids.
[d]
Less than 10 gallons of flammable or 60 gallons
of combustible liquids.
[6]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in the Use Group
F or S occupying less than 10,000 square feet gross.
[Added 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
(c)
Within Type 3:
[1]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group B, F
or S occupying more than 10,000 square feet gross but less than 50,000
square feet gross.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
[2]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group M occupying
more than 10,000 square feet gross but less than 12,000 square feet
gross.
(d)
Within Type 4:
[1]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in Use Group B, F
or S occupying more than 50,000 square feet gross but less than 100,000
square feet gross.
[Amended 8-20-1990 by Ord. No. 90-8]
[2]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in any use group
storing or selling, in original approved closed containers larger
than 30 gallons, flammable or combustible liquids.
[3]
Any building, structure or portion thereof in any use group
dispensing or using flammable or combustible liquids.
[Added 12-15-1986 by Ord. No. 86-21]
[4]
Exception: buildings, structures or portions thereof that are
registered as life hazards with the Bureau of Fire Safety for the
sale, storage, use or dispensing of flammable or combustible liquids.
(2)
All use groups referenced herein shall be determined by the Uniform
Construction Code of the State of New Jersey.
