For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section:
CAPTAIN
The Captain of the Fire Department in charge of the Fire Prevention Bureau within the Fire Department.
HEAD OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT
The chief executive officer of the Fire Department. Any authority conferred upon the head of the Fire Department under this chapter may be delegated to such members of the Fire Department as the head of the Fire Department shall designate.
LICENSE
Permission granted by the licensing authority to keep, store, use, manufacture or sell at specified locations materials which produce conditions hazardous to life or property.
LICENSING AUTHORITY
The City Council.
No person shall open any of the signal boxes connected with the fire alarm telegraph, except in case of fire, or interfere in any way with such boxes by breaking, cutting, injuring or defacing same, or tampering or meddling with such boxes or any part thereof; nor shall any person interfere with the poles by which wires of the fire alarm telegraph are supported, by breaking, cutting, injuring or defacing the same, or by posting placards or bills upon them, or in any other manner.
[Amended 5-20-2024 by Ord. No. 046]
Whenever it shall be determined at any fire, by the Fire Chief, Deputy Chief or other officer of the Fire Department in command, to be necessary to pull down or demolish any buildings in order to prevent the spreading of fire, the same may be done by their order in accordance with statutes in such case made and provided.
No person except the Director of Engineering, Commissioner of Public Services, Public Works or the Chief of the Fire Department, or their designees, shall draw water from the reservoir or hydrants, except in case of fire.
No person shall drive any vehicle upon or over any hose placed in any street by order of any officer of the Fire Department without the consent of some officer of the Department.
[Amended 3-19-1990 by Ord. No. 173; 11-5-1992 by Ord. No. 510]
A. 
Islands.
(1) 
Self-service gasoline stations with an area of at least 15,000 square feet of land, with a minimum frontage of 150 feet, shall maintain not more than four islands, each island to be not more than 17 feet in length, with a total of not more than eight dual pumps.
(2) 
Self-service gasoline stations with an area of at least 10,000 square feet of land, with a minimum frontage of at least 100 feet, shall maintain not more than three islands, each island to be not more than 17 feet in length, with a total of not more than six dual pumps.
(3) 
Self-service gasoline stations with an area of at least 9,500 square feet of land, with a minimum frontage of at least 85 feet, shall maintain not more than two islands, each island to be not more than 17 feet in length, with a total of not more than four dual pumps.
(4) 
No station shall have more than eight dual gasoline dispensing pumps, as approved by the Fire Chief.
(5) 
No island shall maintain more than two dual pumps.
(6) 
No island shall be more than 17 feet in length.
B. 
Only the tanks of motor vehicles and approved containers shall be filled with gasoline.
C. 
No one without a driver's license shall fill a vehicle.
D. 
There shall be one employee per eight nozzles in operation.
E. 
The operator of the console must be 18 years of age or over.
F. 
All retail operations shall be subject to all City and state license and inspection requirements.
G. 
"No smoking" signs shall be posted.
H. 
Trucks, trailers and campers shall be filled in one specific location, and signs shall be posted showing this location.
I. 
The zones of fire protection, in addition to being shown on the installation drawings, shall be outlined on the station filling area, by the owners or building contractor, by paint or other acceptable visual means, so that the station operator will know when a vehicle is within the protected zone.
J. 
The station operator (attendant) shall not allow gasoline to be pumped if a vehicle is not within the protected zone.
K. 
In addition to automatic operation, systems must be equipped with a manual release, either mechanical or electrical, or both. If more than one release is employed, they must be clearly marked to indicate which system they control.
L. 
Pumps shall be interconnected with the fire protection system so that they automatically shut down in the event of system discharge.
M. 
The owner shall post suitable instruction, and he shall ensure that all operators understand them.
N. 
A test of the system shall be conducted by the installing contractor and witnessed by a representative of the local Fire Department. This test shall demonstrate that the system is in complete working order and installed in accordance with the approved plans.
O. 
Operation of the fire protection system shall cause an audible and/or visible alarm to activate.
P. 
Hours of operation for both full-service and self-service gas stations will be subject to approval by the City Council, which approval will not be unreasonably withheld.
Q. 
Full-service gasoline stations duly licensed by the City and operating as of May 1, 1985, may convert to self-service gasoline stations upon the approval of the Fire Chief, the Director of Municipal Inspections and the Director of Public Health and upon the final approval of the City Council, subject to any terms or conditions that the City Council may require. Upon approval as provided above, an entry shall be made upon such gasoline station's license indicating its allowance as a self-service gasoline station, together with any conditions mandated by the City Council.
A. 
An application for a petroleum storage license shall contain the following information:
(1) 
Plot plan showing the location, size, material, and age of all petroleum storage tanks situated on the premises which have been or will be filed with the Fire Department.
(2) 
Notification of the Fire Department of all changes.
(3) 
Total amount of storage:
(a) 
Aboveground: _____ gallons.
(b) 
Underground: _____ gallons.
(4) 
Names and addresses of all suppliers of petroleum products making deliveries to the licensee.
(5) 
Whether or not all petroleum storage tanks are in continuous use.
(6) 
Whether or not the Fire Department has been notified of the nonuse of petroleum storage tanks.
B. 
All underground petroleum storage tanks which have been in service for 20 years shall be tested by a Kenmore test or a semi-par test approved by the Fire Chief. The tanks shall also be tested every five years thereafter. Failure to pass the test shall be cause for the Fire Chief to order the tanks replaced.
C. 
Whenever a petroleum storage license has not been exercised for more than six days, the licensee shall notify the Fire Department per 527 CMR 16.2.3.
[Amended 2-16-2016 by Ord. No. 013]
D. 
If a petroleum storage license has not been exercised during the previous year, the Fire Chief shall order the petroleum storage tank removed. A removal permit shall be obtained from the fire department before a petroleum storage tank may be removed.
E. 
Upon receipt of a completed application, the Fire Department shall inspect the premises and storage tanks and make recommendation to the City Council which shall approve or disapprove of the license.
F. 
Renewal of a petroleum storage license which has not been exercised during the previous year shall be at the discretion of the City Council.