[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Supervisors of the Township
of Springfield as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted
where applicable.]
[Adopted 9-5-2017 by Ord.
No. 3-2017]
As used in this article, the following terms have their meaning
set forth below:
The Chief of the Springfield Volunteer Fire Department.
The Springfield Township Volunteer Fire Department and any
other fire department performing services within Springfield Township;
A high security key vault system approved by the Fire Chief
of the Springfield Township Volunteer Fire Department for secure containment
of access keys, material safety data sheets, and pertinent site information
that may assist the Fire Department personnel in a fire or emergency
response.
The following structures shall be equipped with a key lockbox
at or near the main entrance or such other location as required by
the Fire Chief:
A.
Commercial or industrial structures protected by an automatic alarm
system or automatic suppression system, or such structures that are
secured in a manner that restricts access during an emergency;
B.
Multifamily residential structures that have restricted access through
locked doors and have a common corridor for access to living units;
C.
Governmental structures, except the building in which the Fire Department
is located;
D.
All multistory occupancies that have elevators service upper floors;
E.
Nursing care facilities;
F.
Health care facilities;
G.
Schools;
H.
Any building containing hazardous materials in such quantities as
to be determined a public safety threat as determined by the Fire
Chief;
I.
Any premises with manual or power operated gates necessary to be
opened for Fire Department access and where security personal are
not on the premises 24 hours a day to permit access.
All subject structures for which a permit was issued, regardless
of occupancy, must have a key lockbox installed.
All newly constructed structures subject to this article shall
have the key lockbox installed and operational prior to the issuance
of an occupancy permit.
The Fire Chief shall designate the type of key lockbox system
to be implemented within the Township and shall have the authority
to require all structures to use the designated system pursuant to
the requirements of this article.
The owner or operator of a structure required to have a key
lockbox shall, at all times, keep a key in the lockbox that will allow
for access to the structure.
A.
The Fire
Chief is authorized and shall implement rules and regulations for
the use of the lockbox system subject to approval by the Board of
Supervisors.
B.
The Fire
Chief shall, with the consent of the Board of Supervisors, develop
a written policy and/or rules providing for an exemption that may
be granted from the requirements of this article to certain multiunit
buildings and to structures which are open for business with on-premises
personnel 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
The location of the lockbox shall be approved by the Springfield
Township Volunteer Fire Chief and comply with the following criteria:
A.
The lockbox shall be located at a height of not less than four feet
and not more than eight feet above the finished grade at the outside
wall on which the box is to be located.
B.
The lockbox shall be located at or near the recognized main public
entrance on the exterior of the structure. When the building is serviced
by a fire suppression system, the location box may be located above
the fire department connection.
C.
No steps, displays, signs, or other fixtures or structure protrusions
shall be located under the box.
A.
The lockbox shall contain keys that are labeled and identified to
open all doors/rooms that are specified by the Springfield Township
Volunteer Fire Department and other pertinent information that is
specified by the Fire Chief. This includes, but is not limited to,
keys for:
B.
As well as hazardous materials MSDS, as required by the Fire Chief.
Application for a lockbox shall be made on forms provided to
the owner or occupant of the building by Springfield Township. Such
owner and/or occupant shall be responsible for the cost to purchase,
install and maintain the lockbox. No lockbox shall be installed, voluntarily
or otherwise, without first obtaining the approval of the Fire Chief
of the Springfield Township Volunteer Fire Department.
All structures in existence on the effective date of this article
and subject to the requirements herein shall have one year from the
effective date of this article to install a key lockbox in a manner
compliant with the requirements herein.
A.
No individual Fire Department personnel other than the Fire Chief
shall carry a lockbox key or master key on their person except when
actively fighting a fire or responding to an emergency call.
B.
All lockbox access keys, including master keys, shall be installed
in a key secure system in fire apparatus.
The provisions of this article shall be enforced by the Springfield
Township Zoning Officer, the Springfield Township Code Enforcement
Officer and/or any other person, including duly authorized police
officers together with other personnel appointed by resolution of
the Board of Supervisors.
Any person, entity, or corporation who has violated any provision
of this article shall, upon summary conviction thereof before a District
Magisterial Judge or other judicial official having jurisdiction over
summary offenses, be sentenced to pay a fine of not less than $100
nor more than $1,000 plus the cost of prosecution and/or up to 90
days imprisonment in the Mercer County Jail. Each day's violation
of any provision of this article shall be construed to be a separate
violation.
[Adopted 3-20-2023 by Ord. No. 1-2023]
The Springfield Township Volunteer Fire Department is hereby
authorized and directed, by and through its officers and authorized
representatives, to ascertain what insurance coverages may be applicable
and available under any given circumstance, and to take all necessary
and affirmative steps to apply for and receive reimbursement from
any individuals and/or insurance carriers to reimburse the Department
for any costs and/or expenses incurred for services, supplies, and/or
equipment used for or provided to the property owner and/ or the vehicle
owner/operator by the Department.
A.
Under
no circumstances shall any property owner or insurer ever be billed
by the Department for fire protection or other services provided by
the Department except in cases of false alarms and fires intentionally
set by the property owner.
B.
. Under
no circumstances shall any property owner or insurer ever be billed
by the Department for manpower or any other cost that is incurred
in the normal course of operations. Instead, all costs billed shall
be for the recovery or reimbursement of costs and/or expenses actually
incurred by the Department in service to the individual.
