[Ord. No. 5-2017]
A.
Designation of Fire Lanes. Fire lanes shall be designated as follows
for the efficient and effective use of fire apparatus, access for
firefighting and/or the egress of occupants.
(1)
Where Needed: The Fire Official(s) of the local enforcing agencies
may establish fire areas on property devoted to public and private
use, in accordance with N.J.A.C.5:70-3.2(a)3, F-311.1, including,
but not by way of limitation, shopping centers, strip malls, bowling
alleys, drive in theaters, houses of worship, swimming pools, offices,
warehouses, factories, restaurants, night clubs, etc., and similar
uses.
The number, location, width, length, and markings shall be at
the discretion of the appropriate Fire Official, when the markings
detailed in & 102.20.B cannot be strictly complied with.
Consideration is to be given to the size, type and location
of the building or buildings, the number of persons using and occupying
the premises, existing means of egress and ingress, the total area
of the property including the size of parking lot or lots, and all
other relevant factors.
(2)
Existing Fire Lanes: Any and all fire lanes created by prior ordinance
are hereby continued in effect and when repairs or modifications are
made to such fire lanes, they shall be brought into conformity with
this code, as much as shall be practical in the appropriate Fire Official's
judgment. The standard for exercise of said judgment shall conform
to those contained in section 1 above.
B.
Markings: The owner shall, within 30 days of being given notice to
do so by the Fire Official, mark the lane(s) as follows:
(1)
Signs, with minimum dimensions of 12" x 18", constructed of metal
and with raised red letters a minimum of two inches in size on a white
background shall be posted at a level of at least seven feet above
grade, indicating "NO PARKING ANY TIME", "PARKING IN DESIGNATED STALLS
ONLY", "NO STOPPING OR STANDING", or "NO PARKING THIS SIDE" at the
Fire Official's discretion after giving due consideration to the needs
of the fire service and the public. Immediately under these signs
shall be another sign, with minimum dimensions of 12" x 6", saying
"FIRE LANE" or "FIRE LANE NO ON-STREET PARKING". Spacing of signs
shall be even with a minimum of one sign for every 100 feet of fire
lane or part thereof, or as ordered by the appropriate Fire Official.
All signs and markings must be unobstructed and visible for a distance
of at least 100 feet when viewed from a position approximately five
feet above the ground while in the fire lane.
(2)
The area of a fire lane on improved areas shall be delineated along
its entire length with yellow lines 18 inches in width. Between the
yellow lines shall be marked "NO PARKING ANY TIME" in yellow letters
18 inches in height. The number of times this wording is to be repeated
shall be at the discretion of the appropriate Fire Official, with
the recommended spacing to be at 100 foot intervals and spaced so
as to be between and alternate with the metal signs required above.
If the designated fire lane abuts a curb, the curbing shall be yellow
in color where it abuts the fire lane.
(3)
FIRE AREA
FIRE LANE
NO ON-STREET PARKING
NO PARKING ANY TIME
NO STOPPING OR STANDING
PARKING IN DESIGNATED STALLS ONLY
Definitions: For the purposes of the fire lane enforcement, the following
terms are defined.
Shall mean Fire Lane.
Shall mean an area necessary to provide safety for the public
or to provide proper access for the fire department operations in
the event of an emergency.
Shall mean that a vehicle may not be parked along the street
unless loading or unloading passengers or materials with a time limit
of three minutes.
Shall mean that a vehicle may not be parked within the designated
area unless loading or unloading passengers or materials with a time
limit of three minutes.
Shall mean that no vehicle may be stopped or standing within
the designated zone whether or not attended or unattended, with or
without the motor running or brakes set.
Shall mean that a vehicle may only be parked within an area
so designated for parking.
C.
Size: Fire lanes for vehicle access shall be a minimum of 18 feet
in width or as approved by the appropriate Fire Official. Fire lanes
for egress of occupants shall be a minimum of at least the width of
the exit way served.
D.
Notification: Once a fire lane has been designated by the appropriate
Fire Official, approved as provided above and properly marked by the
owner of the premises, the appropriate Fire Official shall notify
the Police Department Construction Code Agency and Municipal Court
Clerk in writing of the existence and location of the designated Fire
Lane(s).
E.
Unpaved Areas: Unpaved fire lanes installed on public or private
property shall comply with the "Fire Lane Typical Details" installation
methods blueprint available from the County of Middlesex Engineering
Department and be approved by the appropriate Fire Official. Selection
of a method to be used as per the typical details shall be subject
to the approval of the appropriate Fire Official. Signs and markings
shall be provided as required by the appropriate Fire Official and
this code.
F.
Restricted Areas: Gates, chains or other approved methods utilized
to prevent unauthorized access to fire lanes shall be approved by
the appropriate Fire Official prior to installation, provided such
restrictions will not impede access by firefighting apparatus. The
appropriate Fire Official shall determine whether any changes or deviations
from the appropriate methods may be utilized.
G.
Installation, Maintenance: Fire lanes shall be installed and maintained
by the owner of the premises or a designee in conformity with the
provisions of this ordinance. Fire lanes in existence prior to the
enactment of this ordinance shall be required to conform to the provisions
herein at the discretion of the appropriate Fire Official. Fire Lanes
must be accessible for fire apparatus use at all time.
H.
Parking, Standing and Obstruction Prohibited:
(1)
Designated fire lanes shall be maintained free of snow and obstructions,
including vehicles, at all times.
(2)
The appropriate Fire Official and/or his designee shall have the
authority to remove or have removed such obstructions or vehicles
as may violate Section 15.H.1 above, at the expense of the owner of
the premises in the case of obstructions or at the expense of the
owner of the vehicle. The presumption of ownership may be overcome
by proof furnished to the satisfaction of the Municipal Court or Superior
Court, Law Division, that some other person was the actual offender.
(3)
It shall be a separate violation of this code for any driver or operator
of any motor vehicle to fail to present a driver's license and/or
vehicle registration upon demand of any person authorized to enforce
this ordinance when requested as part of the enforcement procedure.
I.
Notice of Violation: The appropriate Fire Official(s) or Fire Inspectors
may complete a Municipal Summons, or a Notice of Violations, and said
summons or Notice of Violations shall be issued to all offenders by
personally serving same upon any offender, or, if the offender is
not attendant to the vehicles, shall leave the notice under the windshield
wiper or otherwise attached to the vehicle in a manner reasonably
calculated to ensure that the offender received said notice upon his
or her return to the vehicle.
J.
This Ordinance shall supersede any and all provisions of any other
ordinance promulgated for the enforcement of parking in fire lanes.
Enforcement shall only be done by personnel from either the Department
of Public Safety or the appropriate Local Enforcement Agencies. Personnel
enforcing these provisions shall be either uniformed or carry appropriate
identification.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage, deface, 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.
Minimum clearance to any fire hydrant or connection shall be 10 feet
in all directions.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Open Burning for any reason is hereby prohibited except where
permits have been obtained from the New Jersey Department of Environmental
Protection, New Jersey Forest Fire Service, and the appropriate Local
Enforcing Agency Fire Official. Open burning is defined as the burning
of any material, in anything other than an approved device, or in
an uncontained manner. Upon the recommendation of the appropriate
Fire Official and the approval of the Middlesex County Board of Freeholders,
the local fire departments may use open burning for training purposes
only.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Whenever the appropriate Fire Marshal shall determine that on-site
fire inspector(s) or firefighting personnel shall be required for
fire watch as a result of fire protection system failure or deficiencies,
or fire safety at any occupancy or event to insure the safety of the
public or emergency responders, the owner or occupant responsible
shall obtain a permit for the use or event.
A.
The Fire Marshal shall determine the number of inspectors and/or
firefighting personnel required.
B.
The Fire Marshal shall determine the hours that the fire inspector(s)
and/or firefighting personnel will be on duty.
C.
The permit shall cover the expenses incurred by the Local Enforcing
Agency.
D.
The fee for the permit shall include:
(1)
Compensation for fire inspector(s) at $35.00 per hour Monday through
Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, $55.00 per hour for Holidays, Saturdays,
Sundays and from 4:00 PM to 8:00 AM weekdays.
(2)
The rate for use of vehicles shall be $25.00 per hour.
(3)
Reimbursement rates for other related services, equipment or expenses
shall be provided to the owner by the Fire Marshal prior to the scheduled
use or event.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Fire Marshal or designee(s) shall have right of access to the
premises and area surrounding it without interference from the property
owner.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Failure to secure a permit shall be punishable by a penalty
equal to amount of the permit plus $100.00 for the first offense,
amount of the permit plus $250.00 for the second offense, amount of
the permit plus $500.00 for the third and each subsequent offense.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Permit shall be required for each separate event or date of
the activity requiring such a permit.
[Ord. No. 5-2017]
Any occupancy or event requiring fire apparatus and firefighting
personnel on site to insure the safety of the public and/or other
occupants, and/or to insure the safety of any building and/or exposures
shall reimburse the appropriate fire district. Fees shall be $150.00
per required fire apparatus unit per occurrence and $20.00 per hour
per firefighter manning apparatus.
