The chief and the officers of the Reserve Volunteer Fire Department in the Township of Reserve, in order to control and prevent fires and determine the causes of fires, may from and after the passage of this article, at any time or times, inspect and enter upon any public house or business house in the Township of Reserve. Said chief and officers of said fire department may order the owner or occupiers thereof to remove any material substances or correct any conditions which, in the opinion of said chiefs and officers, may result in or constitute a fire hazard.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Commissioners of the Township of Reserve as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
[Adopted 6-13-1955 by Ord. No. 189; amended 4-8-2019 by Ord. No. 677]
Said chief or officers of said fire department shall, in writing, notify the owners or occupiers of said buildings of the conditions complained of and the methods to be followed in preventing fires therein.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]
In case the occupants, agents or owners of said buildings, or either of them, shall fail or refuse to comply with the terms of any such order as herein provided for, within the time limited by such order, the person or persons so in default shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, and in default of the payment of the fine and costs of prosecution, shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 90 days. Each day that a violation is permitted to exist shall constitute a separate offense. The provisions of this section shall apply to any person or persons who shall occupy or attempt to occupy such premises contrary to the provisions of such order.
Any person or persons interested, who may be aggrieved by any order or notice by the said chief or officers of said fire department may, within 10 days from the date of such order or notice, appeal to the Board of Township Commissioners by filing a Notice of Appeal in writing with the Secretary of the Board of Township Commissioners.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent with the provisions of this article are hereby repealed, insofar as the same affect this article.
[Adopted 3-9-1970 by Ord. No. 326]
The Chief and Line Officers of the Volunteer Fire Companies, on assuming their offices in the Fire Company, take on the obligation of protecting life and property within the jurisdiction of the said district of Reserve Township. All persons are subservient to his orders and must obey for the common good in times of fire, or any time the fire company is called into service for the protection of life and property from fire.
The Chief, officer or fireman in command at the scene of a fire or emergency can order all persons in the endangered building, buildings or exposures, to vacate the building, buildings or exposures when he deems it necessary for their protection, and to be able to properly combat the fire or emergency, also to take the proper precautions in preventing the spread of fire or exposed areas. He may also allow the occupant or occupants of endangered building, buildings or exposures to save valuable possessions that may be in the endangered building, buildings or exposures providing that it can be done with safety to the person or persons getting permission to enter the building, buildings or exposures. He shall also detail necessary firemen to accompany said person or persons as a safety measure.
Except with regard to traffic control as hereinafter provided, all persons in the area of a fire, where there is danger to life and property, must obey the orders of the Fire Chief, officer or firemen in command at the said time of fire or emergency.
The Police Chief, or police officer in command, shall be in charge of traffic control.
Fire police will be under the supervision of the Police Chief, and will arrange to have his orders relayed either through their ranking officer or first man on the scene of the emergency. All fire police are automatically on duty every time the fire company is activated, however, fire police are not to be used for other activities unless directed by the Public Safety Chairman, acting on decision of his committee.
[Amended 1-16-2023 by Ord. No. 692; 12-16-2024 by Ord. No. 701]
This article shall be enforced by a criminal action in the same manner provided for the enforcement of summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure. Any person, partnership, corporation or other entity who or which violates or permits a violation of the provisions of this article shall, upon conviction in a summary proceeding, pay a fine of not more than $1,000, plus the costs of prosecution, and in default of the payment of the fine and costs of prosecution, shall be imprisoned for a period not exceeding 90 days. Each day, or part thereof, that a violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.
Any ordinance or part of ordinance conflicting with the provisions of this article be and the same is hereby repealed insofar as the same affects this article.