City of Sachse, TX Chapter 5 Fire Protection

§ 5-1 International Fire Code.

A. 

Adoption.

The International Fire Code, 2021 edition with amendments, including Appendix B “Fire-Flow Requirements for Buildings,” Appendix C “Fire Hydrant Locations and Distribution,” Appendix D “Fire Apparatus Access Roads” and Appendix I “Fire Protection Systems - Noncompliant Conditions,” a copy of which is on file in the office of the city secretary, is hereby adopted and designated as the fire code of the City of Sachse, the same as though such code were copied in full herein.

B. 

Amendments to the International Fire Code, 2021 edition.

[1]

[1] Editor’s note–The 2021 IFC Amendments are included as an attachment to this chapter.

(Ordinance 529 adopted 12/1/86; Ordinance 578 adopted 5/4/87; Ordinance 617 adopted 11/2/87; Ordinance 1164 adopted 3/21/94; Ordinance 1172, sec. 3, adopted 4/18/94; Ordinance 1257, secs. 1–3, adopted 4/17/95; Ordinance 1317, sec. 1, adopted 11/20/95; Ordinance 1427, sec. 2, adopted 12/16/96; Ordinance 1693 adopted 11/15/99; Ordinance 1887, sec. 1, adopted 10/1/01; Ordinance 2138, sec. 1, adopted 5/2/05; Ordinance 3198, sec. 1, adopted 3/15/10; Ordinance 3428, sec. 9, adopted 10/15/12, eff. 1/1/13; Ordinance 3845, sec. 9, adopted 12/18/17; Ordinance 4098 adopted 1/17/2023)

§ 5-2 Arson reward.

The City of Sachse, Texas, hereby offers a reward of $250.00 to anyone who secures and furnishes information necessary to and which results in arrest and conviction of any person or persons who commit the crime of arson within the corporate limits of the city. This reward is a standing offer, and shall be paid as often as is necessary out of the general fund of the city.

(Ordinance 177 adopted 12/11/73)

§ 5-3 Hazardous material reimbursement.

A. Any party who accidentally, negligently or intentionally causes or is responsible for an unauthorized release of hazardous material(s) as defined in the uniform fire code which affects public or private property within the City of Sachse, Texas, shall be liable for the payment of all costs incurred by the city in the effort to mitigate and abate said hazard. The remedy provided by this section shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law.

B. For the purposes of this section, costs incurred by the city shall include, but not be limited to all out-of-pocket expenses attributable to the abatement or clean-up of the hazardous material(s), including cost of equipment operation, cost of materials utilized, costs of third party specialists, experts or contract labor not in the full time employment of the city, overhead costs, overtime costs and any other costs incurred by the City of Sachse, Texas.

C. Basic costs associated with fire department services shall be $400.00 per hour for each engine or truck company and $200.00 per hour for each medical/rescue unit.

(Ordinance 1723 adopted 3/20/00)

§ 5-4 Ambulance service.

Fire department

means the fire department under the organization of the City of Sachse.

Fire department emergency ambulance

means a motor vehicle especially designed, constructed, equipped and used for transporting the injured or sick in answer to an emergency call.

A. The Sachse Fire Department shall staff and provide emergency medical service/ambulance service.

B. The Sachse fire department shall respond to all medical emergencies through the 911 systems, private phone, walk-in or report of a medical emergency from a citizen.

C. The person receiving emergency ambulance service and any person contracting for the service shall be responsible for payment of service fees. In the case of service received by a minor, the parent or guardian of the minor shall be responsible for payment of the fee.

Editor’s note–Ordinance 1837, sec. I, adopted April 2, 2001, enacted provisions intended for use as sec. 5-3. As section 5-3 was previously designated, these provisions have been included herein as a new sec. 5-4, at the discretion of the editor.

(Ordinance 1837, sec. I, adopted 4/2/01)

§ 5-5 Ambulance service fees.

A. The rates and charges for ambulance services shall be administered in accordance with the City of Sachse Master Fee Schedule established by resolution of the city council.

B. 

Definitions.

For purposes of this section and the master fee schedule, the following definitions shall apply, unless clearly indicated to the contrary.

Advanced life support (“ALS”) intervention

means a procedure beyond the scope of an EMT-Basic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint.

Advanced life support, level 1 (“ALS1”)

means the provision of an assessment by an advanced life support provider or supplier or the provision of one or more advanced life support interventions when medically necessary.

Advanced life support, level 2 (“ALS2”)

means the administration of three or more different medications and the provision of at least one of the following advanced life support procedures when medically necessary: manual defibrillation/cardioversion, endotracheal intubation, central venous line, cardiac pacing, chest decompression, surgical airway, or intraosseous line.

Advanced life support provider/supplier

means a provider trained to the level of an EMT-intermediate or paramedic as defined in the National EMS Education and Practice Blueprint.

Basic life support (“BLS”)

means the establishment of a peripheral intravenous (IV) line when medically necessary.”

(Ordinance 2023, sec. I, adopted 7/7/03; Ordinance 2108, sec. 1, adopted 11/15/04; Ordinance 3319, sec. 1, adopted 9/19/11; Ordinance 3430, sec. 1, adopted 11/5/12)

§ 5-6 Office of fire marshal.

A. 

Office created.

The office of fire marshal for the city is hereby created. Such office shall be a division of the city fire-rescue and shall report directly to the fire chief. The fire chief shall have the authority to appoint the fire marshal and arson investigators or in the absence of such position(s) delegate the duties of the office of fire marshal to qualified persons. The fire marshal shall be a duly commissioned peace officer in and for the state.

B. 

Duties of fire marshal; general responsibilities of fire marshal; records.

(1) The primary responsibilities of the fire marshal shall be to lead and conduct all fire investigations in the city and to enforce the City’s Code of Ordinances with respect for fire prevention and protection including but not limited to chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances, and the fire marshal shall have the authority to enforce all regulations, policies, and procedures with respect to fire prevention and protection. The fire marshal shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring within the city by which property has been destroyed or damaged and shall especially make investigation as to whether such fire was the result of carelessness or design. Such investigation shall begin immediately upon report of the fire or as soon thereafter as circumstances permit.

(2) The fire marshal shall also have the following general responsibilities as directed by the fire chief:

(a) The fire marshal shall review plats, building plans and related documents for compliance with applicable fire codes, related ordinances and Fire Department policies, specifying in writing the needed requirements prior to permit issuance. This review responsibility will require a combination of office work and field inspections. This responsibility will require coordination with City personnel in various departments, as well as representatives from local, state and federal agencies and the public.

(b) Inspections for compliance with adopted fire and safety codes applicable to all commercial, industrial, institutional and public occupancies. The fire marshal shall ensure corrective actions are taken when violations are found. The fire marshal shall also perform courtesy inspections of private residential occupancies when requested.

(c) Perform annual hazard inspections, fire flow tests and fire protection system tests, as necessary.

(d) Provide technical fire protection assistance to builders, contractors, developers, and the general public on fire-safe construction, installation of fire control systems, and operation policies, and compliance with procedures and codes.

(e) Perform any other duties as assigned by the fire chief.

(3) The fire marshal shall keep in his office a record of all fires, together with all facts, statistics, and circumstances, including the origin of fires and the amount of loss, which may be determined by the investigation required by this article.

C. 

Testimony; power of arrest; furnishing information to prosecuting attorney.

(1) The fire marshal, when in his opinion further investigation is necessary, shall take or cause to be taken the testimony, on oath, of all persons supposed to be cognizant of any facts or to have means of knowledge in relation to the matter under investigation, and shall cause the same to be reduced to writing.

(2) If the fire marshal shall be of the opinion that there is evidence sufficient to charge any person with the crime of arson, or with the attempt to commit the crime of arson, or of conspiracy to defraud, or another offense related to the matter under investigation or criminal conduct in connection with such fire, he shall cause such person to be lawfully arrested and charged with such offense, and shall furnish to the proper prosecuting attorney all such evidence, together with the names of witnesses and all of the information obtained by him, including a copy of all pertinent and material testimony taken in the case.

D. 

Summoning witnesses; administering oaths.

(1) The fire marshal shall have the power to summon witnesses before him to testify in relation to any matter which is, by the provisions of this chapter, a subject of inquiry and investigation, and may require the production of any book, paper, document, or photographs deemed pertinent thereto.

(2) The fire marshal is hereby authorized and empowered to administer oaths and affirmations to any persons appearing as witnesses before him.

E. 

Failure of witness to appear, testify.

Any witness who refuses to be sworn, or who refuses to appear or testify, or who disobeys any lawful order of the fire marshal, or who fails or refuses to produce any book, paper, or document touching any matter under examination, or who is guilty of any contemptuous conduct during any of the proceedings of the fire marshal in the matter of said investigation or inquiry, after being summoned to give testimony in relation to any matter under investigation, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor; and it shall be the duty of the fire marshal to cause all such offenders to be prosecuted.

F. 

Privacy of investigations; separation of witnesses.

All investigations held by or under the direction of the fire marshal may, in his or her discretion, be private, and persons other than those required to be present may be excluded from the place where such investigation is held, and witnesses may be kept separate and apart from each other and not allowed to communicate with each other until they have been examined.

G. 

Right-of-entry.

The fire marshal shall have the authority at any time, when exigent circumstances exist, in the performance of the duties imposed upon him or her by the provisions of this chapter, to enter upon and examine any building or premises where any fire has occurred and/or other buildings and premises adjoining or near the fire, which authority shall be exercised only with reason and good discretion. If entry is refused by the owner or person in control of the property, his refusal will constitute grounds for obtaining a search warrant from a magistrate of proper jurisdiction for entry into or on the premises.

H. 

Removal of violating conditions; appears; reports to state fire marshal.

(1) The fire marshal, upon complaint of any person having an interest in any building or adjacent property, and without any complaint, shall have a right at all reasonable hours, for the purpose of examination, to enter into and upon all buildings and premises within the city. The fire marshal may enter and is entitled, at any time, to enter any mercantile, manufacturing or public building, place of amusement or place where public gatherings are held, or any premises upon which such building or place is located and make a thorough examination. It shall be the fire marshal’s duty to enter upon and make or cause to be entered and made a thorough examination of all mercantile, manufacturing and public building, together with the premises belonging thereto, as necessary. Whenever the fire marshal shall find any building or other structure which, for want of repair, or by reason of age or dilapidated condition, or for any cause, is especially liable to fire, and which is so situated as to endanger other buildings or property, or so occupied that fire would endanger persons or property therein, and whenever he or she shall find an improper or dangerous arrangement of facilities, property or equipment or other conditions which may be dangerous in character or liable to cause or promote fire or create conditions dangerous to fire personnel or occupants, or a violation of this chapter or other fire prevention and protection ordinances in the Code of Ordinances, he shall order the same to be removed or remedied, and such order shall be forthwith complied with by the owner or said owner or occupant of the building or premises.

(2) If the owner or occupant deems himself aggrieved by such order, he may, within 48 hours of the order, appeal to the city manager. The city manager shall investigate the cause of the complaint and unless by the city manager’s authority the order is revoked, such order shall remain in force and be forthwith complied with by said owner or occupant.

(3) The fire marshal shall report all existing hazardous conditions to the state fire marshal, as may be required, together with a separate report on each fire in the city during the month.

I. 

Search and seizure warrants.

The fire marshal shall have the authority to seek the issuance and execution of search and seizure warrants from a neutral and impartial magistrate while carrying out the provisions of this chapter and shall be empowered to seek any other legal remedy to effect the provisions of this chapter.

J. 

Penalty clause.

(1) Any person violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed guilty of a class C misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be fined in an amount not to exceed $500.00 for each offense, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed upon each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.

(2) A violation of any term or provision of this chapter may be enjoined by civil injunctive relief. The city may, at its sole discretion, seek injunctive and other equitable relief to restrain any violation of this article and may, in addition, pursue any lawful remedies to correct, abate, or punish any violation hereof.

(3) The penalties and remedies provided for in this article are not exclusive of each other or of any other remedy at law or in equity, and all such remedies are declared to be cumulative.

(Ordinance 4034 adopted 10/18/21)

§ 5-7 Mitigation rates for emergency and non-emergency services.

A. The City of Sachse shall initiate a mitigation schedule for the delivery of emergency and non-emergency services by Sachse Fire Rescue for personnel, supplies, and equipment to the scene of emergency and non-emergency incidents as listed in exhibit A to Ordinance O-2025-17. The mitigation rates shall be based on actual costs of the services and that which is usual, customary, and reasonable (UCR) relative to services shown in exhibit A, which may include any services, personnel, supplies, and equipment and with baselines established by addendum to the document. The fees as described below and set forth in the City of Sachse's current fee schedule ordinance shall be charged as listed.

B. A claim shall be filed to the responsible party(s) through their insurance carrier. In some circumstances, the responsible party(s) will be billed directly.

C. The City Council may make rules or regulations and from time to time, may amend, revoke, or add rules and regulations not consistent with this section as they may deem necessary or expedient in respect to billing for these mitigation rates or the collection thereof.

D. The mitigation rates will increase by 1.5% annually or based on the annual percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor, whichever is more. Rate adjustments will occur on the anniversary date of this section to keep Sachse Fire Rescue's cost recovery program in conformity with increasing operating expenses.

(Ordinance O-2025-17 adopted 12/1/2025)