This chapter is enacted pursuant to the provisions of Sections 7-148(c)(4)(B), 7-148(c)(7)(H)(xiii), and 29-293 of the Connecticut General Statutes and Section 1-8 of the Connecticut Fire Safety Code.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Putnam 4-7-2025 STM. Amendments noted where applicable.]
For the purposes of this chapter, the AHJ shall be the Fire Marshal or his designee.
A designated road, path or other passageway developed and maintained to allow the unobstructed passage of fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles.
One- and two-family dwellings.
Apart from private dwellings, all premises that the Fire Department may be called upon to protect in case of fire or other emergency and that are not readily accessible from public roads shall be provided with suitable unobstructed fire lanes so that buildings on the premises are accessible to fire apparatus and other emergency vehicles, as deemed necessary by the AHJ.
A.
Fire lanes shall be a minimum 16 feet in width, located at least 20 feet but not more than 60 feet from the building.
B.
Fire lanes shall be constructed of asphalt or other suitable hard surface capable of supporting the weight of fire apparatus. A minimum subgrade compaction of 90% and minimum bituminous concrete compaction of 92% shall be required, with written documentation from a licensed engineer.
C.
Fire lanes shall not have a vertical grade of more than 8%.
D.
Dead end fire lanes more than 300 feet in length shall be provided with a turnaround at the closed end of at least 60 feet in diameter.
E.
Fire lanes shall have a minimum of 14 feet vertical clearance from the surface to overhead obstructions.
F.
Plantings, shrubs, and trees located between the fire lane and building shall not restrict, reduce, or impede Fire Department access or operations.
B.
With the exception of existing buildings where compliance is impractical and/or those protected with an approved automatic sprinkler system, for buildings of a high hazard (as defined by CT Fire Safety Code), or having more than two stories above the lowest level of Fire Department access (as defined by CT Fire Safety Code), or containing more than 10,000 square feet on any one floor, the fire lane shall be provided for the entire perimeter of the building.
C.
Signs and markings required on privately owned premises shall be erected or installed by the owner of such premises. Failure by such owner to erect or install the required signs and markings within 60 days from the date of such order by the Fire Marshal shall cause the Fire Marshal to impose a fine of $20 per day until the signs and markings are installed to satisfy this chapter.
A.
Vertical curbs four inches in height or more shall be painted yellow on the top and side, extending the length of the designated fire lane. Rolled curbs or surfaces without curbs shall have a yellow six-inch-wide stripe painted extending the length of the designated fire lane.
B.
The prohibited fire lane area will be marked out from the curb with a four-inch stripe into the travel portion of the restricted area, a uniform distance between three and four feet and parallel to the curbline. The pavement adjacent to the curb or strip shall be marked with block lettering a minimum of 24 inches in height and with a four-inch brush stroke reading: “No Parking – Fire Lane.” Lettering shall be yellow and spaced at no more than fifty-foot intervals. In areas without lettering, a four-inch stroke diagonal yellow line shall be placed every three feet.
C.
Fire lane signs shall be as follows:
(1)
Reflective in nature.
(2)
Use red letters on a white background.
(3)
Use three-inch lettering to read “No Parking – Fire Lane.”
(4)
A minimum of 12 inches wide by 18 inches tall.
(5)
Spaced no more than 50 feet apart and posted on or immediately next to the curb or side of the road.
(6)
Top of the sign to be not less than four feet and no more than seven feet from the ground.
(7)
Signs may be placed on a building when approved by the AHJ.
(8)
When posts are required for signs, they shall be a minimum of two-inch galvanized steel or four-by-four-inch pressure-treated wood or as approved by the AHJ.
(9)
Signs may be mounted to portable signposts, provided the above requirements are met and when approved by the AHJ.
It is recognized that there may exist unusual circumstances necessitating alternative arrangements in attempting to meet the requirements of this chapter. In these situations where compliance is deemed impractical, the requirements may be modified by the Fire Marshal to accommodate the situation as well as to ensure the greatest level of safety as practical.
Whenever the Fire Marshal establishes a fire lane on premises open to the public, but not owned by the municipality, it shall thereafter be the responsibility of the owner to properly maintain the area so designated, and to keep and maintain it free of ice and snow and of any other material which would obstruct the use of said fire lane.
No person shall park a motor vehicle, regardless if the vehicle is running with the operator present, in a fire lane which has been established under this chapter. The registered owner of a motor vehicle shall be presumed the operator if no operator is present. In addition, the obstruction of a fire lane with tents, dumpsters, carnival rides, piles of cleared snow, and any other condition deemed as an obstruction by the AHJ shall fall under the penalties outlined in this chapter given to the responsible party or associated property owner.
A.
Parking. Whenever a vehicle is parked in a fire lane, a police officer, Fire Marshal, or Deputy Fire Marshal shall serve the owner or operator of such vehicle, or place upon such vehicle, a $20 per axle parking ticket.
B.
Obstructions. Whenever obstructions occur in a fire lane, a police officer, Fire Marshal, of Deputy Fire Marshal shall serve the responsible party or property owner with a $50 ticket. Failure to remove the fire lane obstruction within 48 hours from service of the ticket shall result in an additional fine of $20 per day until the obstruction is removed.
Any motor vehicle found parked or standing in a fire lane which has been established in accordance with this chapter may be towed upon the direction of a police officer to any public or private parking facility, and all expenses of such towing, and any subsequent storage, shall be borne by the registered owner of such vehicle.