[Adopted 4-22-2008 by Ord. No. 2008-13]
The Fire Chief, or duly authorized representatives,
as may be in charge at the scene of a fire or other emergency involving
the protection of life and/or property, is empowered to direct such
operations as may be necessary to extinguish or control any suspected
or reported fires, gas leaks or other hazardous conditions or situations,
or take any other action necessary in the reasonable performance of
his duty. The Fire Chief may prohibit any person, vehicle or object
from approaching the scene and may remove or cause to be removed from
the scene any person, vehicle or object which may impede or interfere
with the operations of the Fire Division. The Fire Chief may remove
or cause to be removed any person, vehicle or object from hazardous
areas. All persons ordered to leave a hazardous area shall do so immediately
and shall not re-enter the area until authorized to do so by the Fire
Chief.
It shall be unlawful to interfere with, attempt
to interfere with, conspire to interfere with, obstruct or restrict
the mobility of or block the path of travel of any Fire Division emergency
vehicle in any way, or to interfere with, attempt to interfere with,
conspire to interfere with, obstruct or hamper any Fire Division operation.
A person shall not willfully fail or refuse
to comply with any lawful order or direction of the Fire Marshal or
Fire Chief or to interfere with the compliance attempts of another
individual.
A vehicle shall not be driven or propelled over
any unprotected fire hose of the Fire Division when laid down on any
street, alleyway, private drive or any other vehicular roadway without
the consent of the Fire Chief in command of said operation.
A person shall not, without proper authorization
from the Fire Chief in charge of said Fire Division emergency equipment,
cling to, attach himself to, climb upon or into, board or swing upon
any Fire Division emergency vehicle, whether the same is in motion
or at rest, or sound the siren, horn, bell or other sound-producing
device thereon, or manipulate or tamper with or attempt to manipulate
or tamper with any levers, valves, switches, starting devices, brakes,
pumps or any equipment or protective clothing on or a part of any
Fire Division emergency vehicle.
It shall be unlawful for any person to damage
or deface or attempt or conspire to damage or deface any Fire Division
emergency vehicle at any time or to injure or attempt to injure or
conspire to injure Fire Division personnel while performing duties.
It shall be unlawful to obscure from view, damage,
deface, obstruct or restrict the access to any fire hydrant or any
Fire Division connection for the pressurization of fire-suppression
systems, including fire hydrants and Fire Division connections that
are located on public or private streets and access lanes or on private
property.
Any person, firm, corporation or other entity
convicted of a violation of this article or any section of this article
shall be punished by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days; or by a fine
not exceeding $500 for the first offense and not more than $2,000
for each subsequent offense; or by a period of community service not
exceeding 90 days. Each day a violation of the provision or provisions
of this article shall constitute a separate and distinct offense.
