[Amended by Bill No. 00-63]
A.
The State Fire Marshal, in coordination with the Chief
of the fire company serving the area involved, shall have the authority
and primary responsibility to designate a fire lane. In the absence
of the Fire Marshal, any fire official may designate a fire lane.
Fire lanes may be designated in the following areas, or any portion
thereof:
(1)
Entrances and exits to commercial, industrial, public
or semi-public buildings.
(2)
Roadways providing access to sprinkler or standpipe
systems.
(3)
Roadways that lead to, are next to or in front of
fire hydrants.
(4)
Roadways providing access to fire stations.
(5)
Roadways next to multi-family dwellings (apartments,
condominiums, etc.) if the roadway does not meet the physical requirements
found in the definition of a fire lane.
B.
When a fire official determines a fire lane is required,
the property owner shall:
(1)
Clearly designate the fire lane by posting a sign.
Signing shall be a minimum of 12 inches by 17 inches and state "Fire
Lane - No Parking." Signs shall be red lettering on white background
and mounted on treated wood or metal sign posts at a spacing of 50
feet along the fire lane. If the lane is less than 50 feet, a sign
shall be posted at each end of the lane. Signs shall be plainly visible
to motorists and at least 7 feet high measured from the bottom of
the sign to the ground.
(2)
Paint any curb or pavement "fire engine red" throughout
the limits of the fire lane. If pavement is painted, it shall be marked
with lettering 8 inches high with 6-inch strokes "No Parking - Fire
Lane." Marking legends shall be spaced at a maximum of 100 feet apart.
C.
Maintenance.
(1)
A property owner shall maintain a clear space of at
least 36 inches around any fire hydrant located on his or her property
and shall maintain an unobstructed area (i.e., free of landscaping
or other obstructions) between the curb and the face of the hydrant.
(2)
A property owner shall maintain an unobstructed path
to any Fire Department connection located on a building. The path
shall be a minimum of 4 feet wide and 6 feet high. The unobstructed
area shall extend a minimum of 15 feet, measured along the curb, to
either side of the centerline of the hydrant.
D.
Violations.
(1)
A property owner who fails to properly mark and maintain
a fire lane by appropriate signs and other appropriate marking or
who fails to maintain unobstructed access or clear space to a hydrant
or Fire Department connection as required by this section shall be
liable for a civil penalty of $100. Each day a violation continues
is a separate offense.
(2)
A fine under this section shall be imposed in the
following manner:
(a)
A fire official who observes a violation shall
report the violation to the manager of the Division of Emergency Operations,
designee or employee of the Division.
(b)
An employee of the Division of Emergency Operations
who observes a violation or to whom a violation has been reported
shall verify that a violation exists and shall issue a citation to
the property owner.
(c)
The citation shall be hand delivered or sent
by certified mail.
(d)
If 15 days after delivering or mailing the notice,
a violation continues to exist, Harford County shall take action to
ensure compliance. Any costs incurred shall be the responsibility
of the property owner.
A.
No person shall park or allow to be parked any vehicle,
of which he is the owner, in a manner that interferes with or obstructs
a clearly marked fire lane or fire hydrant area. In addition, no person
shall place or allow to be placed any material, debris or other object,
of which he is the owner or has possession, in a manner that interferes
with or obstructs a clearly marked fire lane or hydrant area.
B.
Any law enforcement officer or member of a fire company
may, whenever necessary, take possession of, remove, tow away, impound
or otherwise remove any debris, material, vehicle or other object
which interfers with or obstructs previously established and marked
fire lanes for the access or operation of any fire company equipment
or other emergency vehicles or equipment.
C.
Any law enforcement agency, fire company or other
county agency which has cause to remove an obstruction from a fire
lane during a fire or other emergency is authorized to do so in any
manner that is both safe and expeditious as defined by this chapter.
Any charges imposed by the removing agent, public or private, shall
be paid by the owner of the obstruction.
The county, any fire company serving the county
or any law enforcement officer or agency shall not be held liable
for any damage to property that may result from the proper application
and enforcement of this chapter.
