A.
Provisions for. All premises, public or private, which
the Fire Department may be called upon to protect in case of fire and which
are not readily accessible from public roads, shall be provided with suitable
gates, access roads and fire lanes so that all buildings on the premises are
accessible to fire apparatus.
B.
Fire lanes. Fire lanes shall be provided on public or
on private property devoted to public use and for all buildings used for human
habitation or occupancy which are set back more than 100 feet from a public
road or exceed 30 feet in height and are set back more than 50 feet from a
public road. Fire lanes may also be designated on those private roadways where
it is found by the Fire Chief that such access is necessary for fire apparatus.
C.
Width. Fire lanes shall be at least 20 feet in width
with the closest edge of the lane at least 10 feet from the building.
D.
Designation, marking and maintenance of fire lanes. The
designation, marking and maintenance of fire lanes shall be accomplished as
specified by the Fire Chief. The current State Department of Transportation
standards for highway marking shall be used as guidelines in designating and
marking any fire lanes.
E.
Emergency access. A written document, on a form prepared
by the Fire Chief and for the benefit of the Village, shall be required for
emergency access over all fire lanes. The document shall define the area designated
as a fire lane and shall specify those methods used to label or post the area
as a fire lane. A copy of the document shall be kept on file in the Fire Department,
Police Department, office of the Village Clerk-Treasurer and office of the
Building Inspector.
A.
Designated fire lanes shall be marked with signs within
five feet of the beginning and within five feet of the end of the fire lane,
with spacing between signs not to exceed 75 feet. Each sign shall face in
the direction of oncoming traffic. The curb shall be painted yellow; if there
is no curb, a six-inch-wide stripe shall be painted the full length of the
fire lane. Fire lane signs shall be affixed to a stationary pole or object.
Signs shall be plainly visible.
B.
Roadways identified exclusively as fire lanes shall be
identified with approved fire lane signs on each side facing forward and the
pavement area between the signs shall be striped with six-inch-wide yellow
stripes.
C.
Before the requirements may be enforced, the fire lane
must be approved by the Fire Chief. A sticker is placed on each sign indicating
approval and authorizing enforcement of the provisions of this article.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person(s) or firm(s) to
post a fire lane sign without the approval of the Fire Chief.
E.
Vehicles parked in fire lanes shall be cited with a municipal
citation. This may be issued by a member of the Police Department or by members
of the Fire Department who have been assigned citation authorization.
F.
Vehicles shall be permitted to stop in a fire lane while
actively loading or unloading, provided the driver is present. When this requirement
is met, a reasonable amount of time may be allowed for the completion of the
transaction.
A.
Any vehicle that is parked within a fire lane designated and marked in accordance with § 159-44 may be removed at the vehicle owner's expense.
B.
Vehicles shall be towed away under the following circumstances:
(1)
When a vehicle repeatedly violates Village fire lane
ordinances by habitually parking in a fire lane.
(2)
When a vehicle blocks the ingress/egress of a business,
theater, nightclub, apartment complex, gymnasium or a place of public assembly.
(3)
When the vehicle's presence threatens the life or safety
of the public by impeding the ability of fire apparatus and/or emergency medical
equipment to respond to an emergency.
C.
Removal of a vehicle under such circumstances may be
authorized by the person in lawful possession of the property or by the Fire
Chief or his/her representative. The Police Department may order the towing
of a vehicle any time that the above conditions exist.
D.
An inspection report with warning notice shall be issued
to the property owner, occupant or responsible party stating that, if the
obstruction is not removed within the specified time period, the Department
may cause the removal of the obstruction with the cost of removal billed to
the person(s) responsible for the obstruction.
E.
When it becomes necessary to obstruct a fire lane, i.e.,
construction, remodeling or repair, a site approval shall be required and
permission obtained from the Fire Department. A copy of the authorization
shall be posted at the site.
Unapproved fire lane signs posted without the approval of the Fire Chief
shall be removed or the fire lane shall be formally established and posted
as required by this chapter.
A.
Every building shall be accessible to Fire Department
apparatus by way of an access roadway.
B.
Access roadways shall be extended to within 150 feet
of all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of any building.
C.
Access roadway shall not be less than 20 feet of unobstructed
width and shall have a minimum of 13 feet six inches of vertical clearance.
D.
Access roadways in excess of 300 feet in length shall
provide approved provisions for a turnaround adequate for Fire Department
apparatus.
E.
A driving surface of at least road-base quality gravel
shall be maintained at all times in order that all-weather integrity is assured.
F.
The road base shall be capable of supporting the imposed
loads of fire apparatus.
G.
During winter months, the roads shall be maintained by
the owner to include proper and timely snow removal.
