Dunsmuir Municipal Code Ch. 15.24 Fire Protection

Footnotes:

--- (2) ---

Cross reference— As to building regulations generally, see Chs. 15.08, 15.12, 15.16, 15.20 and 15.28; as to fire zones, see Section 15.08.030; as to electrical regulations generally, see Ch. 15.36; as to interference with operations of fire department by electrical wires, see Section 15.36.080.

The Uniform Fire Code adopted by the International Conference of Building Officials 1991 Edition, is adopted as the fire code for the city. For future revisions, the most recent edition of the code referred to in this section shall be effective on the first day of January following the date of publication. The city council may by resolution adopt a specific edition of said code, or modify or amend the current edition to accommodate local conditions.

(Prior code § 9-1; Ord. 489 § 10, 1993; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

Cross reference— As to building code, see Ch. 15.08 of this code.

A. Wherever the word "municipality" is used in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter, it shall be held to mean the city.

B. Wherever the term "corporation counsel" is used in such Uniform Fire Code, it shall be held to mean the city attorney.

(Prior code § 9-2; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

Whenever the chief of the fire department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code has been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the chief of the fire department to city council within thirty (30) days from the date of the decision appealed.

(Prior code § 9-4; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The fire commissioner, the chief of the fire department and the chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies which shall require permits, in addition to those now enumerated in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter. The chief of the bureau of fire prevention shall post such lists in a conspicuous place in his office, and distribute copies thereof to interested persons.

(Prior code § 9-5; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. The Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter shall be enforced by the bureau of fire prevention in the fire department which is hereby established and which shall be operated under the supervision of the chief of the fire department.

B. The chief in charge of the bureau of fire prevention shall be appointed by the city council on the basis of examination to determine his qualifications. His appointment shall continue during good behavior and satisfactory service, and he shall not be removed from office except for cause after public trial.

C. The chief of the fire department may detail such members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The chief of the fire department shall recommend to the city council the employment of technical inspectors, who, when such authorization is made, shall be selected through an examination to determine their fitness for the position. The examination shall be open to members and nonmembers of the fire department and appointments made after examination shall be for an indefinite term with removal only for cause.

D. A report of the bureau of fire prevention shall be made annually and transmitted to the chief executive officer of the city. It shall contain all proceedings under the Uniform Fire Code, with such statistics as the chief of the fire department may wish to include therein. The chief of the fire department shall also recommend any amendments to the Uniform Fire Code which, in his judgment, shall be desirable.

(Prior code § 9-6; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The limits referred to in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter in which storage of flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited, are established as follows:

The city limits. (See Sections 79.501 and 79.1001 of the Uniform Fire Code.)

(Prior code § 9-7; Ord. 497 § 16(a), 1995; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The limits referred to in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter in which new bulk plants for flammable liquids are prohibited, are established as follows:

The city limits.

(Prior code § 9-8; Ord. 497 § 16(b), 1995; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The limits referred to in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted, are established as follows:

The city limits. (See Section 82.104(b) of the Uniform Fire Code.)

(Prior code § 9-9; Ord. 497 § 16(c), 1995; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

The limits referred to in the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited are established as follows:

The city limits. (See Section 77.107 of the Uniform Fire Code.)

(Prior code § 9-10; Ord. 497 § 16(d), 1995; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No person shall give any false alarm of fire by means of signal or otherwise, nor break or injure any apparatus adopted or used by the city for giving fire signals or alarms of fire.

(Prior code § 9-11; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

No person shall drive, run, propel, haul or move, or cause to be driven, run, propelled, hauled or moved, any horse, cart, wagon, automobile, vehicle or other thing on or over any fire hose while in use.

(Prior code § 9-12; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. Outdoor lawn and garden watering, filling of pools, car washing, and any other outdoor uses which allow water to continually discharge are restricted during periods of fire emergencies occurring during the months of May through October each year. For purposes of this subsection, the period of the fire emergency shall commence when the city's fire alarms are sounded, and shall continue for a period of one hour thereafter. Upon order of the fire chief, the period of the fire emergency may be extended for one or more additional one-hour periods by again sounding the fire alarms.

B. If the risk of inadequate water pressure levels to meet reasonably anticipated firefighting needs is dangerously high, due to climatic, drought, or other conditions affecting water supply, as determined by the fire chief, the city council may, by resolution, declare a state of fire hazard emergency. The declaration shall designate the length of the emergency, which shall not exceed the period until the second succeeding regular city council meeting, at which time the city council may consider the need to extend the declaration for a similar period. The declaration shall impose specified restrictions on outdoor water uses, including but not limited to time of day and day of week restrictions and complete restriction, pursuant to the recommendations of the fire chief.

C. Violations of this section shall be punishable in the manner provided in Section 1.08.010 of this code.

(Prior code § 9-27; Ord. 482 § 1, 1993; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. The fire chief is authorized to designate very high fire hazard severity zones within one hundred twenty (120) days of receiving recommendations from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

B. The fire chief may designate areas not identified as very high fire hazard severity zones by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection following a finding supported by substantial evidence in the record that the requirements for very high fire hazard severity zones are necessary for effective fire protection within the area.

C. The fire chief may decline to designate areas identified by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection as very high fire hazard severity zones following a finding supported by a substantial evidence in the record that the requirements for very high fire hazard severity zones are not necessary for effective fire protection within the area.

D. The building official shall enforce the provisions of Section 3203, Title 24, California Code of Regulations, in all very high fire hazard severity zones designated by the fire chief.

(Prior code §§ 9-28—9-31; Ord. 494 § 1, 1995; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)

A. No person shall violate any of the provisions of the Uniform Fire Code adopted by this chapter, or fail to comply therewith; shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder; shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken; or shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the chief of the bureau of fire prevention or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed.

B. The imposition of one penalty for any violation shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each ten (10) days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

C. The application of a penalty for such a violation shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

(Prior code § 9-13; Ord. No. 549, § 1, 7-30-2015)