(A) It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Fire Chief or such officer of the Department or designee which is an ex officio assistant to the State Fire Marshal under IC 36-8-17-5 to enforce the provisions of this code. The designated enforcement officer of this code is herein referred to as the Fire Chief.
(B) The Code Enforcement Division shall be responsible for the enforcement of this code and regulations for the safeguarding, to a reasonable degree, of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion and from conditions hazardous to life and property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises and their contents.
(C) It is the intent of the Fire Department to achieve compliance by traditional mean of inspection, violation notification, granting or reasonable time to comply and reinspection. A citation may be used after reasonable means to gain compliance have failed or, with proper justification, at the discretion of the Fire Chief.
(D) The personnel regularly assigned to the Code Enforcement Division shall be commissioned as special police officers under IC 36-8-3-7 and IC 36-8-9-6 through the Police Commission and shall have all rights, duties and authorities for the enforcement of this code and any state and local laws as they relate to their assignment. Only those members of the Fire Department specifically designated by the Fire Chief may be so appointed or issue citations under this code.
(E) The Chief of the Lowell Police Department upon request of the Fire Chief shall assign such law enforcement officers as may be necessary to assist in the enforcement of this chapter.
(Ord. 2005-04, passed 5-23-05)