(a) Authority of Fire Chief and Director of Permitting Services generally. The Fire Chief and the Director of the Department of Permitting Services must administer this Chapter. The Fire Chief and the Director of Permitting Services must perform the respective duty or duties assigned under this Chapter or any other applicable law. The Fire Chief and the Director of Permitting Services may delegate any power or duty under this Chapter to any other County employee.
(b) Authority of Fire Chief in emergencies. In an emergency where the Fire Chief finds that life or property is in immediate danger of fire, the Fire Chief may take any action necessary to protect life or property.
(c) Enforcement assistance. Police and any other authorized agency must provide necessary assistance to enforce this Chapter when the Fire Chief or the Director of Permitting Services so requests.
(d) Fire Code Compliance. The Department of Permitting Services may enforce all County laws and regulations on:
(1) fire prevention;
(2) storage, use, and handling of explosive, flammable, toxic, corrosive, and other hazardous gaseous, solid, and liquid materials;
(3) installation and maintenance of automatic, manual, and other private fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment;
(4) maintenance and regulation of fire escapes;
(5) maintenance of fire protection and elimination of fire hazards on land and in buildings, structures, and other property, including those under construction; and
(6) adequacy of each fire exit from any building.
(e) Authorization for requirement changes. A fire safety requirement proposed for imposition during the course of building construction that would change or substitute a material, feature, construction method, or any other aspect of construction different from the original or amended subdivision, site, or construction plans and specifications, as approved by the Director must only be imposed if the Director finds that the change or substitution is necessary to avoid a specific and demonstrable threat to public safety. The Director must provide a copy of the finding to the affected person and to the public on request.
(f) Fire and explosive investigation section. The Fire Chief may organize and supervise a Fire and Explosive Investigation Section in the Fire and Rescue Service to investigate the cause and origin of any fire. The Fire Chief may ask the State fire marshal to appoint one or more qualified employees of the Fire and Rescue Service to serve as a special assistant State fire marshal. (1975 L.M.C., ch. 23, § 1; 1979 L.M.C. ch. 41, § 2; 2010 L.M.C., ch. 49, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 30, §1.)