There is hereby established a Fire Prevention Bureau within the Fire Division of the City, the purposes of which is to carry out all fire prevention duties hereinafter described, and such other fire prevention duties as may be directed by the Director of Public Safety-Service.
(a) Enforcement of the Fire Prevention Laws. The Fire Prevention Bureau shall enforce all laws and ordinances pertaining to fire prevention as are contained in the Ohio Fire Code and including, but not limited to, the following duties:
(1) Inspection of potential fire hazards.
(2) Abatement of existing fire hazards.
(3) Investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of fires.
(4) Control and use of explosives and flammables.
(5) Regulation of the maintenance of automatic and other private fire alarm systems and fire extinguishing equipment.
(6) Control of the means and adequacy of exits, in case of fire, from factories, schools, hotels, lodging houses, hospitals, churches, restaurants, halls, office buildings, theatres and all other places in which numbers of persons work, meet, live or congregate.
(7) Informing the public about fire safety and securing the cooperation of individuals and property owners in practices for their own safety and the safety of others.
(8) Consultation with the public on matters affecting fire safety.
(9) Inspection of properties for situations which create fire hazards affecting the public safety.
(10) Regulating the transportation of dangerous materials within or through the community.
(11) Preparation of special orders for situations not covered by specific provisions of ordinances or laws and forwarding recommendations on provisions needed in fire prevention codes and building codes to the Council of the City of Rocky River.
(12) The enforcement of laws, ordinances and administrative orders for the public safety.
(13) Direct involvement in the development and implementations of fire, life safety, fire prevention and related codes and standards.
(14) Prepare and submit on or before April 1 of each year to the Mayor of the City of Rocky River an Annual Report for the prior year stating a description of the activities for the year and statistics pertaining thereto.
(b) Right to Enter for Inspection. The Chief or his designate shall have the right and authority to enter any building, structure or premises within the corporate limits of the City for the purpose of making inspections or investigations at all reasonable hours, provided that except in cases of emergency, the right and authority conferred by this Section shall not apply to the entry of a private residence unless written notice is served on the occupant thereof. Such written notice shall contain a statement of the time that inspection will be made and shall also contain a statement of the purpose of such inspection or investigation. If such entry is refused, the Chief or his designate shall have recourse to every remedy provided by law to secure entry.
(c) Scope of Inspection Authorized. In addition, and not by way of limitation, to those inspections authorized by the Ohio Fire Code and Rocky River Ordinance, the Fire Prevention Bureau shall be authorized to inspect properties within the following scope:
(1) Disrepair.
(2) Age and dilapidated condition.
(3) Faulty or unapproved construction.
(4) Inadequate or lack of means of egress.
(5) Inadequate fire alarm protection.
(6) Inadequate fire extinguishing equipment.
(7) Materials and buildings especially susceptible to fire.
(8) Conditions endangering other property or occupants.
(9) Number of occupants on premises.
(10) Accumulations of dust or waste material in air conditioning or ventilating systems or the grease in kitchen or other exhaust ducts.
(11) Accumulations of grease on kitchen cooking equipment, or oil, grease or dirt upon, under or around any mechanical equipment.
(12) Accumulations of rubbish, waste, paper, boxes, shavings, or other combustible materials or excessive storage of any combustible material.
(13) Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly used or installed electrical wiring, equipment or appliances.
(14) Hazardous conditions arising from defective or improperly installed equipment for handling or using combustible, explosive or otherwise hazardous materials.
(15) Dangerous or unlawful amounts of combustible, explosive or otherwise hazardous materials.
(16) All equipment, materials, processes or operations which are in violation of the provisions and intent of this Code.
(17) Any other fire hazard condition that poses a threat to life or property.
(d) Order to Correct Violations. Where violations of this section or of any other laws or ordinances relating to fire hazards are found by the Chief or his designate, the Chief shall serve a written order, to correct the violations, upon the owner, operator, occupant or to the person responsible for the violation. Order to correct violation shall be based on existing City Ordinance, the Ohio Fire Code, and all other laws and regulations that apply.
(e) Failure to Comply. Any person to whom an order is directed who fails to comply with such order within the specified time shall be liable to penalties as follows:
They shall be guilty of a minor misdemeanor for the first offense. They shall be guilty of a fourth degree misdemeanor for the second offense or subsequent offenses.
(Ord. 89-86. Passed 12-29-86.)