(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter if, in the opinion of the code official, the conditions at a property constitute an imminent hazard, the code official may order immediate abatement of the hazard without notice. Such abatement of an imminent hazard shall be limited to the minimum work necessary to remove the hazard, and may include disconnection of utilities.
(b) The city shall pay the cost and expense of such abatement from any appropriation made available for that purpose.
(c) A lien shall be recorded with the Pima County Recorder's Office and shall address the same costs and procedures identified in section 16-61, entitled abatement by the city.
(d) Whenever the code official finds that any structure contains an imminent hazard or health hazard, the code official may declare such structure unfit for human occupancy and order it to be vacated or to remain vacant. A structure declared unfit for occupancy and ordered vacated or to remain vacant under the provisions of this section shall not be leased, rented or occupied, and the utilities cannot be reconnected, until it has been inspected and deemed fit for occupancy by the city. The city shall reinspect, for the purpose of reoccupancy, within three (3) business days of the receipt of a written request by the owner.
(e) Fire department suppression forces are responsible for emergency operations related to fire conditions. In any case involving fire conditions at a building or structure, fire suppression forces shall be responsible for fire suppression and structure control until such time as the fire is fully extinguished. After fire conditions are fully extinguished, and after any necessary fire cause investigation, fire suppression forces shall transfer control and responsibility for the building or structure to the building official or other appropriate code official. After this transfer, all subsequent enforcement actions, such as securing the structure, restoring utilities, or ordering demolition, as well as all follow up actions such as cost recovery, shall be the responsibility of the building official or code official. After the transfer of responsibility, fire cause investigators shall retain authority over and responsibility for investigation of fire causation.
(Ord. No. 9816, § 15, 2-24-03)