This chapter shall provide the city with rules and regulations to improve public safety by promoting the control of fire hazards; regulating the installation, use and maintenance of equipment; regulating the use of structures, premises and open areas; providing for the abatement of fire hazards; establishing the responsibilities and procedures for code enforcement; and setting forth standards for compliance and achievement of these objectives. This chapter shall be known as CITY OF WATERLOO FIRE PREVENTION CODE. (Ord. 4992, 6-21-2010)
The following codes are hereby adopted and incorporated as if fully set out at length herein. At least one copy of such codes is on file and available for inspection in the city clerk’s office and fire headquarters, and the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the city. (Ord. 4992, 6-21-2010)
A. International Fire Code: That certain document marked and designated as the international fire code, 2021 edition, including appendix chapters B, C, D, and H, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., be and the same is hereby adopted as the fire code of the city, to prescribe regulations consistent with nationally recognized good practice for the safeguarding to a reasonable degree of life and property from the hazards of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling and use of hazardous substances, materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the use or occupancy of buildings or premises. (Ord. 5368, 9-26-2016; amd. Ord. 5628, 12-20-2021)
A. Fire Chief Responsible; Inspectors: The fire chief shall be responsible for the enforcement of the codes adopted in section 9-2-2 of this chapter. The fire chief may detail qualified members of the fire department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary.
B. Fire Chief To Prepare Instructions: The fire chief shall prepare instructions for the fire marshal and the fire marshal's assistants, and forms for their use in the reports required by this chapter. (Ord. 4992, 6-21-2010)
A. Investigate Fires: The bureau of fire prevention and/or incident commander shall investigate the cause, origin and circumstances of every fire occurring in the city by which property has been destroyed or damaged and, so far as possible, shall determine whether the fire is the result of carelessness or design. Such investigations shall begin immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire. The fire marshal shall take immediate charge of the physical evidence, shall notify the proper authorities designated by law to pursue the investigation of such matters, and shall further cooperate with the authorities in the collection of evidence and in the prosecution of the case. Every fire shall be reported in writing to the bureau of fire prevention within one day after the occurrence of the same by the fire department officer in whose jurisdiction such a fire has occurred. Such report shall be in such form as shall be prescribed by the fire marshal, and shall contain a statement of all facts relating to the cause, origin and circumstances of such fire, the extent of the damage thereof and the insurance upon such property, and such other information as may be required, including the injury, death or rescue of persons.
B. Daily Records: The fire department shall compile and keep a record of all fires and of all facts concerning the same, including injuries, deaths, rescue of persons, statistics as to the extent of such fires and the damage caused thereby, and whether such losses were covered by insurance and, if so, in what amount. Such record shall be made daily from the reports made by the technical inspectors under the provisions of this chapter. All such records shall be public.
C. Annual Report To Mayor And City Council: The fire marshal shall make an annual report of the activities of the bureau of fire prevention and shall transmit this report to the mayor and city council through the fire chief. The report shall contain all proceedings under the fire prevention code with such statistics as the fire chief may wish to include therein.
D. Recommend Amendments To Code: The fire chief or the fire marshal shall also recommend any amendments to the fire prevention code or ordinance that shall be desirable. (Ord. 4992, 6-21-2010)
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