(a) Establishment. The Chief is hereby authorized to establish fire lanes on either public or private property within the City:
(1) As deemed necessary for the efficient and effective use of fire apparatus.
(2) When necessary for the safeguarding of life and property from the hazards of fire, explosion, or hazardous materials incident.
(3) For the safe use and occupancy of buildings, structures and adjacent property; and/or
(4) For the safe egress of occupants in the event of fire or other emergency requiring building evacuation.
(b) Width. Fire lanes shall be of such width as to permit access and operation of firefighting equipment and personnel and the egress of occupants. Fire lanes necessary for fire apparatus access shall have a minimum width of eighteen (18) feet. Fire lanes necessary for fire apparatus operation shall have a minimum width of twenty-four (24) feet.
(c) Clearance.
(1) At least eighteen (18) feet of nominal clearance shall be provided over the full width of fire lanes utilized for fire apparatus access.
(2) At least twenty-four (24) feet of nominal clearance shall be provided over the full width of fire lanes utilized for fire apparatus operation.
(d) Obstructions.
(1) Fire lanes shall be maintained free of obstructions.
(2) No person shall obstruct a fire lane by parking, stopping or leaving standing a motor vehicle, whether such vehicle is attended or unattended.
(3) No person shall obstruct a fire lane by constructing a gate, fence or other barricade or in any other manner. A gate, fence or barricade which is readily removable or through which access may be gained by fire fighting equipment and personnel without delay shall not be prohibited by the terms of this section.
(4) Locking of a permitted gate, fence or barricade is prohibited unless authorized by the Chief. Locking devices, where permitted, shall be readily opened in a manner approved by the Chief.
(5) Landscaping or other obstructions shall not be placed around structures in a manner so as to impair or impede accessibility for firefighting and rescue operations.
(6) Attended motor vehicles found standing or parked in a fire lane shall be immediately moved upon direction of any member of the Department of Public Safety. Any unattended motor vehicle found standing or parked in a fire lane may be impounded in a manner and subject to the penalties and charges set forth in Chapter 405 of the Traffic Code of the City.
(7) Obstructions other than motor vehicles found in fire lanes shall be removed by the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the premises within three (3) days after written notice of removal. Upon failure to comply with such notice, the City may cause the obstruction to be removed and the owner, occupant or other person in charge of the premises shall be required to pay the cost of such removal.
(e) Marking.
(1) Fire lanes shall be marked with signs and/or marked curbs, sidewalks, or other traffic surfaces that have the words "FIRE LANE - NO PARKING" painted in contrasting colors at a size and spacing approved by the Chief.
(2) All designated fire lane signs or markings shall be maintained in a clean and legible condition at all times and replaced when necessary to insure adequate visibility.
(f) Access.
(1) Means of access for fire department apparatus shall be provided to all structures and shall be maintained at all times.
(2) At least two (2) means of access for fire apparatus shall be provided for each structure exceeding thirty (30) feet or three (3) stories in height.
(3) Means of access for fire department apparatus shall be constructed of a hard, all-weather surface adequately designed to support the heaviest piece of fire apparatus likely to be operated.
(4) Parking in any means of access shall not be permitted within twenty (20) feet of a fire hydrant, sprinkler or standpipe connection or in any other manner that will obstruct or interfere with the fire department's use of the hydrant or connection.
(5) "NO PARKING" signs or other designation indicating that parking is prohibited shall be provided at all normal and emergency access points to structures and within twenty (20) feet of each fire hydrant, sprinkler, or standpipe connection.
(g) Live Loads. Fire lanes shall be able to withstand live loads of fire apparatus.
(h) Dead Ends. Every dead-end roadway more than three hundred (300) feet in length shall be provided at the closed end with a turnaround acceptable to the fire department. The turnaround shall have a minimum centerline radius of fifty (50) feet.
Exception: When approved by the Chief turnaround arrangements other than a cul-de-sac may be used when the dead-end roadway does not exceed five hundred (500) feet in length.
(i) Bridges/Elevated surfaces.
(1) Where a bridge is required to be used as access, it shall be constructed and maintained using live design loading sufficient to carry the imposed loads of the fire apparatus.
(2) Where an elevated surface is used as access, that portion utilized by fire apparatus shall be constructed and maintained to accommodate fire apparatus.
(j) Notice of Lane Designation: Appeal. Whenever the Chief designates a fire lane, written notice thereof shall be given to the owner, occupant or person in charge of the premises. Such designation may be appealed within ten (10) days by filing a statutory appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Lake County as provided by general law.
(k) Penalty.
(1) Any person who is cited for a violation of this section for parking or leaving standing an unattended motor vehicle, in addition to the impounding provisions and charges provided by Sections 404.06 and 452.02 of the Traffic Code of the City shall be subject to the penalties and waiver provisions of Chapter 408 of such Traffic Code.
(2) Except as provided in subparagraph (1) hereof, any person who violates any of the provisions of this section, or fails to comply with any order made hereunder, shall severally for each and every such violation or noncompliance respectively be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500) and imprisoned for not more than ten (10) days, or both. Each ten (10) days that a prohibited condition is maintained shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue and such violation shall be remedied.
(Ord. 2005-127. Passed 9-6-05.)
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