GENERAL PROVISIONS

§ 94.01 FIRE CHIEF TO INVESTIGATE CAUSE OF EVERY FIRE.

   Immediately after the occurrence of any fire, the Fire Chief shall investigate, or shall cause to be investigated, the cause, origin and circumstances thereof, and, as far as possible, shall determine whether the fire was the result of accident, carelessness or design. If he or she has reason to believe that the fire was of suspicious origin, he or she shall notify the proper authorities designated by law to pursue the investigation of the matter, and shall further cooperate with the authorities in the collecting of evidence and in the prosecution of the case when properly instituted.

(1985 Code, § 94.01)

Statutory reference:

   Duty of firefighters generally, see G.S. § 160A-29l

§ 94.02 RECORD OF FIRES TO BE KEPT.

   The Fire Chief shall keep, or cause to be kept, an accurate record of all fires occurring in the town. For each fire the following information shall be secured and kept:

   (A)   Location of premises;

   (B)   Owner;

   (C)   Brief description of premises, whether of brick, stone, concrete, iron or wood;

   (D)   How occupied, whether as dwelling, storehouse, factory, workshop or otherwise;

   (E)   Amount and nature of damages as to both real and personal property;

   (F)   Amount of insurance;

   (G)   Cause of fire;

   (H)   Date.

(1985 Code, § 94.02)

§ 94.03 FIRE APPARATUS TO HAVE RIGHT-OF-WAY.

   (A)   When the fire alarm sounds, every automobile, truck or other vehicle is required immediately to come to a full stop at the curb until the fire truck has passed, and pedestrians are required to clear the streets at once when the operator of the fire truck is giving a warning signal by appropriate light and by bell, siren or exhaust whistle audible under normal conditions from a distance not less than 1,000 feet.

   (B)   (1)   In event of an alarm of fire, the apparatus of the Fire Department shall have the right-of-way in and on the streets, lanes, alleys, squares and railroad crossings in going to any fire, or being on any street, lanes, alleys, squares or railroad crossings provided that the operator of the Fire Department vehicle is giving a warning signal by appropriate light and by bell, siren or exhaust whistle audible under normal conditions from a distance of not less than 1,000 feet.

      (2)   It shall be unlawful for any person to obstruct or willfully fail or refuse to make way for any of the apparatus.

(1985 Code, § 94.03) Penalty, see § 94.99

Statutory reference:

   Emergency apparatus to have right-of-way, see G.S. § 20-156

§ 94.04 ESTABLISHMENT OF FIRE LIMITS.

   Pursuant to G.S. § 160A-435 the primary fire limits of the town shall be, and are hereby defined as follows:

   Bounded on the north by a line running parallel with Sycamore Street located 168.666 feet in a northerly direction along the centerline of Arendell Avenue from the intersection of the centerline of Arendell Avenue and the centerline of Sycamore Street; on the south by Barbee Street; on the east by a line running parallel with Arendell Avenue and being located 200 feet east from the centerline of Arendell Avenue; and on the west by a line running parallel with Arendell Avenue and being located 200 feet west from the centerline of Arendell Avenue.

(1985 Code, § 94.04)

Editor’s note:

   G.S. § 160A-435 was repealed by Session Laws 2019 111, s. 2.3

§ 94.05 RESTRICTIONS WITHIN FIRE LIMITS.

   It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to erect, alter, repair, move or assist in erecting, altering, repairing or moving any wooden frame or wooden building or structure or addition thereto within the fire limits of the town as defined in § 94.04 except on prior written approval of the Building Inspector of the town or county.

(1985 Code, § 94.05) Penalty, see § 94.99

§ 94.06 CERTAIN ACTS PROHIBITED.

   The following acts shall be prohibited:

   (A)   Congregating in street near fire. It shall be unlawful for any person to congregate in the streets, lanes, alleys or squares in the vicinity of a fire so as to interfere with the Fire Department;

   (B)   False fire alarms. It shall be unlawful for any person to turn in or aid or abet in turning in any false fire alarm in the town;

   (C)   Interference with firefighters or fire apparatus. No person shall interfere with a firefighter in discharge of his or her duty or hinder him or her in the performance of his or her duty, nor shall any person other than members of the Fire Department loiter about any fire station, or change, handle or meddle in any manner with any fire engine or any fire apparatus;

   (D)   Protection of fire hose. It shall be unlawful to drive over, or in any way damage or mutilate, any fire hose while in use at a fire or otherwise; and

   (E)   Unlawful to obstruct hydrant. It shall be unlawful at all times for any person to obstruct any hydrant or fire plug in a manner so as to interfere with the easy approach to, or convenient use of it by the Fire Department.

(1985 Code, § 94.06) Penalty, see § 94.99