CHAPTER VII. FIRE
Article 1. Fire Department
Article 2. Fire Prevention
Article 3. Fireworks
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ARTICLE 1. FIRE DEPARTMENT
7-101. FIRE EQUIPMENT; EMERGENCY RIGHT-OF-WAY AND USE. (a) All fire apparatus and equipment is hereby given and granted the exclusive right-of-way over and through all streets, avenues, alleys and public thoroughfares in the city while enroute to fires or in response to any alarm, and it shall be unlawful for any person or persons to in any manner obstruct or hinder the apparatus or equipment.
(b) All emergency vehicles of the fire department, while proceeding on official business, shall be operated in strict accordance with the requirements of the Kansas Statutes regarding the operation of emergency vehicles, and each departmental member assigned to the operation of emergency vehicles shall familiarize himself or herself with the requirements of the law and govern himself or herself accordingly. Any operator violating the provisions of the state law shall be liable for disciplinary action. (Code 2015)
7-102. PRIVATE USE OF FIRE EQUIPMENT. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to take away or use any city fire apparatus or equipment for any private purpose or for any person willfully and without proper authority to remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance, equipment or other article used in any way by the fire department. (Code 2015)
7-103. SAME; FIRE HOSE. It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to drive any vehicle over any fire hose laid on any street, alley or lot. This section shall not apply to any apparatus or vehicle being driven by members of the fire department. (Code 2015)
7-104. OBSTRUCTION OF FIRE HYDRANT. It shall be unlawful for any person to place or cause to be placed upon or about any fire hydrant any rubbish, building material, fence or other obstruction of any character, or in any manner obstruct, hinder, or delay the fire department in the performance of its duties in case of fire. Nor shall any person fasten to any fire hydrant any guy rope or brace, nor stand any vehicle within 15 feet of any such hydrant. (Code 2015)
7-105. FALSE ALARM. It shall be unlawful for any person to knowingly make or sound or cause to be made or sounded, or by any other means, any false alarm. (Code 2015)
ARTICLE 2. FIRE PREVENTION
7-201. FIRE PREVENTION CODE INCORPORATED. The City of Jetmore, for the purpose of prescribing regulations, governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain code and standards known as the International Fire Code, edition of 2012, including all the Appendix chapters, published by the International Code Council, one copy shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the City of Jetmore Kansas, and the same are hereby adopted and incorporated as fully as if set out at length herein, and from the date on which this article shall take effect, the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the city. (Code 2015)
7-202. SAME; ENFORCEMENT. The code hereby adopted may be enforced by the public officer and/or their appointed fire inspector. (Code 2015)
7-203. SAME; AMENDMENTS. (a) Wherever the word municipality is used in the code hereby adopted, it shall be held to mean the City of Jetmore.
(b) All sections of the Uniform Fire Code relating to fireworks are hereby deleted in their entirety. (Code 2015)
7-204. OPEN BURNING. (a) It is unlawful to initiate or permit open burning within the city limits of the City of Jetmore, except:
(1) To burn leaves, grass, brush, small limbs, or stumps when personally monitored by the owner or tenant of the premises where the burning is undertaken provided the mayor or fire chief may temporarily prohibit such burning when in their opinion conditions warrant such action, or
(2) When specifically authorized by the city’s fire chief.
(b) Under no circumstances shall burning garbage or steel drums be permitted.
(c) Any person violating the provisions of sections (a) or (b) shall be subject to a fine of not more than $100.00. (Ord. 546, Sec. 1:3; Code 2015)
7-205. ACCUMULATION OF RUBBISH AND TRASH. It shall be unlawful for any person to allow to accumulate or to keep in any part of any building or outside of and adjacent to any building or in any alley, sidewalk, street or premises within 30 feet of any building any rubbish, trash, waste paper, excelsior, empty boxes, barrels or other combustibles which shall constitute a fire hazard. (Code 2015)
7-206. STACKING OF HAY OR STRAW. It shall be unlawful for any person to deposit, stack or store any hay, straw, or sorghum within five hundred (500) feet of any building located inside the fire limits of the city. (Ord. 19, Sec. 1; Code 2015)
7-207. KEEPING OF PACKING MATERIALS. It shall be unlawful to keep excelsior or other packing material in any other than metal or wood metal line boxes or bins having self-closing or automatic covers. All refuse and trash from rooms where packing or unpacking is done shall be removed daily. (Code 2015)
7-208. STORAGE OF ASHES. It shall be unlawful to store ashes inside of any non-fireproof building unless they are stored in a noncombustible container or receptacle, and a clearance of at least five feet shall be maintained between such container or receptacle and any combustible materials not placed therein. Ashes shall not be stored outside of any building in wooden, plastic, or paper product receptacles or dumped in contact with or in close proximity to any combustible materials. (Code 2015)
7-209. FILLING GASOLINE TANKS OF MOTOR VEHICLES. The engines of motor vehicles shall be stopped when the gasoline tanks of such vehicles are being filled with gasoline at service stations or other places where gasoline is supplied to motor vehicles. The driver or person in control of such vehicle when the gasoline tank of same is being filled who refuses, neglects or fails to stop the engine of such vehicle shall likewise be guilty of a violation of this code. (Code 2015)
7-210. FIRE HAZARDS GENERALLY. It is unlawful for any person to cause or create anywhere within the city, or to permit on any premises under his or her control, any situation or condition that is conducive to or likely to cause or permit the outbreak of fire or the spreading of fire. Any situation or condition conducive to the outbreak of or spreading of fire, is declared to be a fire hazard. The violation of or failure to comply with any law pertaining to the storage, handling or use of inflammable oils, explosives, liquefied petroleum gases, or fertilizers and all wires and other conductors charged with electricity, is declared to be a fire hazard. The placing of stools, chairs or any other obstruction in the aisles, hallways, doorway, or exit of any theater, public hall, auditorium, church or other place of indoor public assemblage, or the failure to provide any such place of public assemblage with sufficient, accessible and unobstructed fire exits and escapes is also declared to be a fire hazard. The obstruction of any street, avenue, alley, fire hydrant or any other condition that might delay the fire department in fighting fire is declared to be unlawful. (Code 2015)
7-211. SAME; INSPECTIONS TO DISCOVER. It shall be the duty of the public officer and/or their appointed inspector to inspect or cause to be inspected as often as may be necessary all buildings, particularly all mercantile buildings, manufacturing plants, warehouses, garages, hotels, boarding houses, rooming houses, theaters, auditoriums and all places of public assemblage, for the purpose of discovering the violation of any fire preventive law or any fire hazard and ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fires and to see that all places of public assemblage, hotels and rooming houses have sufficient and unobstructed facilities for escape therefrom in case of fire. (Code 2015)
7-212. ABATEMENT OF FIRE HAZARDS; ISSUING ORDER. Whenever any officer or member of the fire department shall find or discover any fire hazard or shall find in any building or upon any premises combustible or explosive material or dangerous accumulation of rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of paper, boxes, shavings or any other inflammable material, so situated as to endanger property by the probability of fire, or shall find or discover any violation of this chapter or any other law hazardous to public safety from fires, the fire chief shall order the fire hazard or danger from the fire forthwith abated and remedied and such order shall be complied with immediately by the owner or occupant of such buildings or premises. If the hazard or condition ordered abated and remedied is a violation of, or a failure to comply with any law, the fire chief shall report the matter to the city attorney and he or she shall, if he or she deems it advisable, prosecute the offender. (Code 2015)
7-213. SAME; SERVICE OF ORDER; RECORDS. Any order made under section 7-212 shall be in writing and may be served personally upon the owner or occupant of the premises or by leaving it with any person in charge of the premises or if the premises are unoccupied and the owner is a nonresident of the city, then by mailing a copy to the owner’s last known post-office address. One notice to either the occupant or owner shall be sufficient. The fire chief shall keep a record of and copies of all such orders and notices and shall follow up such notices at the expiration of the time for compliance therewith and when complied with make proper entry, and if not complied with, file complaint with the municipal court against the property owner and/or occupant. (Code 2015)
ARTICLE 3. FIREWORKS
7-301. FIREWORKS DEFINED. For purposes of this article, the term fireworks shall mean those items as defined by the rules and regulations of the Kansas state fire marshal, and shall include but not be limited to: firecrackers, torpedoes, sparklers, Roman candles, sky rockets, pin wheels, cap or toy pistols (except such pistols or any like device designed to discharge paper caps containing not more than .25 grains of explosive mixture), canes, bombs, cannons or other like devices and all classes of fireworks that may be shot into the air or propelled over the ground by explosive discharges or any device using blank cartridges. (Code 2015)
7-302. FIREWORKS PROHIBITED. (a) Except as provided in sections 7-303:306; it shall be unlawful for any person to keep, store, display for sale, fire, discharge or explode any fireworks.
(b) Nothing in this article shall be construed as applying to:
(1) Toy paper caps containing not more than .25 of a grain of explosive composition per cap;
(2) The manufacture, storage, sale or authorized use of signals necessary for the safe operation of railroads or other classes of public or private transportation;
(3) The military or naval forces of the United States or of this state while in the performance of official duty;
(4) Law enforcement officers while in the performance of official duty; or
(5) The sale or use of blank cartridges for ceremonial, theatrical or athletic events.(Code 2015)
7-303. SAME: EXCEPTIONS; DISCHARGES. (a) Section 7-302 of this article shall not apply to the firing or discharge of fireworks in the city between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. July 1st through 3rd and the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight on July 4th as long as the fireworks are not discharged within 25 feet of any building.
(b) The governing body of the city may, in its discretion, grant permission at any time for the public display of fireworks by responsible individuals or organizations when such display or displays shall be of such a character and so located, discharged and fired as shall not be a fire hazard or endanger persons or surrounding property. (Ord. 141, Sec. 24; Ord. 207, Sec. 1; Code 2015)
7-304. SAME: EXCEPTION; SALE OF FIREWORKS. Any person who has first obtained a valid permit to sell fireworks within the city may do so between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 midnight commencing June 28th and through July 5th of each year. (Code 2015)
7-305. PERMIT FOR SALE OF FIREWORKS REQUIRED; FEE; ISSUANCE. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, display for sell, offer to sell or give away any type of fireworks within the city without first securing a permit therefor on or before June 25th of the permit year.
(b) No permit shall be issued for any location where retail sales are not permitted under the zoning laws. Prior to the issuance of the permit, an inspection will be made of the applicant’s facility for compliance with this chapter and other pertinent laws, and no permit shall be issued for any premises not in compliance with such laws. Upon qualifying for the permit, the permittee shall prominently display the same at the establishment or premises where fireworks are to be sold or displayed for sale. The permit fee shall not be refundable upon failure to qualify for the permit or withdrawal or cancellation of the application or permit. (Code 2015)
7-306. APPROVED FIREWORKS; BOTTLE ROCKETS PROHIBITED. (a) All fireworks offered for sale and discharged within the city shall be of a type that has been tested and approved for sale and use within the state by the state fire marshal.
(b) Bottle rockets and other similar self-propelled firework or fireworks devices consisting of a tube and attached guiding stock or rod shall not be sold or discharged in the city. (Code 2015)
7-307. CLEANUP OF DEBRIS. The adult granting permission to detonate fireworks at a private residence shall clear the front yard of that private residence and all adjacent public right-of-way of all debris from the detonation of the fireworks before 10:00 pm July 5th. (Code 2015)
7-308. THROWING PROHIBITED. It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, cast or propel fireworks of any kind in the direction of or into the path of any animal, person or group of persons, or from, in the direction of or into any vehicle of any kind. (Code 2015)
7-309. SALE OF FIREWORKS; WHERE PROHIBITED. (a) It shall be unlawful for fireworks to be stored, sold or displayed for sale in a place of business where paint, oils, varnishes, turpentine or gasoline or other flammable substances are kept, unless such fireworks are in a separate and distinct section or department of the premises.
(b) Where the fire chief deems there is a fire hazard, he or she is hereby authorized to have such hazard abated. (Code 2015)
7-310. RETAIL DISPLAY OF FIREWORKS. (a) All retailers are forbidden to expose fireworks where the sun shines through glass on the merchandise displayed, except where such fireworks are in the original package.
(b) All fireworks displayed for sale must remain in original packages, except where an attendant is on constant duty at all times where such fireworks are on display; provided, that fireworks in open stock may be kept in show cases or counters out of the reach of the public without an attendant being on duty.
(c) Signs reading “Fireworks for Sale–No Smoking Allowed” shall be displayed in the section of a store or premises set aside for the sale of fireworks. (Code 2015)
7-311. FIRE EXTINGUISHERS REQUIRED. (a) Two functioning and approved fire extinguishers must be provided and kept in close proximity to the stock of fireworks in all permanent buildings where fireworks are stored, sold or displayed for sale.
(b) Small stands, temporarily erected to be used as a place for storing and selling fireworks only, shall have one such fire extinguisher, or in lieu of the fire extinguisher, a pressurized water hose with nozzle end within five feet of the fireworks stand. (Code 2015)
7-312. RESTRICTIONS AS TO GASOLINE INSTALLATIONS. It shall be unlawful to store, keep, sell, display for sale or discharge any fireworks within 50 feet of any gasoline pump, gasoline filling station, gasoline bulk station or any building in which gasoline or volatile liquids are sold in quantities in excess of one gallon, except in stores where cleaners, paints and oils are handled in sealed containers only. (Code 2015)
7-313. AUTHORITY OF FIRE CHIEF. The chief of the fire department is authorized to seize and confiscate all fireworks which may be kept, stored or used in violation of any section of this article, and all of the rules of the state fire marshal. He or she shall dispose of all such fireworks as may be directed by the governing body. (Code 2015)
7-314. BANNING FIREWORKS. Either the Chief of the Jetmore Fire Department or the Governing Body shall have the authority and discretion to ban the discharge of all fireworks within the corporate limits of the City of Jetmore if the weather conditions make discharge of fireworks in the City hazardous to persons or property. (Code 2015)