Article 8-3 FIRE REGULATIONS AND INSPECTIONS

8-301     Fire Inspectors.

     The Chief of the Fire Department shall be ex-officio Fire Inspector and shall have the right to designate any member of the Fire Department or Police Department to assist him in his duties as Fire Inspector. (Ord. No. 6, 8-4-04; 31-1, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-302     Right to Enter Premises by Fire Inspectors. 

     Any fire inspector may, at all reasonable hours, enter any building or premises within the City of Rock Springs for the purpose of making any inspection or investigation which, under the provisions of this Ordinance, he may deem necessary to be made. (Ord. No. 6, Art. II, Sec. 2, 8-4-04; 31-2, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-303     Routine Inspection of Hazardous Premises.

     The Fire Inspector, or a person designated to assist him, shall inspect, as often as may be necessary but not less than two (2) times a year, all specially hazardous manufacturing processes, storages or installations of gases, chemicals, oils, and automatic sprinkler systems, and such other hazards or appliances as he may deem necessary, and shall make such orders as may be necessary for the enforcement of the laws and Ordinances governing the same and for safeguarding of life and property from fire. (Ord. No. 31-3, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-304     Routine Inspection of Buildings.

      It shall be the duty of the Fire Inspector to inspect or cause to be inspected, as often as may be necessary but not less than once a year, all buildings and premises, except the interiors of private dwellings, for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable to cause fire, or any violations of the provisions or intent of any Ordinance of this City affecting the fire hazard. (Ord. No. 31-4, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-305     Inspector to Order Removal of Fire Hazard.

     Whenever any Inspector, as defined above, shall find in any building or upon any premises, combustible or explosive matter or dangerous accumulations of rubbish or unnecessary accumulation of waste paper, boxes, shavings, or any highly inflammable materials, and which is so situated as to endanger property; or shall find obstructions on fire escapes, stairs, passageways, doors or windows, liable to interfere with the operations of the Fire Department or egress of occupants in case of fire, he shall order the same to be removed or remedied. (Ord. No. 31-5, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-306     Inspection When Deemed Necessary or Required by Complaint.

     The Fire Inspector, upon the complaint of any person or whenever he shall deem it necessary, shall inspect or cause to be inspected all buildings and premises within the City of Rock Springs. Whenever the Fire Inspector or any person designated by him shall find any building or other structure which, for want of repairs, lack of sufficient fire escapes, automatic or other fire alarm apparatus or fire extinguishing equipment, or by reason of age or dilapidated condition, or from any other cause, is especially liable to fire and which is so situated as to endanger other property or the occupants thereof, and whenever such officer shall find in any building combustible or explosive matter or flammable conditions dangerous to the safety of such building or the occupants thereof, he or they shall order such dangerous conditions or materials to be removed or remedied. (Ord. No. 6, Art. II, Sec. 3, 8-4-04; 31-6, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-307     Proceedings to Remove Fire Hazards.

     The services of such orders as mentioned in Sections 8-303, 8-304, 8-305, 8-306 may be made upon the occupants of the premises to whom it is directed, either by delivering a copy of same to and leaving it with any person in charge of the premises, or in case no such person is found upon the premises, by affixing a copy thereof in a conspicuous place on the door to the entrance of said premises. Whenever it may be necessary to serve such an order upon the owner of premises, such order may be served either by delivering to and leaving with the said person a copy of the said order, or, if such owner is absent from the jurisdiction of the office making the order, by mailing such copy to the owner's last known post office address. Any such order shall forthwith be complied with by the owner or occupant of such premises or building; provided, however, that any such owner or occupant may file his petition with the Mayor and City Council, praying a review of such order and it shall be the duty of the Mayor and City Council to hear the same within not less than five (5) days nor more than ten (10) days from the time the petition is filed, and to make such order in the premises as right and justice may require. (Ord. No. 31-7, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord 1963).

8-308     Inspection of Origin of Fires.

     The Fire Inspector, or person designated by him, 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. (Ord. No. 31-8, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-309     Record to Be Kept of Fires and Resulting Damage.

     The Chief of the Fire Department shall keep a record of all fires and all of the facts concerning the same, including circumstances and statistics as to the extend of such fires and the damage caused thereby, and whether such losses were covered by insurance, and if so, in what amount. (Ord. No. 31-9, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963)

8-310     Fire Precautions in Schools.

     It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to require teachers of public, private and parochial schools and educational institutions to have one fire drill or safety drill each month in accordance with W.S. 35-9-505, and to keep all doors and exits unlocked during school hours. (Ord. No. 31-10, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963; Ord. No. 2006-19, 7/5/06).

8-311     Fireman at Public Gatherings.

     The Chief of the Fire Department shall have the power to assign to duty one or more firemen, to any theatre, public hall, lecture room, or other place where large audiences are assembled. Such firemen on duty shall have the power to prohibit smoking, careless handling of torches, electrical apparatus, gas jets, or any combustible material. (Ord. No. 6, 8-4-04; 31-11, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).

8-312     Penalty for Violation.

     Any and all persons who shall violate any of the provisions of this Ordinance or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order or regulations made thereunder, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, forfeit and pay a penalty of not more than One Hundred ($100.00) Dollars, to which may be added the costs of the action at the discretion of the Court. The imposition of one penalty for any violation of this Ordinance shall not excuse the violation, or permit it to continue; and all such persons shall be required to correct or remedy such violations or defects within a reasonable time; and when not otherwise specified, each ten days that the prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense. The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions. (Ord. No. 6, Art. II, Sec. 3, 8-4-04; 31-12, Rev. Ord. 1938; Rev. Ord. 1963).