Chapter 7 · Fire

Article 1. Fire Department

Sections 7-101 to 7-108 · 8 sections

7-101 Fire prevention code incorporated.

The International Fire Code (IFC), 2006 Edition, is hereby adopted by reference for the purpose of regulation of conditions hazardous to life and property from fire and explosion including the Appendix thereof, as stated in the “City of Towanda Official Copy.” At least one copy of said code shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of Towanda,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business.

(Ord. 466; Code 2004; Ord. 653; Code 2019)

7-102 Same; enforcement.

The code hereby adopted shall be enforced by the chief of the fire department.

(Code 1985)

7-103 Same; amendments.

Wherever the word municipality is used in the code hereby adopted, it shall be held to mean the City of Towanda.

(Code 2004)

7-104 Bulk storage; flammable liquids, LP gases.

The limits referred to in section 16.22 of the code hereby adopted in which storage and flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited, and the limits referred to in section 21.6 of the code hereby adopted, in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas is restricted, are hereby established as follows: Provided, however, that liquefied petroleum gas may be stored in containers not exceeding 1,000 gallons in capacity in the Business and Industrial Districts as defined and designated by Zoning Ordinance No. 272, incorporated by section 16-201 of this Code, when installed in full compliance with the State Fire Marshal’s Regulations, and not within 50 feet of a highway.

(Code 1985)

7-105 Open burning.

(a)For the purpose of this section the following words shall mean:

(1)Garbage — without limitation any accumulation of animal, fruit or vegetable waste matter that results from the handling, preparation, cooking, serving, delivering, storage, or use of foodstuffs.

(2)Trash — combustible waste consisting of, but not limited to: papers, cartons, boxes, barrels, wood, excelsior, furniture, bedding, rags, leaves, yard trimmings, or tree branches and non-combustible waste consisting of, but not limited to: metal, tin, cans, glass, crockery, plastics, mineral matter, ashes, clinkers, or street rubbish and sweepings.

(b)It shall be unlawful for any person to burn or incinerate garbage, trash, leaves, grass, or any other materials outdoors within the city without obtaining a prior written approval of the fire chief.

(Ord. 282, Sec. 1; Code 1985)

7-106 Modifications.

The chief of the fire department shall have power to modify any of the provisions of the code hereby incorporated in section 7-101 above, upon application in writing by the owner or lessee, or his or her duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code: provided, that the spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured, and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the chief of the fire department thereon shall be entered upon the records of the department and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.

(Code 1985)

7-107 Appeals.

Whenever the chief of the fire department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a license or permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the chief of the fire department to the governing body within 30 days from the date of the decision of the appeal.

(Code 1985)

7-108 Penalties.

(a)Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the code hereby adopted or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any detailed statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder, or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, and from which no appeal has been taken, or who shall fail to comply with such an order as affirmed or modified by the city council or by a court of competent jurisdiction, within the time fixed herein, shall severally for each and every such violation and noncompliance respectively, be guilty of a violation of this code punishable by a fine of not more than $100 or by imprisonment for not less than five days nor more than 30 days or by both such fine and imprisonment. The imposition of one penalty for any violation 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 10 days that prohibited conditions are maintained shall constitute a separate offense.

(b)The application of the above penalty shall not be held to prevent the enforced removal of prohibited conditions.

(Code 1985)