Chapter 15.10
FIRE PREVENTION
Sections:
15.10.010 Fire limits designated.
15.10.040 Building construction requirements.
15.10.050 Strength of materials.
15.10.100 Nonconforming buildings.
15.10.110 Dangerous buildings.
15.10.120 Violation – Penalty.
15.10.010 Fire limits designated.
Blocks numbered 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 34, 44, 45, 67, 68, 85, 89, 106, and 107 as per the official plat of the Village of Cimarron, are hereby declared to be and include the fire limits of the Village and it shall be unlawful to construct, repair, alter, or add to any building or other structure within said fire limits except in compliance with the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 14 § 1, 1911].
15.10.020 Permit required.
Before erecting, altering, repairing, or adding to any building or other structure within the fire limits a written application for a permit to proceed with such work shall be submitted to the governing body of the Village.
Which application shall state the proposed location and approximate cost of such work together with complete plans and specifications. Upon examination of such application, if it shall appear to the governing body that the work proposed conforms with the provisions of this chapter, it shall issue a permit therefor.
The board shall require the inspection of all buildings within the fire limits, as often as necessary, to ensure compliance with this chapter and it may charge for such inspection and for the issuing of permits a sum not to exceed the actual costs thereof. [Amended during 2014 codification; Ord. 14 § 2, 1911].
15.10.030 Building materials.
All buildings, and additions thereto, constructed hereafter within the above-designated fire limits shall be of brick, stone, adobe, solid or reinforced concrete, solid or hollow tile, or cement block construction. The brick used hereunder shall be good, clean, whole, and well burned.
Stone shall be of a quality and strength suitable for the specific use to which it is put. [Ord. 14 § 3, 1911].
15.10.040 Building construction requirements.
A. Walls and piers of all buildings shall be properly and solidly bonded together with close joints, filled with mortar.
B. The walls of each story shall be built up the full thickness to the top of the beams above and shall be plumb and straight.
C. Brick walls shall be 12 inches thick for the two upper stories, increasing four inches for each two stories below, up to 24 inches.
D. Party and division walls shall be four inches thicker than the above requirements. Natural stone walls shall be four inches thicker than brick walls.
E. Basement walls shall be four inches thicker than the first story.
F. Walls exceeding 100 feet in length shall not have more than one upper story unless strengthened by cross walls or pilasters; provided, however, that dwellings constructed within fire limits may have walls four inches thinner than the above requirements.
G. At a window, door, or other opening the walls above shall be self-supporting without the use of lintels.
H. All side, exterior, and fire division party walls shall have parapets rising not less than 18 inches above the roofs of the buildings and shall be the same thickness and material as the walls of the upper stories.
I. Where practicable, standard fire walls with parapets shall be placed at intervals of 50 feet. All openings in fire walls shall be protected by standard fire doors.
J. All excavations for walls shall extend to a good bed or solid bottom of such character as to provide a safe support for the loads intended to rest thereon, and to a depth of not less than three feet below any adjoining surface exposed to frost.
K. Roof or floor timbers entering the same wall from opposite sides shall have at least eight inches of solid fireproof material between the ends of said timbers, and shall have a bearing of at least four inches and be self-releasing. [Ord. 14 § 4, 1911].
15.10.050 Strength of materials.
All materials used in any building shall be good, sound, and free from imperfections whereby their strength might be impaired. [Ord. 14 § 5, 1911].
15.10.060 Chimneys.
All woodwork shall be kept clear from flues or chimneys. All chimneys shall be of best fire-resisting material with walls at least eight inches thick.
Every chimney not forming part of the walls shall be built from the ground.
The use of stove-pipes, except for the purpose of connecting stoves with chimney openings in the same room, is absolutely prohibited. [Ord. 14 § 6, 1911].
15.10.070 Roofing.
Every building shall be roofed with fire-resisting material. All buildings shall be free from wooden cornices, awnings, or roof monitors.
The construction of adobe buildings shall in all respects conform to the requirements for buildings of natural stone. [Ord. 14 § 7, 1911].
15.10.080 Fire escapes.
All buildings of three or more stories shall be equipped with a sufficient number of adequate fire escapes. [Ord. 14 § 8, 1911].
15.10.090 Iron buildings.
Buildings of iron shall be lawful for manufacturing or warehouse purposes.
Outbuildings of a size not larger than 10 by 16 feet and 10 feet high, constructed of a wooden skeleton frame covered with corrugated iron or metal lath and plaster, shall be lawful when located at least 10 feet from any other building. [Ord. 14 § 9, 1911].
15.10.100 Nonconforming buildings.
Buildings not conforming to the requirements of this chapter shall not be moved into the fire limits herein designated or moved from one place to another within said limits.
Necessary small repairs may be made in nonfireproof buildings existing within the fire limits but such small repairs shall not extend to a general renovation or essential modification of any such buildings and any such buildings which may hereafter be damaged to within 50 percent of the value thereof shall not be repaired or rebuilt but shall be torn down and removed. [Ord. 14 § 10, 1911].
15.10.110 Dangerous buildings.
Whenever in the opinion of the governing body of the Village any building or structure, or parts of either, within the corporate limits is in a dangerous condition it shall be lawful for the governing body to require the owner or lessee of such building or structure to make such repairs or take such steps as shall be necessary for the public safety. [Amended during 2014 codification; Ord. 14 § 11, 1911].
15.10.120 Violation – Penalty.
Any violation of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine not exceeding $100.00 or by imprisonment not exceeding 90 days, and each day that this chapter is violated may constitute a separate offense. [Ord. 14 § 12, 1911].