Chapter 2.46
FIRE LANES
Sections:
2.46.010 Fire lane authorized.
2.46.020 Access roadways for newly constructed buildings.
2.46.040 Lane not designated—Duty of fire department.
2.46.050 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
2.46.060 Fire lanes not to be obstructed.
2.46.090 Intention and city liability.
2.46.100 No parking zone/fire lane established in front of Omak High School Gymnasium entrance.
2.46.110 No parking zone/fire lane established on portion of Cedar Street.
2.46.010 Fire lane authorized.
The chief of the fire department or his designee shall determine and specify, after giving notice by mailing to persons whose names appear on the property tax rolls maintained in the Okanogan County assessor’s office in connection with said property, and to the current occupier(s), and by posting a copy of said determination upon the premises in a conspicuous place, access roadways of not less than twenty feet of unobstructed width for fire department apparatus and other emergency equipment and personnel. Said lanes are authorized on streets or ways open to the public, or where, because of the congregating of people or the stopping, standing or parking of vehicles, there exists an especially hazardous condition in case of fire or other disaster; provided, that building sites which contain more than one hundred parking spaces shall be designed with access lanes and fire lanes not less than twenty feet in width, forming a continuous route or loop connecting at both ends with public streets. In parking lots containing less than one hundred parking spaces emergency access shall be provided subject to the approval of the fire chief or his designee. Emergency access shall be provided to within fifty feet of any multiple-family building; provided, further, that if any of these requirements are impractical due to the peculiarities of the site and/or existing buildings, other provisions for emergency access may be approved by the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 1284 § 1, 1995).
2.46.020 Access roadways for newly constructed buildings.
(a) Every building hereafter constructed shall be accessible to fire department apparatus by way of access roadways approved by the fire department with all-weather driving surfaces of not less than twenty feet of unobstructed width, with adequate roadway turning radius capable of supporting the imposed loads of fire apparatus and having a minimum of thirteen feet, six inches of vertical clearance.
EXCEPTION: The requirements of this section may be modified when, in the opinion of the fire chief or his designee, fire-fighting or rescue operations would not be impaired.
(b) The access roadway shall be extended to within one hundred fifty feet of all portions of the exterior walls of the first story of any building. Where the access roadway cannot be provided, an approved fire protection system or systems shall be provided as required and approved by the fire chief or his designee.
(c) Where fire protection systems approved by the fire chief or his designee are provided, the clearances required in this section may be modified.
(d) The fire chief or his designee shall have the authority to require an increase in the minimum access widths where such width is not adequate for fire or rescue operations. (Ord. 1284 § 2, 1995).
2.46.030 Duty to establish.
It shall be the duty of any and all owners, occupiers or others with a possessory interest in any real property to designate and maintain at all times fire lanes determined and specified by the fire chief or his designee. Designation and maintenance shall include the installation and maintenance of no parking signs, and/or other appropriate notice prohibiting obstructions within the fire lane. Such signs and/or other appropriate notice shall be in a format and so placed as approved by the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 1284 § 3, 1995).
2.46.040 Lane not designated—Duty of fire department.
Whenever it comes to the attention of the fire chief or officer of the fire or police department that a required fire lane has either not been designated or is not being maintained, then such officer or employee shall cause notice to be given to any owner, occupier or others with a possessory interest in said property that failure to designate and maintain a fire lane is in violation of this chapter, and that such violation must be corrected within thirty days of the date of such notice, and that in the event such violation continues beyond thirty days, the city may commence enforcement proceedings either by filing an ordinance violation, or in the alternative, come on the property of the violator and designate and sign the required fire lane. (Ord. 1284 § 4, 1995).
2.46.050 Failure to comply—Lien on property.
Any expense reasonably incurred by the city of Omak as a result of the fire department carrying out its duty imposed herein shall become a charge against the owner of the property and a lien against the property. The notice of lien shall be substantially the same as provided by law for liens for labor and materials in the state of Washington, and shall be filed with the same officer within the same time and manner and enforced and foreclosed as is provided by the laws of the state of Washington for liens for labor and materials; provided, the city must give notice as set forth in this section to the owner of said property whose name appears on the property tax rolls of the county prior to commencing the work giving rise to the city’s lien on the property. (Ord. 1284 § 5, 1995).
2.46.060 Fire lanes not to be obstructed.
(a) When signs are erected indicating fire lanes as authorized in this chapter the required width shall not be obstructed or caused to be obstructed in any manner, including parking or stopping of vehicles
(b) No person shall erect or cause to be allowed gates, chains or other barriers, or security gates on fire lanes, unless approved by the fire chief or his designee. When any locked gate, barrier or chain has been approved, the owner shall supply a sufficient number of entry keys or keycards to the fire chief or his designee. (Ord. 1284 § 6, 1995).
2.46.070 Enforcement.
When an infraction exists, the Omak police department and/or the Omak fire chief are authorized to cite and/or immediately impound any motor vehicle or obstruction parked in a fire lane, or within fifteen feet of any fire hydrant, whether on public or private property. (Ord. 1703 § 2, 2011: Ord. 1284 § 7, 1995).
2.46.080 Penalties.
Failure to perform any act required, or the performance of any act prohibited, by this chapter is designated as a civil infraction and shall not be classified as a criminal offense. Any person, firm or corporation found to have committed such a civil infraction shall be subject to the penalties set forth in Chapter 1.16. (Ord. 1703 § 3, 2011: Ord. 1284 § 8, 1995).
2.46.090 Intention and city liability.
It is expressly the purpose of this chapter to provide for and promote the health, safety and welfare of the general public, and not to create or otherwise establish or designate any particular class or group of persons who will or should be especially protected or benefited by the terms of this chapter.
It is the specific intent of this chapter that no provision or term used in this chapter is intended to impose any duty whatsoever upon the city or any of its officers or employees, for whom the implementation or enforcement of this chapter shall be discretionary and not mandatory.
Nothing contained in this chapter is intended to be nor shall be construed to create or form the basis for any liability on the part of the city, or its officers, employees or agents, for any injury or damage resulting from the failure of a building to comply with the provisions of this chapter, or by reason or in consequence of any inspection, notice, order, certificate, permission or approval authorized or issued or done in connection with the implementation enforcement of this chapter, or by reason of any action or inaction on the part of the city related in any manner to the enforcement of this chapter by its officers, employees or agents. (Ord. 1284 § 9, 1995).
2.46.100 No parking zone/fire lane established in front of Omak High School Gymnasium entrance.
There is established a no parking zone/fire lane for fire protection purposes on property of Omak School District Number 19. Said no parking zone/fire lane shall be twenty feet in width and shall run from a point commencing one hundred thirty-six feet west from the northwest corner of the intersection of Cedar Street and First Avenue, counterclockwise and adjacent to the existing curb in front of the Omak High School Gymnasium, for a distance of three hundred forty-six and one-half feet. Said no parking zone/fire lane shall remain open at all times, and no vehicle shall park or otherwise obstruct the lane, except for attended school buses, which may use the lane for loading and unloading only. Appropriate signs shall be placed at reasonable intervals giving notice of such prohibition. (Ord. 1703 § 4 (part), 2011).
2.46.110 No parking zone/fire lane established on portion of Cedar Street.
There is established a no parking zone/fire lane for fire protection purposes on Cedar Street, commencing at a point one hundred twenty-six feet south of the southwest corner of Cedar Street and Central Avenue, and continuing southerly sixty-four feet in front of the Performing Arts Center. Such no parking zone/fire lane shall remain open at all times, and no vehicles shall park or otherwise obstruct said lane. Appropriate signs shall be installed giving notice of such prohibition. (Ord. 1703 § 4 (part), 2011).
2.46.120 No parking zone/fire lane established on property south and west of the location commonly known as North Cascades Athletic Club.
There is established a no parking zone/fire lane for fire protection purposes on the most southern and western portion of the property described as Dickson Subdivision, south two hundred seventy-five feet of Lot 2, the business commonly known as North Cascades Athletic Club. Said no parking zone/fire lane shall be twenty feet in width, except for at the most northerly portion there shall be a minimum ninety-six-foot diameter cul-de-sac. Said no parking zone/fire lane shall commence at the city right-of-way along the western portion of Pine Street where it intersects with Elderberry Avenue, then travel in a westerly direction two hundred ninety-five feet, then travel in a northerly direction one hundred fifteen feet for a total of four hundred ten feet. Said no parking zone/fire lane shall remain open at all times, and no vehicles shall park or otherwise obstruct said lane. A gate blocking said lane shall be approved by the Omak fire chief. Appropriate signs shall be installed giving notice of such prohibition. (Ord. 1703 § 4 (part), 2011).