§ 26-2. Fire official.

(a)

Appointment of fire chief. The village manager shall appoint a fire chief who shall be responsible for the enforcement and administration of local and state fire codes and is responsible for the efficient and effective operation of the fire rescue department as well as performing those duties prescribed by the village manager.

(b)

Duty and authority to enforce certain laws and ordinances. The fire chief is authorized to administer and enforce this ordinance in addition to laws and rules of the state fire marshal within the village pursuant to F.S. § 633.121 and to administer and enforce the Florida fire prevention code as required by F.S. § 633.025 and as adopted by the village.

(c)

Duty to investigate and make recommendations. It shall be the duty of the fire chief or designee to investigate and to recommend to the village manager such additional ordinances or amendments to the village code, as may be deemed necessary for safeguarding life and property against fire or other emergencies.

(d)

Duty to inspect.

(1)

The fire chief or designee shall be authorized to inspect, at all reasonable times, any building, structure or premises for dangerous or hazardous conditions or materials, with the exception of single-family residential dwelling units where there is no emergency or imminent or impending danger.

(2)

The fire chief or designee shall have authority to order any person(s) to remove or remedy such dangerous or hazardous condition or material and have the authority to summarily abate such dangerous or hazardous conditions or materials. This may include the assignment of a fire watch.

(3)

The fire chief or designee shall be authorized at all reasonable times to enter and examine any building, structure, marine vessel, vehicle, or premises for the purpose of making fire safety inspections on a periodic basis. Prior to entering, the fire chief or designee shall obtain the consent of the occupant or obtain a court warrant authorizing entry for the purpose of inspection except in those instances where an emergency exists or imminent or impending danger is recognized.

(4)

Persons shall not interfere or cause conditions that would interfere with the fire chief or designee carrying out any duties or functions. Any person(s) failing to comply with such order shall be in violation of this ordinance.

(5)

The fire chief or designee shall require that all commercial or multi-family structures or related accessory structures that have combustible exterior finishes have a protective finish or approved fire-retardant coating.

(i)

Such protective finish or fire-retardant coating shall be tested or shall be listed and labeled for application to the material to which it is applied, and shall comply with the requirements of NFPA 255, standard method of test of surface burning characteristics of building materials.

(ii)

The owner of any commercial or multi-family structures or related accessory structure that has a combustible exterior finish shall provide the fire chief or designee a signed affidavit attesting to the application and maintenance of exterior finish fire protection.

(e)

Stop work, evacuation and revocation or suspension of permits.

(1)

The fire chief or designee shall have the authority to order any operation, activity, or use stopped and the immediate evacuation of any occupied building or area when such building or area has hazardous conditions that present an imminent or impending danger.

(2)

The fire chief or designee is authorized to issue a stop work order for any work performed in violation of the provisions of this chapter or adopted local or state fire codes. Such work shall immediately stop until authorized by the fire chief or designee to proceed.

(3)

The fire chief or designee may recommend suspension or revocation of any permit or approval issued by the village which is in violation of this chapter or any applicable local or state fire codes or standards upon inspection or the discovery of any false statements or misrepresentations submitted in the application or plans on which the permit or approval was based.

(Ord. No. 11-27, 12-1-2011)