Chapter 2.35
FIRE INSPECTOR – FIRE DISTRICT

Sections:

Article I. Fire Inspector

2.35.010  Appointment – Powers.

2.35.020  Permit required.

2.35.030  Burning wood.

2.35.040  Burners and destructors.

2.35.050  Unusual fire danger.

2.35.060  Notice of violation.

2.35.070  Rules.

2.35.080  Violation – Penalty.

Article II. Fire District

2.35.090  Fire protection district No. 1.

Article I. Fire Inspector

2.35.010 Appointment – Powers.

(1) The mayor shall appoint a city fire inspector, who may be (a) the chief of the fire department providing fire protection services to the city, (b) the city building inspector, or (c) any other person whom the mayor finds to be qualified and willing to perform the duties of the office.

(2) The fire inspector shall have all the powers conferred upon fire marshals under the Uniform Fire Code and Uniform Fire Code Standards, published by the International Conference of Building Officials and Western Fire Chiefs Association, as hereinafter amended, to ensure that adequate fire protection, including adequate water availability, is provided by anyone manufacturing lumber, shingles, shakes or other forest products that burn waste material. Adequate water shall be made available as long as the fire inspector determines that the manufacturing operation poses a fire hazard, and in no event shall water not be provided when a burner is operating. (Ord. 343 §§ 1, 2, 1992; Ord. 302 § 1, 1988)

2.35.020 Permit required.

(1) A person shall have a valid written burning permit obtained from the city fire inspector (or the Department of Natural Resources acting under RCW 76.04.205) to burn waste forest slash, chips, timber (whether standing or down), standing vegetation and/or wood waste material produced in manufacturing lumber, shingles, shakes or other forest products. It is unlawful to burn such materials without such a permit or when the permit has been revoked or its use postponed.

(2) To be valid, a permit issued by the city fire inspector must be signed both by the city fire inspector or the inspector’s delegate, and the permittee. Conditions may be imposed in the permit for the protection of life, property or air quality and the fire inspector may suspend or revoke the permits when fire safety conditions warrant. A permit shall be effective only under the conditions and the period stated therein. Signing of the permit shall indicate the permittee’s agreement to and acceptance of the conditions of the permit.

(3) The fire inspector may inspect or cause to be inspected the area involved and may issue a burning permit if:

(a) All requirements relating to firefighting equipment, the work to be done, and precautions to be taken before commencing the burning have been met;

(b) No unreasonable danger will result; and

(c) Burning will be done in compliance with air quality standards established by Chapter 70.94 RCW.

(4) The fire inspector or the inspector’s delegate may refuse, revoke or postpone the use of permits to burn when necessary for the safety of adjacent property or when necessary in their judgment to prevent air pollution as provided in Chapter 70.94 RCW. (Ord. 343 § 1, 1992; Ord. 302 § 2, 1988)

2.35.030 Burning wood.

It is unlawful for anyone manufacturing lumber, shingles, shakes or other forest products to destroy wood waste material by burning without properly confining the place of the burning and without further safeguarding the surrounding property against danger from the burning by such additional devices as the fire inspector may require. (Ord. 343 § 1, 1992; Ord. 302 § 3, 1988)

2.35.040 Burners and destructors.

It is unlawful for anyone to destroy any wood waste material by fire within any burner or destructor, without installing and maintaining on such burner or destructor a safe and suitable device for arresting sparks. Such burners must meet the following conditions and requirements:

(1) All sparks must pass through a one-quarter inch or less opening before being discharged into the air.

(2) All burners must have at least one fog type sprinkler mounted on top. The sprinkler should be placed so that all sparks must pass through the water curtain. (The intent is to provide a water bath type of spark arrester, not to wet down the area around the burner.)

(3) Mill burner sprinklers must be in operation at all times during the closed season when the burner is operating.

(4) All flammable material must be cleared for 50 feet around the burner.

(5) Each mill must be equipped to be able to deliver water to the furthest part of the mill site and yard.

(6) The following requirements must also be met during the "closed season" established by the Department of Natural Resources:

(a) Water storage, 2,000 gallons minimum, either stationary or mobile in any combination, as long as it is readily usable. The water to be sprinkled during precaution level II or higher days will be over and above these minimum requirements.

(b) On precaution level II or higher days, by DNR classification system, mill owners will be required to sprinkle logs, bolts, waste and finished products and piles which may create a fire hazard.

(c) Pump, hose and accessories enough to get water at 50 pounds of pressure at the nozzle. The water must be able to be split so the fire can be attacked from two directions. Shut off nozzles and water conservation techniques will be used. The preparedness of this equipment will be checked annually and randomly during the season.

(d) Mill debris will be disposed of in accordance with state and city law.

(e) All mill crews will be trained and expected to take initial attack on fires. This will include running pumps, laying hose and the effective use of the water in structure, raw material, finished products and waste fires. This action will also take the form of mop-up after the fire has been knocked down.

(f) Mills which are close to each other are encouraged to form joint fire protection which will be accepted as long as the minimums are met for each mill.

(g) None of these requirements will in any way reduce other state and/or city fire requirements. (Ord. 302 § 4, 1988)

2.35.050 Unusual fire danger.

In times of unusual fire danger, the fire inspector may issue an order suspending any or all burning permits or privileges authorized by this article and may prohibit absolutely the use of fire within the city of Forks. (Ord. 343 § 1, 1992; Ord. 302 § 5, 1988)

2.35.060 Notice of violation.

(1) Every person upon receipt of written notice issued by the fire inspector or the inspector’s delegate that such person has violated or is violating any of the provisions of this article or any order issued by the fire inspector or the inspector’s delegate under this article concerning fire prevention and/or fire suppression preparedness shall cease operations until compliance with the provisions of the sections or rules specified in such notice.

(2) The inspector or the inspector’s delegate may specify in the notice of violation the special conditions and precautions under which the operation would be allowed to continue until the end of that working day. (Ord. 343 § 1, 1992; Ord. 302 § 6, 1988)

2.35.070 Rules.

During any period when the fire inspector has prohibited a use of fire in the city of Forks, the following rules shall apply in addition to any other rules provided in this article or other law:

(1) It is unlawful for any person to throw away any lighted tobacco, cigar, cigarette, match, firework, charcoal or other lighted material in any forest, brush, or vegetation.

(2) It is unlawful for any individual to smoke any flammable material except inside a building or in any area free of flammable material such as on a road, cleared driveway or similar area.

(3) It is unlawful for any person to make any fire, other than to light tobacco or to make a cooking fire within a barbecue or fireplace structure, outside of a building. (Ord. 343 § 1, 1992; Ord. 302 § 7, 1988)

2.35.080 Violation – Penalty.

The performance of any act declared to be unlawful by this article shall be punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or imprisonment for a period up to 90 days. (Ord. 302 § 8, 1988)

Article II. Fire District

2.35.090 Fire protection district No. 1.

(1) The city of Forks is contiguous to fire protection district No. 1 of the county of Clallam, and has a population of less than 10,000.

(2) The city council of the city of Forks finds that the public interest will be served by annexing the city of Forks to fire protection district No. 1 of the county of Clallam.

(3) The city of Forks intends to join fire protection district No. 1 of the county of Clallam upon concurrence by the board of fire commissioners of the said fire district in the annexation and approval of the annexation at an election in accordance with RCW 52.04.061 through 52.04.081. (Ord. 277 §§ 1 – 3, 1985)