Chapter 15.08
FIRE APPARATUS ACCESS ROADS REQUIRED
Sections:
15.08.010 Required--Exceptions.
15.08.030 Modification of specifications.
15.08.060 Adoption of provisions by reference.
15.08.010 Required--Exceptions.
Approved fire apparatus access roads shall be required for every building hereafter constructed, subject to the exemptions and/or limitations contained herein, when any portion of an exterior wall of the first floor is located more than one hundred fifty feet from an approved fire apparatus road, as measured by an approved route around the exterior of the building, provided that such roads shall not be required for the following: agricultural buildings, including, but not limited to, barns, loafing sheds, and hay storage, detached private garages, carports, and similar type structures. (Ord. 1023 §2 (part), 2001).
15.08.020 Specifications.
The following shall govern the design, construction, and maintenance of fire apparatus roads:
A. General Requirements. Subject to the provisos herein, fire apparatus access roads serving single-family residences shall have an unobstructed width of not less than sixteen feet. All other uses shall be served by fire apparatus access roads with an unobstructed width of twenty feet; provided that: (a) these provisions shall not apply to agricultural buildings, detached garages, and carports accessory to a single-family dwelling, (b) fire apparatus access roads serving not more than two single-family residences shall be not less than twelve feet in unobstructed width, and (c) existing fire apparatus roads less than sixteen feet, but not less than twelve feet, in width may serve newly constructed single-family residences; provided that such roadways shall serve not more than a total of five single-family residences;
B. Vertical Clearance. Fire apparatus roads shall be unobstructed by overhanging branches or other obstructions to a height of thirteen feet six inches;
C. Maximum Grade. The grade of fire apparatus access roads shall not exceed fourteen percent;
D. Structure and Surface. Fire apparatus access roads shall be constructed with a minimum of twelve inches of gravel base and shall be surfaced with a minimum of two inches of crushed rock, provided that the gravel base may be less than twelve inches in depth when the roadway is designed by a professional engineer licensed by the State of Washington;
E. Turning Radius. The turning radius of any portion of a fire apparatus access road shall be not less than one hundred feet;
F. Turnarounds. A dead end fire apparatus access road shall be provided with a turnaround at the end of the roadway of such a size and configuration that permits the turning of fire fighting apparatus. The turnaround shall have a minimum turning radius of fifty feet or may be a "T" type intersection with a minimum seventy-five foot road section perpendicular to the fire apparatus access road;
G. Bridges. Bridges located within a fire apparatus access road shall be certified by a professional engineer, licensed by the State of Washington, as being capable of supporting the loads imposed on the bridge by fire fighting apparatus. (Ord. 1023 §2 (part), 2001).
15.08.030 Modification of specifications.
When a fire apparatus access road conforming to the standards contained herein cannot be constructed due to topography, the presence of waters, excessive grade, or similar reasons, a residential sprinkler system, conforming to the requirements of the National Fire Protection Association Pamphlet 13D may be provided to the entire single-family residence as an alternate to the construction of a fire apparatus access road. (Ord. 1023 §2 (part), 2001).
15.08.040 Enforcement.
The building official, or designee, shall be responsible for the enforcement of the city fire apparatus access road standards. (Ord. 1023 §3, 2001).
15.08.050 Appeals.
A. Appeals of orders, decisions, or determinations made by the building official in relation to matters covered by this chapter shall be filed in writing with the clerk-treasurer within thirty days of the date of the issuance of the written order, decision, or determination and its service upon the effected party. Service shall be deemed effective upon the earlier occurring of the personal service of such order, decision, or determination or its deposit into the United States Postal Service, postage prepaid and properly addressed.
B. The appeal shall state with specificity the order, decision, or determination from which the appeal is taken, or such portion thereof for which review is sought. It shall lay out with reasonable specificity the factual and legal basis for the contention that the decision, order, or determination is in error. Failure to appeal within the thirty days allotted shall waive all right to an administrative determination of the matter.
C. Upon filing with the clerk-treasurer, the clerk–treasurer shall take such steps as to bring the filing before the city council at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
1. The council shall set a hearing date which shall be within sixty days of that meeting and shall give the appellant and any other person who requests such notification written notice of the date and time;
2. At the hearing on the appeal, the evidence submitted shall be that which was submitted and considered by the building official in making the decision. The council may receive such additional information and argument as it deems appropriate;
3. The council may affirm, reverse, or modify the decision. It shall issue its decision in writing, setting forth findings and conclusions in support of its decision;
4. The decision of the council shall be final to the extent allowed by law; provided that any appeal which may be allowed by law shall be processed pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.70(C), the Land Use Petition Act, as now existing or hereafter amended, supplemented, or succeeded. (Ord. 1023 §4, 2001).
15.08.060 Adoption of provisions by reference.
In relation to the burning of covered items through outdoor fires, the following shall be applicable:
A. Adoption of Provisions by Reference:
1. The following provisions of the Washington Administrative Code, as now existing or hereafter amended, succeeded, or supplemented, are hereby adopted by this reference: 173-425-010, 173-425-020, 173-425-030, 173-425040, 173-425-050, 173-425-060, 173-425-070;
2. To the extent that the city’s authority to implement or enforce the provisions adopted above is contingent upon delegation by the Department of Ecology or the Olympic Air Pollution Control Authority, the authority shall be contingent upon such delegation being made;
3. Copies of the provisions adopted pursuant to this section shall be maintained on file in the office of the clerk-treasurer or director of community development as required by RCW 35A.12.140.
B. Enforcement. Any person, firm, or corporation who violates, disobeys, omits, neglects, or refuses to comply with or who resists the enforcement of any of the provisions of this section shall be subject to the following sanctions:
1. Citing and prosecution:
a. Upon the finding of the first two violations within any twenty-four consecutive months, be alleged to have committed an infraction. Upon a finding of committed, the violator shall be subject to a fiscal penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars;
b. Upon being charged with a third violation in any twenty-four month period, that charge shall be a criminal violation and upon conviction, be subject to punishment as set forth in §1.28.010 EMC;
2. In addition to any monetary penalty or fine that the court may impose as the result of a violation of the provisions of this section, the court may impose the costs incurred by the city in relation to response and investigation by the city, including its director of community development and officers of the fire department to the illegal burning, including, by way of example and not by way of limitation, wage and salary expense. (Ord. 1023 §5, 2001).