ARTICLE III. - FIRE SAFETY REGULATIONS
Part of the Code of Ordinances of Ridgeland, SC.
The text
Sec. 16-46. - False fire alarms.#
It is unlawful for any person to knowingly give a false fire alarm. It is unlawful to give alarm of fire by activating a call box, telephoning, informing any third person that an emergency exists knowing the same to be untrue, or in any other manner, communicating falsely to the fire department that an emergency exists.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.010; Code 2006, § 92.20)
Sec. 16-47. - Fire hydrants and waterlines.#
It is unlawful for any person, except a member of the fire department or a person expressly authorized by the superintendent of the waterworks, to open or otherwise tamper with or obstruct any fire hydrants or waterlines.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.020; Code 2006, § 92.21)
Sec. 16-48. - Driving over fire hose.#
It is unlawful for any person to drive a vehicle of any description over or across a fire hose stretched or laid upon the ground for use at a fire for practice of the firefighters or for any other proper purpose of the fire department.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.030; Code 2006, § 92.22)
Sec. 16-49. - Interfering with firefighters.#
(a)
It is unlawful to hinder or obstruct any firefighter or other authorized person while the person is answering a fire call or any other emergency call or to hinder or obstruct a person who is attempting to extinguish a fire or remedy any emergency while acting in an official capacity.
(b)
The failure to obey any lawful order of any official of the fire or police department at the scene of any emergency shall constitute a violation of this section.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.040; Code 2006, § 92.23)
Sec. 16-50. - Tampering with fire equipment.#
(a)
It is unlawful for any unauthorized person to use, borrow or tamper with any equipment of the fire department without the express consent of the fire department.
(b)
Equipment shall be construed to mean all vehicles, firefighting apparatus, supplies, facilities or other material belonging to the fire department.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.050; Code 2006, § 92.24)
Sec. 16-51. - Following or parking near fire equipment.#
The driver of any vehicle, other than one on official business, shall not follow any fire apparatus traveling in response to a fire alarm closer than 500 feet or drive into or park a vehicle within the block where a fire apparatus has stopped in answer to a fire alarm.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.060; Code 2006, § 92.25)
Sec. 16-52. - Obstructing fire equipment.#
No person shall park any vehicle or otherwise cause any obstruction to fire equipment at a fire or at an entrance to the fire station, nor park within ten feet of any fire hydrant. It is unlawful to interfere with or obstruct the activities of any member of the fire department who is acting in the line of duty at or proceeding to a fire.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.070; Code 2006, § 92.26)
Sec. 16-53. - Penalty for criminal carelessness.#
If the investigating officer shall consider that any fire is due to criminal carelessness, the person responsible for it shall be indicted before a magistrate for a misdemeanor and, upon conviction for the same, may be punished as set forth in section 1-14.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.080; Code 2006, § 92.27)
Sec. 16-54. - Fire investigations.#
The fire chief shall investigate the cause of all fires. If arson is suspected, the fire chief shall request assistance from appropriate local and state agencies to conduct a thorough and complete investigation.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.090; Code 2006, § 92.28; Ord. of 3-16-1995)
Sec. 16-55. - Fire and fireworks near buildings.#
It is unlawful for any person to build or ignite a fire or to shoot or discharge fireworks in any place within the corporate limits of the town that would endanger any property or building.
(Code 1995, § 8.08.100; Code 2006, § 92.29)