[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Middletown 9-14-1931
(Ch. 37 of the 1971 Code). Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Fire Department — See Ch. 58.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
Includes one or more persons of either sex, natural persons, corporations,
partnerships, associations, joint-stock companies, societies and all other
entities of any kind capable of being sued.
[Amended 4-23-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person in any manner to obstruct the use
of any fire hydrant within the City, or have or place any material in front
thereof, from the curbline to the center of the street and to within 10 feet
from either side thereof. Any and all material found as an obstruction as
aforesaid may be forthwith removed by the officers or members of the Fire
Department and at the risk, cost and expense of the owner or claimant.
It shall be unlawful for any person, other than a member of the Fire
Department, unless duly authorized, to unfasten, open or draw water from or
otherwise use or interfere with any of the fire hydrants set in any of the
public streets, places or grounds, or to break, open, unfasten, remove or
otherwise willfully injure or interfere with any of the outer boxes, cases,
fastenings or other appurtenances of such hydrants.
[Amended 4-23-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
It shall be unlawful for any person willfully or without proper authority
to injure, deface, destroy, remove, take away, keep or conceal any tool, appliance,
accessory, apparatus or other property or article belonging to or used in
any way by the Fire Department.
[Amended 4-23-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
It shall be unlawful willfully to hinder or obstruct or offer any hindrance
or obstruction to any apparatus of the Fire Department while proceeding to
a fire, or willfully to hinder or obstruct any fireman in the performance
of his duty.
[Amended 4-23-2007 by L.L. No. 1-2007]
The Chief of the Fire or Police Department, or any of his assistants
having charge of or at any fire, shall have authority, whenever in his opinion
it shall become necessary so to do to facilitate the extinguishing of such
fire, to establish fire lines about the same. It shall be unlawful for any
person, unless he is the owner, lessee or one having some property right or
interests in the burning property or other property imperiled thereby, to
enter the limits fixed by such lines. Nothing herein contained shall operate
to exclude from the limits so established any member of the Fire or Police
Department, any official of the City or any person who shall have obtained
and exhibited a written permit from or badge issued by the Chief of the Fire
Department so to enter. Such lines so established shall be taken charge of
by the police (or fire police), with full power to make arrests and to prosecute
persons violating this section.
Any person who, himself or itself or by his or its agent or employee,
shall violate any of the provisions of this chapter or any order, rule or
regulation made in pursuance thereof shall upon conviction thereof be guilty
of a misdemeanor punishable as provided by law.
