There is hereby adopted by the Common Council of the City of Oneonta, of the County of Otsego and State of New York, for the purpose of prescribing regulations governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain code known as the "Fire Prevention Code" recommended by the American Insurance Association, being particularly the 1976 edition thereof, annexed hereto and made a part hereof, and from the effective date of this chapter the provisions thereof shall be controlling within the limits of the city, except such portions as are hereinafter deleted, modified or amended by § 126-13 of this chapter.
A. 
The Fire Prevention Code shall be enforced by the Chief of the Fire Department.
B. 
The Chief of the Fire Department shall have the authority to make inspections and otherwise enforce the Fire Prevention Code, personally or by his duly authorized assistants.
C. 
The Chief of the Fire Department may detail such members of the Fire Department as inspectors as shall from time to time be necessary. The Chief of the Fire Department shall recommend to the Common Council the employment of technical inspectors whenever he deems it necessary or appropriate.
D. 
A report of the Chief of the Fire Department shall be made annually and transmitted to the Common Council; it shall contain all proceedings under the Fire Prevention Code, with such statistics as the Chief of the Fire Department may wish to include therein; the Chief of the Fire Department shall also recommend any amendments to the Fire Prevention Code which, in his judgment, shall be desirable.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
CHIEF OF THE BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION or BUREAU OF FIRE PREVENTION
The Chief of the Fire Department.
CORPORATION COUNSEL
As used in the Fire Prevention Code, the City Attorney.
MUNICIPALITY
As used in the Fire Prevention Code, the City of Oneonta of the County of Otsego and State of New York.
The limits of districts in which storage of explosives and blasting agents is prohibited shall be established as follows: all zoning districts except those districts classified as industrial and subject to all other provisions contained in the Code of the City of Oneonta.
A. 
The limits referred to in § 16.22a of the Fire Prevention Code, in which storage of flammable liquids in outside aboveground tanks is prohibited, are hereby established as follows: all zoning districts except those districts classified as industrial and subject to all other provisions contained in the Code of the City of Oneonta.
B. 
The limits referred to in § 16.61 of the Fire Prevention Code, in which new bulk plants for flammable or combustible liquids are prohibited, are hereby established as follows: all zoning districts except those districts classified as industrial and subject to all other provisions contained in the Code of the City of Oneonta.
The limits referred to in § 21.6a of the Fire Prevention Code, in which bulk storage of liquefied petroleum gas in restricted, are hereby established as follows: all zoning districts except those districts classified as industrial and subject to all other provisions contained in the Code of the City of Oneonta.
The routes referred to in § 12.7m of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting explosives and blasting agents may be established by order of the Chief of the Fire Department, subject to the provisions of Article 16 of the Labor Law and any applicable rules and regulations of the State Board of Standards and Appeals and the Industrial Commissioner of the State of New York.
The routes referred to in § 20.14 of the Fire Prevention Code for vehicles transporting hazardous chemicals and other dangerous articles may be established by order of the Chief of the Fire Department, subject to the rules and regulations promulgated by the Department of Environmental Conservation pursuant to Environmental Conservation Law § 37-0105.
The fire lanes referred to in § 28.16 of the Fire Prevention Code may be established by order of the Chief of the Fire Department.
[Amended 12-4-2018 by Ord. No. 5-2018]
The Fire Prevention Code is amended and changed in the following respects:
A. 
Section 28.1 is amended to read as follows:
"Section 28.1 Outdoor fires.
a. 
Outdoor fires prohibited; exceptions. No person shall kindle or maintain any bonfire, rubbish fire, grass fire or any other outdoor fire unless permitted by the Department of Environmental Conservation and upon prior notification to the Fire Department.
b. 
The Chief of the Fire Department, or his or her designee, may prohibit any and all outdoor fires when atmospheric conditions or local circumstances make such fires hazardous. In addition, the Fire Chief, or his or her designee, may prohibit any outdoor fire of any type, and at any time, within the City, regardless of its source, (including "residential open fires" as defined herein), for any firesafety-related reason.
c. 
Residential open fires.
1) 
"Campfires" or fire pits shall be no greater than three feet in diameter, surrounded by inflammable material such as stone, brick or concrete blocks or be completely confined within a metal fire ring, and no closer than 10 feet to any property line. At no time shall that type of fire have flames higher than three feet. At all times while there is any flame or embers at the fire site, it shall be constantly attended until completely extinguished. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher or other extinguishing equipment as needed to completely extinguish the fire needs to be present at all times.
2) 
A fire at a residence for the cooking of food shall be allowed, but only in a fireplace or other fireproof container or barbecue pit, which shall not be located near or adjacent to any flammable material or structures so as to cause a fire hazard.
3) 
Chimineas, or other commercially manufactured or completely contained gas-fired or wood-burning "fire pits" shall be located, installed, used and maintained at all times in conformance with all manufacturer's instructions and UL approved, if applicable. A minimum of one portable fire extinguisher or other extinguishing equipment, as needed, to completely extinguish the fire shall be present at all times.
d. 
No treated wood, gasoline, paint or other building materials may be burned in any fire within the City.
e. 
These provisions may be enforced by the Police Department, the Fire Department or Code Enforcement Department."
The Chief of the Fire Department shall have the power to modify any of the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code upon application in writing by the owner or lessee, or his duly authorized agent, when there are practical difficulties in the way of carrying out the strict letter of the code, provided that the spirit of the code shall be observed, public safety secured and substantial justice done. The particulars of such modification when granted or allowed and the decision of the Chief of the Fire Department thereon shall be entered upon the records of the department, and a signed copy shall be furnished the applicant.
[Amended 2-16-1999 by L.L. No. 2-1999]
Whenever the Chief of the Fire Department shall disapprove an application or refuse to grant a permit applied for, or when it is claimed that the provisions of the Fire Prevention Code do not apply or that the true intent and meaning of the Fire Prevention Code have been misconstrued or wrongly interpreted, the applicant may appeal from the decision of the Chief of the Fire Department to the Common Council within 30 days from the date of the decision appealed.
A. 
The Common Council shall act as a committee to determine and specify, after giving affected persons an opportunity to be heard, any new materials, processes or occupancies, which shall require permits, in addition to those now enumerated in the Fire Prevention Code.
[Amended 2-16-1999 by L.L. No. 2-1999]
B. 
The Chief of the Fire Department shall post such list in a conspicuous place in his office and distribute copies thereof to interested persons.