A.
It shall be the duty of the Chief of the Fire Department to inspect
or cause to be inspected as often as may be necessary all buildings
and premises except the interior of private dwellings for the purpose
of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any conditions liable
to cause fire, or any violations of the provisions of this chapter.
(1)
Whenever any such inspector shall find in any building or upon any
premises combustible waste material or explosive matter, which is
so situated as to endanger property, or shall find in any building
or structure obstructions to or on fire escapes, stairs, passageways,
doors or windows liable to interfere with the operations of the Fire
Department or egress of occupants in case of fire, the inspector may
order the same to be removed or remedied.
(2)
Whenever any such inspector shall find any building or other structure
that, for want of repairs, lack of sufficient fire escapes, automatic
or other fire alarm apparatus, or fire extinguishing equipment, or
by reason of age or dilapidated conditions, or from any other cause,
is especially liable to cause or support fire and which is so situated
as to endanger other property or the occupants thereof, and whenever
such inspector shall find in any building combustible waste material,
explosive matter or flammable conditions dangerous to the safety of
such building or the occupants thereof, the inspector may order such
dangerous conditions or materials to be removed or remedied.
(3)
If in any existing building or structure because of its use or occupancy
additional exits are required or repairs to existing exits are necessary
or where repairs to any structural part of such building or structure
are required, the inspector will notify the Building Inspector who
may reinspect such building or structure, thereafter instituting the
proper remedies as may be required.
B.
The Chief of the Fire Department is hereby empowered to order compliance
with the regulations of this chapter and all other lawful orders or
laws relating to fire prevention and fire protection in all existing
buildings and structures. Further, the Chief of the Fire Department
is hereby empowered to close any building or structure and order it
vacated whenever violations of any of the regulations of this chapter
are found and are not corrected within the time stipulated by the
Chief or the chief's authorized representative. Where the public is
exposed to immediate danger, the Chief is hereby empowered to order
the closing and vacating of the building at once. This section shall
apply to all buildings, structures and premises in the Village of
Fox Point.
A.
Any orders shall be provided in writing to the occupant and owner
of the premises. In case the owner or occupant of the premises cannot
be found, such written order shall be affixed in a conspicuous place
on the entrance door to such building or structure or on the premises.
Thereafter, a copy of such order shall be mailed to the owner or occupant
addressed to their last known post office address. It shall be unlawful
for any person to remove such affixed notice without the written consent
of the Fire Chief.
B.
Any such order shall forthwith be complied with by the owner and
occupant of such building, structure, or premises. The owner or occupant
may within 24 hours appeal to the Fire Chief for a review of such
order, and who shall thereafter as soon as possible file his decision.
Unless such order is revoked or modified by the Chief of the Fire
Department, it shall remain in full force and be complied with within
the time fixed in said order.
A.
The Chief of the Fire Department, or any fire inspector, may, at
all reasonable hours, enter any public buildings, public structures,
or enter upon any public premises or portions thereof, for the purpose
of routine preventative inspections, in order to ascertain whether
conditions exist which are liable to cause fire, or whether any violation
of any law or order relating to fire hazards or fire prevention exists
or has occurred. The owner, agent, or occupant of any such public
premises who refuses to permit or prevents or interferes with any
entry into or upon the public premises by such fire inspector, or
interferes with any such fire inspection, shall be deemed guilty of
violating this section.
B.
The Chief of the Fire Department, or any fire inspector, may, at
all reasonable hours, enter any buildings, structures, premises or
areas in the Village of Fox Point, or portions thereof, with the consent
of the owner or the owner's authorized agent, for the purpose of routine
preventative inspection, in order to ascertain whether conditions
exist which are liable to cause fire or whether any violation of any
law or order relating to fire hazards or prevention of fires exists
or has occurred. No consent is needed in case of an emergency.
C.
Without consent, and in cases other than emergencies, the Chief of the Fire Department, or in the chief's absence, the officer in charge of said department, shall obtain a warrant from the Municipal Judge of the Municipal Court of the Village of Fox Point, or from any judge of a court of record in Milwaukee County, prior to entering any building, structure, or premises or any portion thereof, other than those portions open to the public, in accordance with § 66.0119, Wis. Stats., for the purpose of inspection as referred to in Subsection B hereof.
A.
The Fire Department may investigate the origin and cause and circumstances
of fires occurring in the Village by which property has been destroyed
or damaged and, so far as possible, determine whether the fire is
the result of arson, carelessness, or design. Such investigations
may begin immediately upon the occurrence of such a fire, and if it
appears to the officer making such an investigation that such fire
is of suspicious origin, the Chief of the Fire Department shall be
immediately notified of the facts. The Chief shall notify the proper
authorities designated by law to pursue the investigation of such
matters and shall further cooperate with the authorities in the collection
of evidence and in the prosecution of the case. A member of the Fire
Investigation Team in charge of such fire shall file a written report
of damage associated with every fire in a timely manner. It shall
contain a statement of all facts relating to the origin and cause
and circumstances of such fire and other information as may be required.
B.
The Village Attorney and any other department of the Village, upon
request of the Fire Chief, shall assist in the investigation of any
fire that, in the chief's opinion, is of suspicious origin.
C.
The Fire Chief or officers in command at any fire are hereby vested
with full and complete police authority. Any officer of the Fire Department
may cause the arrest of any person failing to give the right-of-way
to the Fire Department in responding to a fire.
D.
The Fire Chief or officers in command may prescribe certain limits
in the vicinity of any fire within which no persons, excepting fire
fighters and police officers and those admitted by order of any officer
of the Department, shall be permitted to enter.
E.
The Fire Chief or officers in command shall have the power to cause
the removal of any property whenever it is deemed necessary and prudent
for the preservation of such property or to prevent the spread of
fire or to protect any adjoining property. During the progress of
any fire, they shall have the power to cause the removal of all wires
or other facilities and the turning off of all electricity or other
services where the same impedes the work of the Department during
the progress of a fire.
