[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town of Medfield as Art. IV, Secs.
26 and 27, of the 1926 Bylaws. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building construction — See Ch. 110.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct or block a private way with
a vehicle or any other means so as to prevent access by fire apparatus
or equipment to any multiple-family building, shopping center, hospital,
school, professional building, industrial complex or places of public
assembly.
It shall be unlawful to obstruct or park a vehicle in any area
designated as a fire lane.
A.
Such fire lanes shall be designated by the Fire Chief and the Police
Department Safety Officer, and posted as such.
B.
Said fire lanes shall be a distance of 12 feet from the curbing of
a sidewalk in a shopping center, apartment and/or condominium complex
and similar locations. Where no sidewalk with curbing exists, the
distance and location shall be established by the Fire Chief along
with the Safety Officer.
Any object or vehicle obstructing or blocking any fire lane
or restricted area may be removed or towed by the Town under the direction
of a police officer or fire official at the expense of the owner and
without any liability to the Town of Medfield.
The owner of record of any building affected by these Sections shall provide and install signs and road markings as provided in § 130-2. Said signs and road markings shall comply with the following specifications:
A.
Signs shall be no less than 12 inches by 18 inches in size.
B.
Signs shall be constructed of a rust-resistant metal.
C.
Signs shall have a white in color background with four-inch, red
in color letters stating "FIRE LANE - NO PARKING - TOW ZONE."
D.
Any area designated as a fire lane shall be outlined with yellow
painted lines nine inches in width to enclose the fire lane. Within
this designated area, the words "FIRE LANE" shall be painted, also
in yellow, and shall be no less than three feet in height.
E.
The number of signs and road markings shall be designated by the
Fire Chief and Safety Officer.
[Added 4-29-2019 ATM by Art. 22]
Fire hydrant access: No person shall obstruct access to a fire
hydrant. Fire hydrants shall have a three-foot clear radius measured
from the center of the stem on the top of the hydrant. No foliage,
fencing, parking space, or other object shall obstruct the clear area.
No person may landscape to change the grade around the base of the
hydrant so as to prevent the use of a four-inch cap. Location where
existing objects, such as but not limited to buildings, walls, fences,
trees, or sloping grades that does not permit a three-foot clearance
radius, may be granted a waiver by the Director of Public Works in
consultation with the Fire Chief. Before any waiver of the regulation
is granted, all other possible locations must be considered.
[8-13-1990]
Any person violating any of the foregoing Sections may, for
each offense, be punished by a fine of $50. Each day that such violation
continues shall constitute a separate offense.
[Added ATM 4-30-1990]
Whenever, in the judgment of the Fire Chief, access to or within
a structure or an area is unduly difficult because of secured openings,
or where immediate access is necessary for lifesaving or fire-fighting
purposes, the Chief may require a key box containing master keys to
be installed in an accessible location. The key box shall be a type
approved by the Chief of the Medfield Fire Department and shall be
located and installed as approved by the Chief.
A.
Buildings,
general. All new commercial and/or manufacturing buildings constructed
after July 11, 1990, and all existing commercial and/or manufacturing
buildings which undergo remodeling costing in excess of $1,000 after
said date, shall be provided with master keys and key boxes necessary
for access to all portions of the premises. Such box and keys shall
be provided prior to occupancy and/or final inspection.
B.
Buildings
with elevators. All buildings equipped with elevators shall be provided
with a master key and key box.
The building owner/manager shall provide:
Any building owner violating this Bylaw after receiving notice
by the Fire Department shall be subject to a fine of $50.
