§ 14-52. General Provisions at Fires and Other Emergency Operations.

(A)

Tampering With Apparatus or Equipment. No person shall molest, tamper with, damage or otherwise disturb any apparatus, equipment or appurtenance belonging to or under the supervision and control of the Fire Department without authority from the Chief Fire Official.

(B)

Following or Parking Near Fire Apparatus. No driver of any vehicle, other than an authorized emergency vehicle on official business, shall follow any fire or emergency apparatus traveling in response to a fire or other emergency closer than five hundred (500) feet or park such vehicle within five hundred (500) feet where any fire or other emergency vehicle has stopped in response to a fire alarm or other emergency.

(C)

Crossing fire lines. No vehicle shall be driven over any unprotected hose of the fire rescue department when laid down on any street or private driveway for use in any fire rescue operation, without the consent of the Chief Fire Official.

(D)

Tampering with fire hydrants or fire appliances or obstructing fire hydrants, unauthorized operation of hydrants.

(1)

No person shall remove, tamper with or otherwise disturb any fire hydrant or fire appliance required to be installed or maintained under the provisions of this Chapter, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, or, within a municipality, any fire safety standards adopted by a municipality which are more stringent than the applicable fire safety standards in this Chapter, in the Florida Fire Prevention Code, or in the rules and regulations of the State Fire Marshal, as all of same may be amended from time to time except for the purpose of extinguishing fire, training purposes, recharging, or making necessary repairs, or when permitted by the fire rescue department. Whenever a fire appliance is removed as herein permitted, it shall be replaced or reinstalled as soon as the purpose for which it was removed has been accomplished.

(2)

No person shall obstruct in any manner the use of any fire hydrant, or have or place or cause to be placed any material in front thereof from the curb-line to the center of the street, within fifteen (15) feet from either side thereof, nor shall any person open or cause to be opened any fire hydrant without the knowledge and consent of the Chief Fire Official.

(E)

Tampering with barricades, etc. No person, except a person authorized by the Chief Fire Official or a public officer acting within the scope of his or her public duties, shall remove, unlock, destroy, tamper with or otherwise molest in any manner any lock, gate, door, barricade, chain, enclosure, sign, tag or seal which has been lawfully installed by the fire rescue department or by its order or under its control.

(F)

Obstruction of fire protection equipment. No person shall place or keep any post, fence, vehicle, growth, trash, storage or other material or thing near any fire hydrant, fire rescue department connection or fire protection system control valve that would prevent such equipment or hydrant from being immediately discernible or in any other manner deter or hinder the fire department from gaining immediate access to said equipment or hydrant. A minimum three (3) foot clear space shall be maintained around the circumference of the hydrants except as otherwise required or approved by the Chief Fire Official.

(Ord. No. 16-89, § 3, 9-7-16)