A. The Fire Chief may require that fire lanes for new and existing structures be established on private or public property to provide access for fire-suppression operations by the use of an improved public street, areaway, parking lot, driveway or roadway.
B. A fire lane is an area, parking lot, driveway, roadway or portion thereof that shall be:
1. Designated or approved by the Fire Chief;
2. Identified with red painted curbs or 6-inch-wide red stripe the full length of the fire lane, or each fire lane shall have approved signs at the beginning and end of the fire lane, with spacing between the signs not to exceed 75 feet. The signs shall be approved by the Fire Chief and comply with Appendix A, Standard Detail No.1 of this chapter. Each sign shall face in the direction of oncoming traffic. Signs that identify entranceways only as a fire lane area shall be identified with approved fire lane sign(s) on each side facing forward, and area between the signs shall be red striped.
C. A fire lane sign shall be:
1. Affixed to a stationary pole or object;
3. Maintained clear of obstructions its entire length.
D. It is unlawful for any person to park any vehicle with or without power within, or otherwise obstruct any fire lane except as may be specifically permitted by the Fire Chief.
E. Any vehicle stopped or parked within a fire lane established, designated, and marked in accordance with this article shall be issued a “Notice of Ordinance Violation” by any member of the Lake Havasu City Police Department or any representative the Fire Chief or Police Chief designates. Any vehicle stopped or parked within the fire lane may be removed at the expense of the vehicle owner. Removal of a vehicle under such circumstances may be authorized by the person in lawful possession of the property or by the Fire Chief or Police Chief or their representatives. The person in lawful possession of the property shall keep designated fire lanes free of vehicles and all other obstructions.
1. Extend to within 150 feet of an entrance to the interior or to a point as approved by the Fire Chief for buildings 2 stories or less in height;
2. Extend to within 50 feet of an entrance to the exterior or to a point as approved by the Fire Chief for buildings 3 stories or more in height;
3. Be a minimum of 24 feet in width and have vehicle passing points 24 feet in width and of length and interval as designated by the Fire Chief;
4. Be surfaced to support maximum weight of fire apparatus. Surfacing may be concrete, asphaltic concrete, brick, stone, but not necessarily limited to such materials, as approved by the Fire Chief. Engineering data shall be submitted with plans review submittal to substantiate weight-bearing capacity when required by the Fire Chief;
5. Have a vertical clearance of not less than 13 feet 6 inches;
6. Have a maximum gradient of 8% (8 feet in 100 feet);
7. Have 45 feet minimum centerline radius on curves;
8. Be dead-ended at no more than 200 feet maximum length; or allow through passage; or terminate in minimum 45 feet centerline radius cul-de-sac as per Standard Detail No. 2 or hammerhead turning area as per Standard Detail No. 2, see Appendix B to this chapter.
G. It shall be unlawful for any person or firm to post a fire lane sign without the approval of the Fire Chief or his or her authorized representative.
H. Fire lanes established for new and existing structures shall conform to fire lane requirements applicable at the time of construction, provided that if no fire lane requirements were applicable at the time of construction, the Fire Chief may require establishment of fire lanes to conform with the requirements.
I. The specific requirements for this article as applicable to a specific structure may be modified by the Fire Chief in recognition of varying occupancies, sizes and hazards of buildings and the provisions of other means of access or fixed fire protection.
J. No person shall place or keep any post, fence, growth, trash or other material or thing near any fire hydrant, fire sprinkler connection or fire standpipe connection that would prevent them from being immediately discernible or in any other manner deter or hinder the Fire Department from gaining immediate access to them for use. Signs or red painted curbs or 6-inch-wide red stripes the full length of the restricted area, prohibiting blocking the fire protection equipment, may be required on private property installation.
(Prior Code, § 14-1-6(C))
