Grant Awarded

The Volunteer Fire Department Fund and Volunteer Rescue/EMS Fund was created to financially assist our State's greatest resource, our volunteer emergency personnel. The NC General Statutes have been amended to allow for limited paid personnel. Through dollar-for-dollar matching fund programs, the Department of Insurance assist fire departments and rescue/EMS organizations to purchase related equipment and to make capital expenditures.

Through this grant process, The Cramerton Fire Department received a matching grant of $9000.

CHAPTER 93: FIRE PROTECTION

Section

93.01 Interference with firefighters; false alarms

93.02 Interference with Fire Department vehicle

93.03 Congregating at fires

93.04 Obstructing or tampering with fire hydrants

93.05 Open burning

93.06 Metal containers required for gasoline and kerosene

93.07 Testing equipment and appliances

93.99 Penalty

' 93.01 INTERFERENCE WITH FIREFIGHTERS; FALSE ALARMS.

(A) As provided in G.S. ' 58-82-1, no person may willfully interfere in any manner with firefighters engaged in the performance of their duties.

(B) As provided in G.S. ' 14-286, no person may wantonly and willfully give a false alarm or damage fire alarm, detection or extinguishing equipment.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-1) Penalty, see ' 93.99

' 93.02 INTERFERENCE WITH FIRE DEPARTMENT VEHICLE.

(A) No person other than a member of the Fire Department may mount or ride upon any fire engine or apparatus before it leaves the station or while on its way to or from a fire or at any other time, except by permission of the Fire Chief.

(B) No person may impede the movement of any Fire Department vehicle answering a fire call or other emergency by getting in the way of riding or driving in front of or close to the sides of the vehicle.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-2) Penalty, see ' 93.99

' 93.03 CONGREGATING AT FIRES.

It shall be unlawful for persons to congregate on the streets, sidewalks or other areas adjacent to a fire so as to interfere with the operations of members of the Fire Department.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-3) Penalty, see ' 93.99

' 93.04 OBSTRUCTING OR TAMPERING WITH FIRE HYDRANTS.

(A) No person may obstruct with building material or otherwise any fire hydrant in a manner as to interfere with or obstruct the easy approach to or the convenient use of the same by the Fire Department; however, this section shall not apply to the closing of a street by order of the Town Council or to material necessarily placed in the street or work done therein by the town or its contractor for the purpose of paving or repairing it.

(B) No person except a town employee engaged in the official performance of his/her duties or a person expressly authorized to do so by the Town Manager or his/her designated representative may open, draw water or otherwise tamper with any public fire hydrant.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-4) Penalty, see ' 93.99

Section 93.05 – Open Burning

No person may burn or cause to be burned any material outside of a building within the corporate town limits, subject to the following exceptions:

• A town employee in the lawful performance of his duties;
• Small fires of wood, charcoal or artificial logs kindled in a commercially manufactured cooking or campfire pit, exterior fireplace or contained fire device, cooking device, grill or other similar outdoor eating or cooking device, when used for cooking, entertainment or outdoor enjoyment and when:

• Used on their own real property;
• Placed on a non-combustible surface, including fire retardant shields, carts and stands when in use;
• Not used in a covered, unventilated or confined space.
• Continuously attended by a person at least 16 years of age when in use;
• Placed a minimum of 5 feet from any combustible material when in use;
• Not used to burn paper, leaves or any noxious materials.

' 93.06 METAL CONTAINERS REQUIRED FOR GASOLINE OR KEROSENE.

No person may sell, place, dispense, keep in his/her possession or store on his/her premises any kerosene or gasoline except in proper metal containers.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-13) Penalty, see ' 93.99

93.07 TESTING OF EQUIPMENT AND APPLIANCES.

The Fire Prevention Division shall have the authority to require any means of testing it deems reasonable necessary to ascertain the safety of the installation of equipment or appliances. It the test indicates a dangerous condition, the service shall be discontinued until the hazard is removed.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-14)

' 93.99 PENALTY.

(A) A violation of this chapter shall constitute a misdemeanor, punishable as provided in G.S. 14-4.

(B) A violation of any of the sections in this chapter shall also subject the offender to a civil penalty of $25. If a person fails to pay this penalty within ten days after being cited for a violation, the town may seek to recover the penalty by filing a civil action in the nature of debt.

(C) The town may seek to enforce this chapter through any appropriate equitable action.

(D) Each day that a violation continues after the offender has been notified of the violation shall constitute a separate offense.

(E) The town may seek to enforce this chapter by using any one or any combination of the foregoing remedies.

( > 87 Code, ' 12-23)

(Source: www.cramerton.org)