Chapter VII · Fire

ARTICLE 4. EXPLOSIVES AND INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS

Sections 7-401 to 7-415 · 15 sections

7-401 Explosives storage.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to store or keep any dynamite, nitroglycerin, giant powder or other explosives except gun powder in any storeroom, wareroom, building or on any premises in the city; provided, that not more than five pounds of gun powder may be kept in closed metal canisters in a store or wareroom away from artificial light or heat; provided, further, that the city fire marshal may in accordance with the rules of the State Fire Marshal grant permits for the keeping and storing of any explosive substances or materials in the city not prohibited by this section. Any person, firm or corporation having a permit to sell or store gunpowder shall, before storing or selling the same, have the place where such materials are kept inspected and approved by the city fire marshal and the dealer shall fully disclose to the fire marshal where the same is kept both in the day and nighttime and the manner of storing the same.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-402 Storage of kerosene or coal oil.

No person, firm or corporation shall keep or cause to be kept or stored in any building in the city, any kerosene or coal oil in quantities exceeding one barrel.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-403 Storage of petroleum products.

No person, firm or corporation shall keep, store, or cause to be kept or stored in any building in the city, any gasoline, naphtha, benzine or any other light product of crude petroleum or fuel oil in quantities exceeding five gallons, except that contained in tanks of automobiles, tractors, motorcycles or other self-propelled vehicle. All inflammable liquids not stored in underground tanks, other than in tanks of automobiles, tractors, motorcycles or other self-propelled vehicles, shall be kept in tight and entirely closed metal cans, free from lead and painted red.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-404 Open storage prohibited.

No person, firm or corporation shall store or cause to be stored in the open upon any premises in the city, any gasoline, naphtha, benzine or any other light product of crude petroleum or fuel oil in quantities exceeding one fifty-five gallon barrel, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-405 Underground storage.

When the open storage of petroleum products is prohibited in the city, the same may be stored underground in tanks installed and provided with screened vents as herein provided. All underground storage tanks shall meet the minimum specifications of the State Fire Marshal as to materials and specifications, except that all such installations shall be placed underground not less than three feet below the surface of the ground measured from the top of the tank. Vents and vent pipes of all such underground tanks shall not be located within five feet of any opening in any wall of any building. The location of all such vents, vent pipes and pumps shall be approved by the chief of the fire department as fire marshal of the city.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-406 Bulk oil stations.

(a)Bulk oil stations or oil distribution stations as used in this chapter include any place where inflammable liquids commonly used as fuel for internal combustion engines, or for heat or light, are stored and handled in wholesale quantities, but shall not include refineries. Inflammable liquids shall apply to and be defined as any liquid sold or handled by a bulk oil station and having a flash point of one hundred eighty-seven degrees Fahrenheit or below (closed cup tester) .

(b)In all cases where the city zoning ordinance permits the location or installation of bulk oil stations on any ground in the city and where the total tank and storage capacity of the station will exceed five hundred fifty gallons, the individual, firm, partnership or corporation, shall, before starting said installation, apply to the governing body of the city for a permit. The applicant shall deliver to the city clerk one complete plan for the installation of the station together with one plat of the ground showing the area and location of the proposed station. Such plans shall set out the general specifications applying to material, construction, venting, piping, care and maintenance in accordance with the rules and regulations of the State Fire Marshal applicable to such stations and show the distance of the proposed installation from adjoining property, adjoining structures, and railroad lines in compliance with the rules and regulations. Where the State Fire Marshal ' s regulations require embankments and dikes to be constructed around installations of the type proposed, the application shall give the specifications proposed for the construction of such works.

(c)The application shall be referred to the city fire marshal , who may consult with the State Fire Marshal, and when the governing body is satisfied that the proposed bulk station can be installed and constructed in accordance with the State Fire Marshal's regulations, it shall approve the application and issue a permit for the installation in accordance with the specifications disclosed in the application; provided, that where the application is for proposed installation of bulk storage in underground tanks, the permit shall be issued after a finding by the governing body that the installation will be made in accordance with the fire marshal's regulations except that all such tanks shall be buried not less than three feet below the surface of the ground.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-407 Handling of inflammables.

Inflammable liquids shall not be drawn or handled in the presence of open flame or fire, but may be drawn and handled by daylight or when lighting is by incandescent electric lamps in vapor proof globes. The electrical wiring and switches on such premises shall be installed and protected to prevent sparks. Smoking by any person or the striking of matches on any premises where inf1ammab1es or explosives are handled or stored is prohibited.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-408 Penalty for violation of sections 7-401 through 7-407.

Any person, firm, or corporation violating any of the terms and provisions of Sections 7-401 through 7-407 shall upon conviction thereof be fined in a sum not less than five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, or imprisonment not to exceed thirty days, or be both so fined and imprisoned.

(Ord. 430; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-409 Liquefied petroleum gases; defined.

“Liquefied petroleum gases” means and includes any material which is composed of predominantly propane, propylene, normal butane, isobutane and butylenes or mixtures of them in either the liquid or gaseous state.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-410 Liquefied petroleum gases; aboveground storage containers; location.

It is unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to locate any tanks for the storage of liquefied petroleum gases inside of or under any building in the city. All such tanks shall be located with respect to the nearest important building or group of buildings or line of adjoining property, which may be built upon, in accordance with the following table for aboveground storage:

Water Capacity	Minimum Distance
126-500 gallons.	10 feet
500-1200 gallons	25 feet
over 1200 gallons	50 feet

Provided, that domestic storage containers, regardless of size, having a liquid outlet for the filling of other containers, shall in all cases be installed at least fifty feet from the nearest building.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-411 Liquefied petroleum gases; underground storage containers; location.

It is unlawful to install any container or tank for the storage or use of liquefied petroleum gases beneath any building in the city. No underground container or tank shall in any case be located closer than ten feet to any building. No underground container, exceeding five hundred gallons water capacity, shall be located closer than twenty-five feet to a building, and no underground container, containing twelve hundred gallons water capacity, shall be located closer than fifty feet to a building; provided, that these distances may be reduced at the discretion of the State Fire Marshal when the container is placed in a reinforced concrete bed and surrounded by at least six inches of clean sand on the sides, with at least twelve inches of sand on the top, but in no case shall the container be located closer than ten feet to a building.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-412 Liquefied petroleum gases; storage tanks kept free from weeds.

It shall be the duty of all persons maintaining aboveground storage tanks on thy premises to keep the ground under and around such storage tanks clean and free of all long grass and weeds for a distance of ten feet therefrom and no combustible materials and debris of any kind shall be stored near or under an aboveground storage tank.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-413 Liquefied petroleum gases; portable containers-filling unlawful when.

It is unlawful for any person or persons to transfer any liquefied petroleum gas into any cylinder or portable container on any street or alley or within the fire zone limits of the city. It is further unlawful to transfer any such gas within one hundred feet of the adjoining property line, or of any structure or other material of value, except buildings used and being a part of a liquefied petroleum gas business establishment of the person making such transfer.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-414 Liquefied petroleum gases; state fire marshal regulations.

In those cases where Sections 7-409 through 7-414 makes no provision respecting the storage, handling or use of liquefied petroleum gases, the rules of the State Fire Marshal then adopted and in effect, shall govern. All such matters shall be referred to the State Fire Marshal for his ruling thereon.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)

7-415 Liquefied petroleum gases; penalty for violation.

Any person, firm or corporation violating any provision of Sections 7-409 through 7-414 shall upon conviction be fined not more than one hundred dollars to be sentenced to jail not to exceed thirty days or be both fined and imprisoned.

(Ord. 431; Code 1974, Chapter 8.28; Code 2014)