Fire Lanes/Fire Zones

~A note from the Fire Marshal

With the start of the 08/09 school year, Fire Zones have been repainted at the four Region 15 schools in the Town of Southbury. Additionally, new traffic patterns are being enacted and used at Pomperaug High School. The reason is due to an increase in parent traffic at the schools during bus drop off and pick up times. On April 25, 2008, 18 vehicles had to be removed from the fire zones at PHS during a response by FD personnel to an alarm at the school. On June 16, 2008, the Fire Marshal and Police were summoned to the school by FD personnel when a fire truck could not access the fire zone in front of the school due to a double line of cars during the mid morning break in final exams. The fire department was at the school in response to an alarm. Current actions at the schools have become necessary to ensure the safety of students and staff within the buildings, and to enforce the requirements of the Connecticut Fire Safety Code and the Southbury Code of Ordinances. It has become obvious that actions and enforcement are not only prudent, but mandated, by School and Town officials to provide clear access to the school buildings by Fire Apparatus, Ambulance vehicles and Police. Parents and driving age students are reminded to use parking lot spaces to park their vehicles during school hours and while attending after school activities such as sports, concerts, drama events and meetings. While immediate pick up and drop off of persons is allowed, parking and/or waiting are prohibited.

H. Stormer, Fire Marshal

Fire Lane/Fire Zone Definitions

Code of Ordinances, Article III, Sections 5-31 though 5-34

Chapter 13, Sections 13-1 through 13-22 

Fire Zone: Designated, unobstructed passageway sufficient in size to permit free passage of fire and other emergency equipment from a street to all necessary areas or portions of any private or public property.



Establishment: The Fire Marshal or his designated representative may establish a fire zone by written order when it is determined that the reasonable safety of persons occupying or using any premises, public or private, requires a fire zone for orderly access of fire and other emergency equipment.



Appeal: Any person aggrieved by an order of the fire marshal may file an appeal with the towns traffic authority within 15 days of such order.



Signs: The owner, operator or occupant of a property is required upon establishment of a fire zone to erect or install adequate signs and markings to delineate said zone. The traffic authority can have said signs and markings installed and the cost billed to the owner, operator or occupant, in the same manner as municipal taxes.



Parking: The standing of a vehicle, whether occupied or not, upon a street, otherwise than temporarily for the purpose of, and while actually discharging passengers or loading or unloading merchandise. (Sby Ord. Sec 13-1)



Obedience: It shall be unlawful for any person to park a vehicle: (2) in a fire zone established pursuant to sec. 5-32 of the code of ordinances or within 10 feet of a fire hydrant.



Penalty: Currently the fine for parking in a fire zone is $10.00.

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