There is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference, for the purpose of establishing regulations, governing conditions hazardous to life and property from fire or explosion, that certain code and standards known as the International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, including Appendices B, C and D thereof, save and except for such portions as hereinafter deleted, modified or amended. The International Fire Code, 2006 Edition, is made a part of the ordinances and code of the city as if the same had been set out in full herein, all as authorized and in the manner prescribed by K.S.A. 12-3009 through 12-3012 including any amendments thereto. At least one copy of the International Fire Code shall be marked or stamped “Official Copy as Incorporated by the Code of the City of De Soto,” and shall be filed with the city clerk to be open to inspection and available to the public at all reasonable hours of business.

(Ord. 736; Ord. 2186, Sec. 1; Ord. 2246, Sec. 1)

In the construction of the International Fire Code as adopted hereby, the following definitions shall apply and amend like definitions contained in Chapter 2 of the International Fire Code.

(a)   Administrator shall mean the city administrator.

(b)   Chief or Chief of the Fire Department shall mean building official for purposes of fire prevention, control of hazards, construction permitting, and inspection activities and regulations contained in the International Fire Code. Chief or Chief of the Fire Department shall also mean the duly appointed fire chief of The Northwest Consolidated Fire District, Serving De Soto and Northwest Johnson County, for purposes of fire suppression activities and regulations relating thereto as contained in the International Fire Code.

(c)   Municipality shall mean the City of De Soto.

(Code 2009; Ord. 2246, Sec. 1)

Section 104.1 of the International Fire code as adopted hereby is modified as follows:

Sec. 104.1. The fire chief and the building official are authorized to administer and enforce this code and cooperate in that effort. The city administrator will be the arbiter of any questions pertaining to areas of authority.

Fire Chief. Under the district fire chief’s direction, the district is authorized to enforce all ordinances of the jurisdiction pertaining to:

(a)   The prevention of fires.

(b)   The suppression or extinguishing of dangerous or hazardous fires.

(c)   The investigation of the cause, origin and circumstances of fire and unauthorized releases of hazardous materials.

Building Official. Under the city administrator’s direction, the building official is authorized to enforce all ordinances of the jurisdiction pertaining to:

(a)   The storage, use and handling of hazardous materials.

(b)   The installation and maintenance of automatic, manual and other private fire alarm systems and fire-extinguishing equipment.

(c)   The maintenance and regulation of fire escapes.

(d)   The maintenance of fire protection and elimination of fire hazards on land and in buildings, structures and other property, including those under construction.

(e)   The maintenance of exits.

(Code 2009; Ord. 2246, Sec. 1)