15.28.030 Definitions

The following definitions govern the construction of this chapter:

A. “Jurisdiction,” as used in the Oregon Fire Code, means the City of Ashland (“Ashland”).

B. “Department of Fire Prevention,” as used in the Oregon Fire Code, means “Wildfire and Community Risk Reduction Division.”

C. “Fire Code Official,” as used in the Oregon Fire Code, means the Fire Chief or designee.

D. “Apparatus cost” means the standardized cost, including repairs and depreciation, for the use of Ashland Fire and Rescue (“AF&R”) and public works apparatus or equipment, as set forth in adopted regulations of the State Fire Marshal or in City resolution, and the cost for the use of apparatus or equipment of another jurisdiction which may respond to an incident pursuant to statute or intergovernmental agreement.

E. “Direct costs” means those costs of supplies, apparatus and labor incurred by the City or another jurisdiction in responding to an incident and as may be set forth in adopted regulations of the State Fire Marshal or in City resolution.

F. “Direct fire or rescue services” means any service provided by employees of the City (1) to a person whose person or property is injured or threatened with injury; or (2) to a person whose property has injured or threatens to injure another person or another person’s property, for which a charge is not otherwise imposed under this code. “Direct fire or rescue services” includes, but is not limited to, the suppression of fires, the rescue of persons or property, the provision of medical assistance, and containment and cleanup of hazardous materials.

G. “Indirect costs” means those costs that are set forth in adopted regulations of the State Fire Marshal or in City resolution, and which are the product of the state “average response availability rate” and the time spent responding to an incident, together with the state “average support services cost per incident,” as defined by the State Fire Marshal.

H. “General costs” means direct or indirect costs that are not attributable to any particular person who received direct fire and rescue services.

I. “Gross negligence” means conduct with conscious indifference to or reckless disregard of the rights of others.

J. “Labor costs” means the compensation paid by the City to its employees, including but not limited to base pay, overtime pay and fringe benefits, during the time spent responding to an incident.

1. Low-Risk Occupancy. An occupancy that has a history of low frequency of fires and minimal potential for loss of life or economic loss. Examples of low-risk occupancies could include storage, mercantile, and business.

2. Moderate-Risk Occupancy. An occupancy that has a history of moderate frequency of fires or a moderate potential for loss of life or economic loss. Examples of moderate-risk occupancies could include ambulatory health care and industrial occupancies that do not maintain, store, use, or handle hazardous materials in excess of exempt amounts.

3. High-Risk Occupancy. An occupancy that has a history of high frequency of fires, high potential for loss of life or economic loss, or that has a low or moderate history of fires or loss of life but the occupants have a high dependency on the built-in fire protection features or staff to assist in evacuation during a fire or other emergency. Examples of high-risk occpancies could include multiple-family dwellings, high-rise buildings, hotels, dormitories, lodging and rooming, assembly, child care, detention, educational, health care, and industrial.

4. Critical Infrastructure. The assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, that are so vital to the community that their damage or destruction would have a debilitating effect. Examples of critical infrastructure could include water treatment plants, special structures, public safety buildings, and power plants.

L. “Railroad right-of-way” means a right-of-way used for rail transportation.

M. Scope. Establishes the organization and deployment of fire prevention resources for fire prevention inspection and code enforcement activities in existing occupancies, new construction and renovation inspections.

N. “Transportation route” means a roadway or waterway against which no taxes or assessments for fire protection are levied by the City. (Ord. 3218 § 3, amended, 04/04/2023; Ord. 3186, amended, 01/21/2020; Ord. 3161 § 2, amended, 02/05/2018; Ord. 3081, amended, 04/02/2013)