Lloydsville volunteer fire Chief Brian Schultheis was seeking a way to help minimize what all nine township departments and its ambulance company have long deemed a serious problem -- repeated false alarms at residences.
"Doing something about that has been talked about for years," Schultheis said. "With more and more houses going up here, we decided to do something before it gets too bad."
Schultheis -- Unity Township Fire Bureau president -- recently penned a request to township supervisors asking them to make repeat offenders more accountable.
The board responded Thursday by adopting an ordinance regulating the use of automatic fire alarm devices and automatic dialing devices within township borders in keeping with state law.
"Essentially, this is just a message to people that have faulty fire alarm systems in their homes to get them corrected," said Supervisor Jake Blank.
The ordinance -- effective immediately -- would penalize township residents with alarm systems that send three false alarms in a 12-month period. Violators will be fined $300 for each subsequent offense, with that money to go to the township to pay for prosecution costs.
The ordinance requires township residents using automatic dialing devices first to obtain prior written approval for its installation and use from the department responsible for serving that area.
The board voted to amend an ordinance regulating the number of fire hydrants required in a specific area depending on the size and function of various buildings. Another section calls for at least one fire hydrant to be placed 1,200 feet or less from any commercial or residential buildings.
"There can be a lot of houses within a 1,200 foot space. The new code may require two hydrants in that amount of space depending on the need to protect our residents," said Harry Hosack, the township zoning/planning officer.
