PENDER COUNTY — Pender County Emergency Management reminds residents to steer clear of parking near fire and emergency apparatus. Civil citations could result in up to a $250 fine.
“To ensure the safety of our residents and their properties, we urge all neighborhoods to evaluate all street parking,” Pender County Deputy Fire Marsal Amy Burton said in a press release.
North Carolina General Statute 20-162 requires all roadways to be passable to allow fire and emergency personnel access to necessary equipment, such as fire hydrants. It also gives law enforcement the authority to remove vehicles that violate the law.
Fire apparatus must have an unobstructed width of not less than 20 feet, which doesn’t account for road shoulders, and a minimum vertical clearance of 13-and-a-half feet, according to state law.
“In housing developments where parking on the street occurs, especially near a fire hydrant, this can be a serious concern and a violation of state statute,” Burton said in the release. “Every street, especially in heavily populated areas, must be clear for emergency vehicles at all times.”
Residents with questions concerning obstructed access should call the Pender County Fire Marshal’s Office at 910-259-1441.
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