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Fire officials cite Ohio Fire Code in enforcement of removed east access
Summary
Fire prevention staff told the Stow City administrative hearing that the Ohio Fire Code allows requiring additional access roads when a single access may be impaired; they said the east access on the approved 2000 plan must be maintained so multiple trucks can respond.
At a Stow City administrative hearing over an alleged parking-lot/driveway maintenance violation, fire prevention staff explained the safety rationale for requiring two access drives at the storage facility on 1590 Commerce Drive.
A fire department official said their site visits beginning in December 2024 documented conditions that could impair emergency access, including snow pushed against a gate at the east drive. The official cited the Ohio Fire Code provision allowing officials to require more than a single access when potential impairment could limit emergency access by reason of congestion, condition, terrain or climate. "Fire code officials [are] authorized to require more than one fire-authorized access road based on the potential for impairment of a single road," the official said. He added that unmanned storage facilities can have fires that jump building to building, making access critical.
Planning/engineering staff agreed that the approved site plan required a second access and said approved accesses must be maintained; they said the code applied is the version in effect at the time the facility was approved. That planning/engineering representation prompted the hearing officer to request the original planning commission approval language and supporting documents before a final determination.
