Fire officials cite Ohio Fire Code in enforcement of removed east access

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.