(a) The city fire chief shall be authorized to designate fire lanes on or in a public street, alley, roadway or premises, or on any public property which, in his opinion, would be necessary or desirable for the free movement of fire apparatus or of firefighting personnel responding to or operating at a scene of a fire or other public emergency.

(b) Designated fire lanes authorized by the city fire chief shall be appropriately identified with signs bearing the words "Fire Lane, No parking." The signs and lettering shall be standard information type traffic signs, with red letters on white background. In addition, the city fire chief may require diagonal striping placed on or in any public street, alley, roadway or premises or on any public property or any private property to which the public has access and the words "Fire Lane, No parking" painted thereon in letters no less than 18 inches in length.

(c) The city fire chief may require, as a condition of the issuance of a building permit, site plan or development plan, that the owner thereof designate fire lanes on the property subject to the building permit, site plan or development plan when the city fire chief determines that such designation is necessary to protect the public health, safety and welfare. Any such private property designated as a fire lane shall be marked in accordance with subsection (b) of this section and subject to the provisions of subsection (d) of this section.

(d) Vehicles, equipment or materials parked or stored in an area designated as a fire lane shall be removed, ticketed and/or impounded upon the order of the city fire chief or designee or the chief law enforcement officer of the city, and all costs of such removal and impounding shall be assessed against the owner, lessee or other person having control of such vehicle, equipment or material.