DISCUSSION
On January 1, 1991, Section 4290 of the Public Resources Code of the State of California went into effect. The code directed the State Board of Forestry to adopt SRA Fire Safe Regulations as a part of Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations.
Shasta County had the option of 1) enforcing the SRA Fire Safe Regulations as adopted by the State of California or, 2) adopt local standards that met or exceeded the State Fire Safe Regulations, and submit them to the State Board of Forestry for certification as meeting the intent of the SRA Fire Safe Regulations.
For several reasons, including zoning, road standards, and water standards, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors decided to adopt a local fire safety standard (Standards). The Standards were submitted to, and certified by the State Board of Forestry. The Standards have been updated several times, as needed, since the original resolution and certification, the most recent on December 15, 2015.
In March 2015, the Board of Forestry adopted amendments to the regulations governing fire safe development in the SRA, and the changes became effective January 1, 2016. Since the December 15, 2015 update, Shasta County Fire Department has identified a few code sections that exceed 4290 of the Public Resources Code. Shasta County Fire Department would like to revise the Standards to meet 4290. It is necessary for Shasta County to update the Standards to meet or exceed the new Board of Forestry regulations and submit an ordinance with the updated Shasta County Standards for recertification to the Board of Forestry once approved by the Board of Supervisors.
SCFD consulted with representatives from Shasta County Public Works and Shasta County Resource Management during the development of the revised Standards.
A redline version of all proposed changes to the Standards is attached. The proposed modifications include changes to the following sections of the Shasta County Standards:
6.02 Scope
6.04 Definitions
6.11.1 General Road Design Requirements, Dead-end Road Length
6.11.1.1 Exception
6.12 Private Road, Public Road, and Non-Residential Driveway Standards
6.13 Residential Driveway Standards
6.14 Emergency Fire Escape Road (EFER) Standards
6.22 Street Identification Signing
6.3 Fire Protection Water Standards
6.31 Fire Flow and Hydrant Spacing
6.32 Duration
6.33 Pressure
6.38 Hydrant Maintenance and Spacing
6.41 Development Within a Water Agency Sphere of Influence
6.42 Residential Requirements
6.43 Fire Flow Commercial
6.51 Building Setbacks
6.52 Roofing
6.53 Chimney
6.54 Rafters
6.63 Vegetation Clearances Around Structures
6.7 Flammable and Combustible Liquids
6.71 Above Ground Storage Tanks for Motor Vehicle Fuel-Dispensing Stations
6.72 Vaulted Tanks of Concrete or Equivalent
6.73 Above Ground Storage Tanks without Vaults
6.92 Criteria for Exceptions and Appeals
The proposed ordinance will update the existing Chapter 6: Fire Safety Standards, provide for inclusion in the Shasta County Development Standards, and allow for recertification of the local Fire Safety Standards for the State of California Board of Forestry.
|