Resolution No. 4814 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Life safety risk during wildland/urban interface fires is exacerbated by limited evacuation routes. Improving evacuation roads (widening, straightening) and, most importantly, providing as many alternate evacuation routes as possible can significantly reduce evacuation times and lower the probability that residents seeking to evacuate may be trapped by fire-blocked routes. Minimize Prope~y Damage The education and action items discussed above may help to reduce future property damages by reducing the number of fire ignitions and by reducing the probability that a small fire will spread. In addition, specific fire safe building practices should be implemented (if not yet implemented) and enforced vigorously (if not yet vigorously enforced). Fire safe building practices have two main elements: first, design of structures, and second, creation of defensible spaces around structures. There is an excellent "Firewise" communities program with a highly informative website (www.firewise.org). Firewise is the product of a consortium of public and private agencies, including the US Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, the US Fire Administration, the National Association of State Foresters, and the Nationa~ Fire Protection Association. The Firewise website has very informative publications and videos for ~ocal officials and homeowners to help understand, evaluate, and improve the fire safety of structures at risk from wildland/urban interface fires. The Firewise construction and Firewise landscaping checklists are particularly recommended as concise summaries of the primary fire-safe designs and practices for homeowners at risk from wildland/urban interface fires. The Firewise Construction Checklist, makes the following main recommendations (among others): 1 ) site homes on as level terrain as possible, at least 30 feet back from cliffs or ridge lines, 2) build homes with fire-resistant roofing materials, such as Class-A asphalt shingles, slate or clay tiles, concrete or cement products, or metal 3) build homes with fire-resistant exterior wall cladding, such as masonry or stucco, 4) consider the size and materials for windows; smaller panes hold up better than larger ones, double pane and tempered glass windows are more fire resistant than single pane windows; p~astic skylights can melt and a~low access for burning embers, 5) prevent sparks and embers from entering vents by covering vents with wire mesh no larger than 1/8", box eaves, and minimize places to trap embers on decks and other attached structures, and 6) keep roofs, eaves, and gutters free of flammable debris. The Firewise Landscaping Checklist includes the following main recommendations (among others), based on a four-zone planning concept around the house: Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 9-20