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0 CITY MR
0 CLERK
AGENDA
DATE :
February 29, 2012 CORRESPONDENC E
TO :
City Council
Date Item# 21\
VIA :
Katie Lichtig, City Manage r
FROM:
Derek Johnson, Community Development Directo r
Charlie Hines, Fire Chie f
BY :
Phil Dunsmore, Senior Planne r
SUBJECT :
Safety Element Fire Hazards Chapter update ; Questions from Jan Mar x
regarding the ISO rating and what other communities are doin g
This correspondence responds to the following questions with corresponding answers liste d
below :
1.Could you please give the 3 council members who can vote on this item information o n
how other cities in our county have dealt with it? I have heard that Morro Bay has a
simplified approach?
2.Would changing the classification of our city (or parts of our city) to VHFHZ or WU I
effect our Fire Insurance Classification?
3.What effect would changing the classification have on our residents' fire insuranc e
availability and rates? Would changing the classification change the level of service ou r
residents receive ?
1 . No other communities in the County have incorporated the State's Fire Hazard Maps int o
their General Plans ; San Luis Obispo will be the first . However, other communities suc h
as San Clemente have completed this process (see Attachment 1, news release from San
Clemente). Since the fire hazard maps and accompanying building code modifications ar e
mandated by the government code, other communities in the County have responded b y
referencing the new State fire hazard maps intheir building codes . By referencing the fir e
hazard maps and adopting Chapter 7A of the building code, compliance with th e
government code may be accomplished.
Council correspondence 2-29-12 (3).docx
Staff is not recommending this approach and believes it is important for Fire Hazard
Maps currently residing in the Safety Element be consistent with the State's maps so tha t
the City's land use documents displays accurate information based on new analysis an d
data . The state strongly encourages local jurisdictions to reflect the current maps in thei r
General Plans .
2.The fire maps are not a component of the fire insurance classification and are not likely t o
result in changes to the City's ISO rating . The Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS)
is the manual ISO uses in reviewing the fire-fighting capabilities of individua l
communities . The schedule measures the major elements of a community's fire -
suppression system and develops a numerical grading called a Public Protectio n
Classification (PPCTM ). This grading is based on several factors such as fire alarm
response ; the available equipment and training of fire staff; and the availability of wate r
and hydrant distribution in the community . Fire hazard maps are not a component of th e
classification .
3.Insurance rates are determined by a variety of factors, including Fire Risk . Fire Risk i s
different from Fire Hazard . Fire Hazard is the focus of the VHFHSZ maps, not Fire Risk .
Fire Hazard is based on factors such as fuel (material that can burn),slope and fir e
weather . Fire Risk considers the potential for damage based on factors such as the abilit y
of a fire to ignite the structure, the flammability of the construction material, an d
mitigation measures that reduce the risk . These mitigation measures include defensibl e
space, building design, ignition resistant building materials,and ignition resistan t
construction techniques .
Ultimately, it is not possible to state that insurers will ignore the limitations of the focus
of VHFHSZ maps, which again focus on hazard, not risk . However, to respond to suc h
concerns, the California Department of Insurance and CAL FIRE have established a
partnership and joint commitment to protecting Californians from fire losses .A
Memorandum of Understanding was signed by the Insurance Commissioner and th e
Director of CAL FIRE, October, 2007 to mutually promote awareness and collaboratio n
among fire officials, the insurance industry,and the public to prevent and mitigate fir e
losses . The MOU can be found at http :l/www .insurance .ca .govt0400-nevus/x100-press-
releases/0060-2007/upload/Insurance CD! CALFIRE MOU 091007TC .pdf .
Published: Dec, 21 2011 Updated:Dec. 22,20400 a .m.•
San Clemente resets zones for 'very high' wildfire ris k
Revised map is based on an updated analysis of the city by the California Department of Forestry and Fir e
Protection, officials say .
By FRED SWEGLES / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTE R
If you're in a section of San Clemente bordering a wildiand area, you might want to check with City Hall to see if it's in a "very high fire hazar d
severity zone ."
On a 5-0 vote Tuesday night, the City Council introduced an ordinance to revise a map that designates which parts of town are classified a s
having "very high" risk of wildfires .
A firefighter stands ready to battle a wall of flames crossing from wildiand into Anaheim Hills during the 2007 Windy Ridge fire . In Sa n
Clemente, the city is revising its map designating "very high fire hazard zones" around town .
RIS REGIST ER FILE PHOTO
An analysis of San Clemente by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection established a new set of boundaries, supercedin g
boundaries established in 1996 when state legislation changed the California Building Code . Mike Jorgensen, San Clemente's building official ,
said state law requires fire-resistant features when homes are built in "very high" risk areas .
It applies only to new homes, not remodels, Jorgensen said . There are other requirements for controlling vegetation around the home, fo r
example, but those requirements already exist in neighborhoods bordering wildiand areas, even without the designation .
"The boundaries have changed a little bit," Jorgensen told the City Council . Some areas were added and some were removed from the "ver y
high" risk zone .
Generally, he said, the "very high" risk areas of San Clemente are in the northwest – adjacent to San Juan Capistrano - the northeast corne r
of Talega and the southeast section of town bordering Camp Pendleton .
A portion of Talega was removed from "very high" danger status because it is now developed with homes, Jorgensen said .
Asked if the risk designation could drive some homeowners' fire-insurance rates up, Jorgensen said the Oranqe County Fire
Authority checked with communities where the designation has been updated since 2007 and found no evidence that insuranc e
companies are using that data . Insurers have their own methods, he said .
Contact the writer :fsweglesc(D.ocregister .com or 949-492-5127
The California
department of Forestry
and Fire Protection
established new tire hazard
boundaries for San Clemente
which were improved by thecity council .
Vary high fire hazard
aavarlty aorta