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none, Correspondence, Correspondence• City `ie0titt g.wee B. ALLEN LAY Mayor FRANK E. HILL Mayor Pro Tem THOMAS F. HEINSHEIMER Councilmember JODY MURDOCK Councilmember GODFREY PERNELL, D.D.S. Councilmember July 16, 1997 Mr. Lou Hankins 4 Spur Lane Rolling Hills, CA 90274 i INCORPORATED JANUARY 24, 1957 NO. 2 PORTUGUESE BEND ROAD ROLLING HILLS, CALIF. 90274 (310) 377-1521 FAX: (310) 377-7288 E-mail: cityofrh@aol.com Dear Mr. Hankins: Thank you for calling on Tuesday, July 15th. I appreciate your comments. I spoke to personnel at Fire Station No. 56 yesterday and asked them to contact you to discuss your concerns regarding enforcement of the Fire Code on your property. I am sorry that you feel you are being "singled -out". However, rest assured, the Fire Department enforces the provisions of the Fire Code/Municipal Code weed abatement/brush clearance requirements as equitably as possible throughout the City. The goal of this process is to reduce the likelihood of homes becoming involved in a wildfire. As promised, I have enclosed a copy of the applicable Municipal Code Sections for your review. Should you wish to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely, p/f,' Craig R. Nealis City Manager CRN:mlk 07/15/97hankins.ltr cc: Los Angeles County Fire Department, Station 56 ss Pnnted on Recycled Paper. • • 15.20.010 Sections: 15.20.010 15.20.020 15.20.030 15.20.040 15.20.050 15.20.060 15.20.070 Chapter 15.20 FIRE CODE* Adoption of Fire Code. Short title. Permits. Brush clearance. Violations. Responsibility. List of infractions. 15.20.010 Adoption of Fire Code. A. Except as here- inafter provided, that certain Fire Code known and desig- nated as the •Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition,• prepared and published by the International Fire Code Institute, the International Conference of Building Officials and the Western Fire Chiefs Association, including Appendices I-C and V-A and excluding all other appendices, is hereby adopted by reference as though fully set forth herein, and shall constitute the Fire Code of the City of Rolling Hills. B. The Fire Code of the City of Rolling Hills is hereby amended to conform to Exhibit I of Ordinance 257U. C. All inconsistencies between the Fire Code of the City of Rolling Hills as adopted by this ordinance and Part 9, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations are changes, modifications, amendments, additions or deletions thereto authorized by California Health and Safety Code Sections 17858 and 17858.7. In the event of any conflict between (i) a provision of the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, (ii) a provision of Exhibit I to Ordinance 257U, or (iii) any amendment to the Fire Code of the City of Rolling Hills contained in the Rolling Hills Municipal * Prior history: Ords. 163, 200 and 214. Urgency Ord. U-54. 179-8 (Rolling Hills 5/96) 15.0.020--15.20.040 Code, the provision contained in the latter listed document shall control. D. A copy of the Uniform Fire Code, 1994 Edition, together with Exhibit I of Ordinance 257U have been depos- ited in the office of the City Clerk of the City of Rolling Hills and shall be at all times maintained by the Clerk for use and examination by the public. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995) . 15.20.020 Short title. This chapter shall be known as the 'Fire Code of the City of Rolling Hills' and may be cited as such. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 15.20.030 Permits. Any permit heretofore issued by the County of Los Angeles pursuant to the Fire Code of said County, for work within the territorial boundaries of the City of Rolling Hills, shall remain in full force and ef- fect according to its terms. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 15.20.040 Brush clearance. Notwithstanding the pro- visions of Section 15.20.020, Section 1117.2.2 is added to the Fire Code to read: Clearances Sec. 1117.2.2 Any owner of record of any land within the City of Rolling Hills which contains growth which, in the opinion of the Fire Chief, is then or may become dangerously flammable, shall at all times on such person's own land, whether improved or unim- proved: 1. Place or store firewood, manure, compost and other combustible materials a minimum of thirty (30) feet from any building or structure. 2. Maintain around and adjacent to each house, building or structure, whether on such persons land or adjacent thereto, an effective fire protection or firebreak made by completely removing and clearing away, for a distance from such house, building or structure, of not less than thirty (30) lineal feet on each side thereof, growth which in the opinion of the Fire Chief is then or may become flammable. This includes ornamental plants and trees known to be flam- mable, including but not limited to: Acacia, Cedar, Cypress, Eucalyptus, Juniper, Pine and Pampas Grass. EXCEPTIONS: 1. Ornamental plants and trees that are indi- vidually planted, spaced and maintained in such a 179-9 (Rolling Hills 5/96) • • 15.20.050 manner that they do not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to any structure in the City. 2. Cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar Plants provided that they are maintained in a condition that does not form a means of transmitting fire from native growth to any structure in the City. 3. Maintain around and adjacent to each house, building or structure an additional fire protection or firebreak made by removing all brush, flammable vege- tation or combustible growth located from thirty (30) feet to one hundred thirty (130) feet from such house, building or structure. The Chief may increase the one hundred thirty (130) foot distance when it is found that because of extra hazardous conditions a firebreak of only thirty (30) feet around such structures is not sufficient to provide reasonable fire safety, and that the additional one hundred (100) feet is not reason- able fire protection, based on local circumstances of the site. Grass and other vegetation located more than thirty (30) feet from each house, building or structure and less than six (6) inches in height above the ground may be maintained where necessary to stabi- lize the soil and prevent erosion. 4. Remove that portion of any tree which extends within twenty (20) feet of the outlet of any chimney, or additional distances as deemed in the best interest of fire protection as specified by the Fire Chief. 5. Maintain any tree adjacent to or overhanging any building free of dead wood. 6. Maintain the roof of any structure free of leaves, needles, or other dead vegetative growth. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 15.20.050 Violations. A. Every person violating any provision of the Fire Code or of any permit or license granted hereunder, or any rule, regulation or policy pro- mulgated pursuant hereto, is guilty of a misdemeanor unless such violation is otherwise declared to be an infraction by Section 15.20.070 of this chapter. Each such violation is a separate offense for each and every day during any por- tion of which such violation is committed. B. Every violation determined to be an infraction hereunder is punishable in such manner and to such extent as is provided by Section 1.08.020(B) of this Code. 179-10 (Rolling Hills 5/96) 15ipp.060--15.20.070 C. For the purposes of this section, a forfeiture of bail shall be equivalent to a conviction. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 15.20.060 Responsibility. Any person who personally or through another wilfully, negligently, or in violation of law sets a fire, allows a fire to be set, or allows a fire kindled or attended by such person to escape from his or her control, allows any hazardous material to be han- dled, stored or transported in a manner not in accordance with nationally recognized standards, allows any hazardous material to escape from his or her control, neglects to properly comply with any written notice of the Chief, or wilfully or negligently allows the continuation of a vio- lation of the Fire Code and amendments thereto is liable for the expense of fighting the fire or for the expenses incurred during a hazardous materials incident, and such expense shall be a charge against that person. Such charge shall constitute a debt of such person and is collectible by the public agency incurring such expense in the same manner as in the case of an obligation under a contract, expressed or implied. (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 15.20.070 List of Infractions. In accordance with Section 15.20.050 of this chapter, the violation of the following sections or subsections of the Fire Code shall be infractions: Section Offense 105 Failure to obtain permit 1001.6.2 Hydrant use approval 902.2.4.2 Trespassing on a closed road 902.2.4.1 Obstruction of fire protection equipment 902.2.4.1 Obstructing access roadway 901.4.4 Building numbering 1003 Fire extinguishers 1115.3 Fire prevention regulations - marina 1115.5 Portable fire protection equipment 1115.7 Access 1102.3 Open fires 1109.5 Discarding burning objects 1109.6 Hot ashes and other dangerous materials 1103.3 Combustible waste - Storage within buildings 1105 Asphalt kettles 1109.3.2.1 Sweating pipe 1115.3 (2) Open flame device - Boat or marina 1117.2 Clearance of brush - Structure 179-11 (Rolling Hills 5/96) • • 15.20.070 1117.2.3 Clearance of brush - Extra hazard 1118.17 Fire roads and firebreaks 1207.3 Door -locking devices 1207.6 Exit doors readily distinguishable 1210.3 Stairway - Storage under 1212.4 'Exit' sign illumination; maintenance of 1001.5.1 Failure to maintain alarm system 1001.5.2 Failure to notify Fire Department 2903.4.2 Waste oil storage 1109.4 'No smoking' sign 3005.2 Lumber yards - Weeds 3004.2 Lumber yards - Housekeeping 3213 Exit sign illumination 3219.2 Housekeeping - Vegetation 3219.3 Housekeeping - Flammable material storage 3404 Access to area 4501.4 Smoking prohibited 4501.5 Welding warning signs 4502.3.3 Discarded filter Pads 4502.8.2 Portable fire protection equipment 4502.9 Operations and maintenance 4502.9.6 Combustible debris and metal waste cans 4503.7.1 Portable fire extinguisher 4503.8.5 Dip tank covers 4504.3.2 Signs - "Dangerous' 4504.4 Maintenance - Electrostatic apparatus 4505.6.1 Maintenance - Powder coating 4506.6 'No smoking' sign 4606.2 'No smoking' - Fruit ripening room 4607 Housekeeping - Fruit ripening room 5201.7 Safety rules 7401.5.1 Storage containers - Identification 7401.6 Storage and use of cylinders 7505.4 Cryogenic tank truck - Wheels chocked 7506.2 Cryogenic tank truck - Chock blocks 7607 General requirements (smoking) 7902.5.3 Empty containers 7904.3.2.1 Smoking 7904.6.4 No smoking 7904.4.6 'No smoking' sign 7904.4.8 Fire protection 7901.7.2 Housekeeping 7901.1.3.1 Smoking 1103 Waste combustibles 3601.6 Fire extinguisher - Dry cleaning plant 3601.7 No smoking - Dry cleaning plant 8003.1.2 Hazardous materials liquid signage 8003.1.17 Combustible materials - Clearance 179-12 (Rolling Hills 5/96) 15.. 010--15.24.020 8004.1.9 Hazardous materials liquid - Dispensing, use and handling, signage 8004.3.5 Combustible materials - Clearance 8208 No smoking' signs - LPG container 8209 Combustible material - Clearance from LPG container 8506 Extension cords (Ord. 257-U §5(part), 1995). 179-13 (Rolling Hills 5/96) • City of Rolling Hills FIRE Hazard Reduction Requirements Hundreds of Los Allies County homes are in serious danger of destruction by fire because of their proximity to brush -covered areas. Any home that has brush near it is in danger. Homes with wooden roofs particu- larly are vulnerable to spread of fire. You should replant these areas with low growing ground cover which will restrict the regrowth of native brush and reduce the spread of fire. Your Los Angeles County Fire Department will inspect your property and make suggestions to help protect your home. Despite efforts of your firemen, wildland fires, fanned by strong winds, can destroy homes. It is YOUR legal responsibility to take action necessary to reduce this possibility. for your Safety and Protection The law requires that you: 1. CLEAR all hazardous flammable vegetation to mineral soil for a distance of 30 feet from any structure. Cut flammable vegeta- tion to a height of 6 inches for another 100 feet. 2. REMOVE I imbs within 20 feet of the chimney. Cut away dead branches and limbs that overhang the roof. 3. SCREEN the chimney outlet to prevent sparks from igniting the roof or brush. Use one-half inch mesh. oftiO4g rr �- ,'// . r / ti" r ' /f / (I , ,, ' / /r r ' !-- — — ff // /1--(%/r1 //I r l tr(�, /rrr - /(/(( f 4.CLEAN leaves, needles and twigs from roof, gutters and eaves. 5. POST house numbers clearly so they may be seen from the street. 6. STACKfirewood away from fences, structures. 7. CLEAR hazardous vegetation to mineral so i l for a distance of 10 feet from any driveway or roadway. 30' 4/ / /////(/ f/'t- f _/14-- 4' 100' —fr