Firefighter Safety Drives Sensible Development Oversight in Fire-Prone Areas
With California in the grips of its third catastrophic fire season in five years, California Professional Firefighters is backing an effort that seeks to check uncontrolled growth in the state's fire-prone wildlands.
Assembly Bill 2447 would require that any new construction in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) pass a simple test before it is approved -- can it be protected from devastating wildfire.
This week, CPF joined CDF Firefighters Local 2881 and the bill's author, Assemblyman Dave Jones (D-Sacramento) at a news conference highlighting the legislation, currently awaiting final action in the State Assembly. Sacramento City firefighter Jarrett Lee, a member of Sacramento Area Firefighters Local 522, said the measure is an important step toward preserving public safety.
"In Sacramento, we've seen the impact of development in many areas without guarantees of service to meet these needs," said Lee. "This legislation will help us better protect those homes."
"Three times since 2002, we've been in the middle of what was seen as the worst fire season in history," added CDF Firefighters board member Jim Nolan." To protect the safety of our members, we need to be sensible as we urbanize."
Jones's legislation addresses one of the central components of this year's report from the Blue Ribbon Fire Task Force. The group, in which CPF actively participates, has called for more attention to fire-safe zoning practices and holding local governments to account for land-use decisions in the WUI. His measure would require that local governing agencies issue a specific finding before approving any development that such development is fire safe. The measure would include such issues as defensible space, sufficient resources and accessible routes into and out of the area.
"We should listen to firefighters who have repeatedly pointed to the growing risk involved with building in fire-prone areas," said Jones. "My bill requires adequate fire protection before we build new subdivisions in high fire danger areas."