CA Board of Forestry & Fire Protection (BOF) to update Minimal Fire Safety Regulations that will affect hillside residents—still time to chime in before it’s too late!
The California Legislature has directed the state’s Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (“BOF”) to expand and strengthen the 1991 regulations. These regulations, known as “State Responsibility Area (SRA) Fire Safe Regulations," established minimum wildfire protection standards in building, construction, and new development to ensure basic emergency access and perimeter wildfire protection measures.
A new draft was released on December 22, 2020. This draft was prepared after extensive consultation with fire chiefs across the state who recommended added safety protections for civilians, firefighters and structures.
There is concern that leading up to the finalization of new regulations may be an opportunity for lobbyists and special interest groups, to hijack the process by changing wording and introducing loopholes that will undermine the very protections the new regulations is trying to establish.
Building industry and building trades may be putting pressure on the BOF to adopt a number of exemptions which would weaken, severly limit, or simply eliminate important safety aspects by allowing new or expanded residential, commercial and industrial developments on hazardous substandard, narrow roads, thus exacerbating existing hazardous conditions, creating evacuation nightmares, and jeopardizing the safety of civilians and firefighters.
Here are materials regarding the proposed February 8th changes to the Fire Safe Regulations:
February 24 Workshop Notice on the February 8th DRAFT of the State’s Minimum Fire Safe Regulations.
DRAFT of Title 14 of the CA Code of Regulations “State Minimum Fire Safe Regulations, 2021”
BOF memo and attachments to BOF Board
Fire Safe Regluations Powerpoint Presentation to the Hillside Federation of 2/16/21.
Weekly Fire Safe Regulations Update
At the Box link are all letters regarding the Fire Safe Regulations received as of 3pm today.
As a reminder, we are hosting a workshop on the Fire Safe Regulations February 8 draft at 8:30am on Wednesday, February 24th. You can register for it via GoToWebinar.
Workshop materials are online at the Board's website, under the “Regulatory Workshops” header and the “February 24, 2021 Workshop” drop-down.
Thank you.
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Please contact Edith Hannigan, Land Use Planning Program Manager, with any questions.
edith.hannigan@bof.ca.gov
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