July
2008 | by Dismas
Abelman
 The
City of Del
Mar has taken
a multi-faceted
approach to
fire prevention
in the community.
Inspections,
education and
fire-code updates
have been the
focus of the
City's efforts
to protect the
community from
fire. In past
articles I have
described the
conditions that
lead to large-scale
fires in the
San Diego region
and how we can
minimize our
exposure to
these conditions.
Vegetation
management and
construction
standards can
maximize the
chances of people
and structures
surviving wildland
fires. The City
will continue
to pursue a
proactive approach
to fire safety,
which includes
inspections,
education and
progressive
fire codes.
The
fire-safety
approach targeted
on multiple
fronts is the
most effective
way to protect
the community.
Of all the factors
that affect
fire safety
in the Wildland
Urban Interface
(WUI), the single
most important
factor is vegetation
management.
In 2004 the
City of Del
Mar adopted
the WUI code
to address the
issue of vegetation
management and
building construction
in Del Mar's
WUI. The City
also received
a grant to assist
with the reduction
the amount of
fuel in and
around Crest
Canyon in 2006.
Recently, the
State of California
has adopted
the WUI Code
and effective
July 1, the
City is responsible
for enforcing
the new code.
The
biggest change
in the new WUI
code is a much
larger WUI in
Del Mar as defined
by the State.
Once the State
has adopted
a code, the
City of Del
Mar has the
option of making
the code more
restrictive,
but the City
does not have
the option of
making the code
less restrictive
or choosing
not to enforce
the code. The
result is that
Fire Department
personnel will
inspect all
properties located
in the WUI for
violations to
the WUI Code.
Fire Department
personnel will
inspect homes
for vent protection,
spark arresters
on chimneys
and vegetation
management.
The intention
is to assist
homeowners with
voluntary compliance
to make the
City safer;
however, all
homeowners in
the WUI have
a responsibility
to meet the
WUI code.
The
Del Mar Fire
Department will
be pleased to
come to your
home and help
you determine
actions you
can take to
make it more
fire safe. Please
call the Fire
Department at
755-1522 if
you have any
questions or
would like to
schedule an
appointment.
Dismas
Abelman is Deputy
Fire Chief/Fire
Marshal, Del
Mar and Solana
Beach Fire Departments.
© 2007-08
Del Mar
Community
Alliance,
Inc. All
rights reserved. |
