Wildfire

 

Overview

Throughout the West, and in much of the rest of the country, fire is often a natural, integral part of the landscape. However, fires in the wildland/urban interface (WUI) are becoming more common, influenced by prolonged periods of drought, climate change, and decades focusing primarily on fire supression. When homes are built in the WUI, a minor fire in a historic undeveloped landscape can now have dire consequences.

There are a number of ways to manage fire risk and improve emergency response in fire-prone areas including building design and materials, landscape design and maintenance, communications, firefighting infrastructure (roads, equipment, water supply), and accessibility all affect this risk.

Existing City Policies

The current General Plan contains a number of policies and programs addressing the safety of residents and businesses in the case of a wildfire event. Scroll down for more information on the specific Goals, Policies, and Programs within the current General Plan.


Wildland Urban Interface & Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone

The Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) is the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It is the line, area or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. All of Lafayette is within the WUI, which calls for several requirements to mitigate fire risk.
Communities adjacent to and surrounded by wildland are at varying degrees of risk from wildfires categorized by severity. Portions of Lafayette have been identified as being in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ) by the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District and CalFire. The map to the right shows the very high fire hazard severity zones as adopted by the City Council’s Ordinance 620. This designation places additional requirements on development in these areas.


Building Codes

Buildings and residences in these high fire risk areas are subject to Fire Area Building Standards that establish minimum standards for building materials and construction techniques. The use of ignition resistant materials and design to resist the intrusion of flame or embers have been proven to mitigate losses from wildfires.

Firewise Landscaping & Defensible Space

Defensible space, coupled with appropriate building materials, is essential to improve your home’s chance of surviving a wildfire. Defensible space is the buffer you create between a building on your property and the grass, trees, shrubs, or other fuels in close proximity to it. This space is needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire from embers, direct flame contact or radiant heat. Defensible space does not mean clear cutting of all vegetation, rather it is important to remove rungs in the ‘fire ladder’ which escalates from grasses, to shrubs, to tree limbs to structures.  Visit www.readyforwildfire.org for more information.


Local Agencies Working on Wildfire Preparedness

Lafayette City Council: On May 17, 2021, the City Council held a special meeting on the topic of wildfire preparedness and emergency response. Presentations were made by Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission, Lamorinda CERT, PG&E, and Lafayette Police Department. These agencies described their respective roles within emergency preparedness and response, coordination amongst the agencies.  Agencies provided updates on preparations for the 2021 Fire Season and PG&E Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS). A recording of the session is available on the City’s Youtube Channel.

Diablo Firesafe Council: Diablo Fire Safe Council (DFSC) works in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties to bring together people, agencies, and the means to substantially reduce the impact of wildland fire on our communities. DFSC collaborates with stakeholders to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) that identifies wildland fire hazards, prioritizes ways to reduce those hazards, and recommends measures for homeowners and communities to reduce ignitability of structures. DFSC also provides community defensible space fuel reduction activities. For more information or to get involved, visit www.diablofiresafe.org. 

Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission: The Emergency Preparedness Commission coordinates preparation and planning efforts to mitigate the effects of natural and man-made disasters.  The main focus of the Commission is to prepare the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and maintain a current Wildland Fire Evacuation Plan and Lamorinda Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness and Evacuation. Visit the Emergency Preparedness page on LoveLafayette.org for more information on the Commission and evacuation drills.

Be Prepared! Community Warning System & Nixle

The Lafayette Police Department provides a number of ways to receive real-time information:

  • Community Warning System (CWS): It is important for Lafayette residents to sign up for the Contra Costa County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services Community Warning System (CWS). Registering with CWS ensures that you will receive notification if an evacuation is ordered. Visit www.cococws.us/registration to register for CWS. 

  • Nixle: Nixle is another way to receive updates on weather events, road closures, and local events on your phone. Text “94549” to 888777 to opt in.

  • AM 1670 Emergency Radio Station: The City of Lafayette operates a FCC-licensed community information and emergency radio station that transmits 24/7 throughout the area at 1670 kHz in the AM broadcast band. The station is designed to provide City of Lafayette news and information that citizens can listen to at any time. During emergencies, such as power outages, wildfires, and other disasters, the radio station will broadcast important information such as evacuation instructions.

Existing General Plan Policies

Safety Element

Goal S-4.1 Adequate Fire Protection: Enforce regulations and standards which contribute to adequate fire protection.

  • Program S-4.1.1: Improve access and response time of emergency response vehicles.

  • Program S-4.1.2: Ensure that new traffic signals include an EMTRC system which allows emergency vehicles to change the signal. 

  • Program S-4.1.3: Encourage the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District including paramedic services to improve its response time for Lafayette, particularly in the urban wild land fire interface zones. The location of fire stations should strive for a five-minute response time. (Reso. 2009-021, 2009)

  • Program S-4.1.4 Restrict parking on narrow roads to allow access by emergency vehicles and to facilitate evacuation. 

  • Program S-4.1.5: Require development that includes private access roads or fire roads to provide access rights and keys to all gates to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. 

  • Program S-4.1.6: Work with East Bay Municipal Utility District and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to ensure that there exists sufficient water flow in fire hydrants throughout Lafayette.

  • The current standard adopted by the City is a minimum of 1,000 gallons per minute with 20 pounds per square inch residual pressure for residential areas. The commercial areas shall conform to the fire flow requirements as set forth by the California Fire Code.

Goal S-4.2 Reducing Fire Risk From Development: Take measures to reduce fire risks from new and existing development as well as natural fire hazards.

  • Program S-4.2.1: Work with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to evaluate development proposals, enforce the fire code, and improve fire prevention measures and protection services.

  • Program S-4.2.2: Implement the City’s land use regulations for building materials with emphasis on fire-retardant roofs and exterior vegetation control.

  • Program S-4.2.3: Encourage the East Bay Regional Parks District and the East Bay Municipal Utilities District to undertake vegetation management programs to reduce fire hazards on their properties. 

  • Program S-4.2.4: Adopt and utilize the Fire Hazard Severity Scale for the classification of fire hazards in wild land areas.

  • Program S-4.2.5: Permit new development only where there is adequate fire flow and adequate emergency vehicular access. 

  • Program S-4.2.6: Establish buffer areas for buildings in high fire risk areas.  Buffers can include site planning techniques, vegetation management plans and defensible space.

  • Defensible space refers to a buffer area around buildings which is cleared of highly combustible vegetation and which is readily accessible by fire fighting equipment. 

  • Program S-4.2.7: Enforce the Fire Safety Ordinance requiring sprinkler systems for new residential development more than 1.5 miles from a fire station, beyond the 3-minute response time, and other applicable triggers. (Reso. 2009-021, 2009) 

  • Program S-4.2.8: Require development proposals on sites beyond the five-minute response time area or where insufficient fire flow exists to implement fire risk reduction measures recommended by the City and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. 

  • Program S-4.2.9: For structures within or adjacent to hazardous areas, require a greater degree of fire resistance in roof coverings and exterior building materials than what is specified in the UFC, as determined by the Chief Building Official and upon making of findings specified in Health and Safety Code §13143.4. 

Goal S-4.3 Development and Mitigation Fees: Maintain development and mitigation fees at a level to adequately finance fire protection costs. 

  • Program S-4.3.1: Periodically assess fees for fire protection to ensure that existing and new development pay its fair share of the cost of fire protection facilities, personnel and maintenance. 

Goal S-4.5 Vegetation Management Plan: Require development in a high fire risk area to have an approved vegetation management plan that includes native, drought-tolerant, and fire resistant species.  

  • Program S-4.5.1: All new development within mapped high fire hazard zones established by the Contra Costa County Fire District shall be required to develop and implement a Vegetation Management Plan.  The Plan shall be part of the development application and approved by the Contra Costa County Fire District and the City.  The Plan shall be developed by an arborist or vegetation management specialist.  The City shall ensure that the actions recommended in the Plan are implemented in the future and should amend the Municipal Code to allow the City the right to conduct actions recommended in the Plan at the property owner’s expense, if those actions are not performed in a timely fashion by the property owner.  The Contra Costa County Fire District shall have the right to review properties to judge whether actions recommended in the Vegetation Management Plan are being properly implemented in a timely fashion.  

  • Program S-4.5.2: Establish a high fire risk overlay zoning district in high fire risk areas where a Vegetation Management Plan is required.  

Goal S-8.1 Emergency Operations Plan: Periodically review the Emergency Operations Plan to assure that it meets current needs in the event of a major disaster. 

  • Program S-8.1.1: Conduct regular training programs for personnel involved in implementing the Emergency Operations Plan. 

  • Program S-8.1.2: Revise, as appropriate, the City's Emergency Operations Plan. Revise the plan to conform to the California Emergency Management System (SEMS). 

  • Program S-8.1.3: Maintain designated emergency evacuation routes in a passable condition at all times, as feasible.

Land Use Element

Goal LU-20.4 Fire: Review all development projects for their impacts on standards for fire service specified in the General Plan: fire stations three miles apart in urban areas, six miles apart in rural areas, with a five-minute response time. Require fair share payments and/or mitigation measures to ensure that these standards or their equivalent are maintained. 

Program LU-20.4.1: Work with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District to improve fire prevention and protection services. 

Program LU-20.4.2: Encourage the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, including paramedic services, to improve its response time for Lafayette, particularly in the urban/wildland fire interface zones.

Program LU-20.4.3: Consider alternatives and efficiency measures to the public safety delivery system so that response times meet service level standards.