Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutFD 2025-025 - Resolution RESOLUTION NO. FD 2025-025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CALIFORNIA, SETTING FORTH FINDINGS THE FINDINGS THAT ALLOW THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO MAKE AMENDMENTS AND OTHER CHANGES TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE BY APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING SAID WILDLAND-URBAN INTERFACE CODE WHEREAS, the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District ('District') is a public agency located in the County of San Bernardino, State of California; and WHEREAS, The Health and Safety Code Section 17958 provides that the District shall adopt ordinances and regulations imposing the same, modified, or changed requirements as are contained in the regulations adopted by the State of California (herein after "State") pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 17922; and WHEREAS, The State is mandated by Health and Safety Code Section 17922 to impose the same requirements as are contained in the most recent edition of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code; and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.5(a) permits the District to make changes or modifications to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code which are reasonably necessary because of local geologic, topographic, or climatic conditions; and WHEREAS, Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7 requires that the Board, before making any changes or modifications to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, shall make an express finding that such changes or modifications are reasonably necessary due to local geologic, topographic, or climatic conditions; and WHEREAS, The Board has determined that local geologic, topographic, and climatic conditions do exist that make changes and modifications to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code reasonably necessary and that those conditions are: 1. Geologic a. The District has within its boundaries active seismic hazards along five known earthquake faults. Seismic activity events within the District occur throughout the year and a fire potential exists with these events. Existing structures and planned new development are at serious risk from an earthquake. This risk includes fire, collapse, and the disruption of utility services, including water main breaks and lost or diminished water supply for firefighting purposes along with the loss of natural gas and electricity services that supply power to essential systems. Areas can become isolated and/or be subject to delayed responses as a result of bridge, overpass, and road damage and debris. b. Due to its location along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains, the District is subjected to flooding, flash flooding, and rapid runoff conditions during rain episodes. Some of the major arterial streets in the District are designed to function as part of the flood control system and are at times impassable as a result of high, swift-moving running water. Other streets are often damaged and/or clogged with debris during flooding episodes creating delayed responses by emergency apparatus. Roads are often washed out or obstructed by landslides, especially in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 1 of 7 c. The District's jurisdiction includes a significant amount of designated Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area comprised of both State and Local Responsibility Areas. The native vegetation in these areas of the south aspect of the San Gabriel Mountains is capable of and has in the past produced wildfire conflagrations that threaten large numbers of homes and businesses and have in the past destroyed homes and other buildings. Wildfires threaten the continuity of electricity services since calculated flame lengths are capable of damaging above ground transmission lines that are installed across the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. Loss of electricity can affect public and private water supply systems if pumps do not have the power necessary to maintain minimum pressures in the systems. Loss of electricity can also affect the ability of essential systems to operate as designed. Evacuations cause streets to reach capacity, which slows response times. 2. Topographic a. The District is situated on the alluvial fan of the San Gabriel Mountains, an inclined plane that increases from approximately 1,200 feet in elevation on the south side of the District to approximately 3,000 feet in elevation on the north side of the District. This elevation change occurs across approximately seven miles creating several roads with steep slopes that slow fire apparatus and produce extended response times. Some slopes within the District exceed 30%. The slopes, with a south facing aspect and native vegetation consisting chaparral and various types of sage scrub, contribute to fast moving wildfires with extreme flame lengths, especially during Santa Ana wind events. b. The District contains two freeways and several main arterial streets that connect several of the foothill cities. Traffic conditions on any given day, absent geological or climatological complications, are sufficient to cause delayed responses by fire apparatus. The District also has several at-grade railroad crossings that are used daily by commuter and freight trains. Train traffic across these grades causes extended response times or the need to dispatch additional units that can respond from the opposite of the train crossing. c. The elevation change within the District and the rapid rise of the San Gabriel Mountains adjacent to the District are topographical conditions that naturally create flooding throughout the District and region. A comprehensive flood management system has been constructed but flooding, including flash flooding, still occurs during significant rainfall and snow melt conditions. Flooding can damage the electrical distribution system and leave roads heavily damaged or impassable. The flood management system in the District relies on many mid- block and intersection at-grade drainage channels that create dips in roads that require fire apparatus to slow their response in order to prevent damage to the vehicles. Other rises and troughs designed to direct and carry flood waters during rain episodes that are built into major arterial streets create elevation changes dramatic enough to produce fire apparatus damage if they are not traversed at significantly reduced speeds. Reduced speeds along these main thoroughfares create extended response times. 3. Climatic a. The District is bounded on the east and the west by canyons that channel seasonal high- pressure air masses from the desert to the ocean creating Santa Ana winds. Santa Ana winds in the District have a history of sustained velocities of 40-60 miles per hour with gusts in excess of 80 miles per hour. The winds create damage that includes downed power lines, downed utility poles, fallen trees, and blowing dust and debris. These hazards create extended response times. The wind can cause damage to the public electric utility resulting in the possibility of fire alarms, fire pumps, other fire and life safety protection equipment, and traffic signals being rendered ineffective or completely out of service. b. The summer and early fall months often see periods of high temperatures and low humidity that quickly dry out the native chaparral and other foothill vegetation as well as the historic Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 2 of 7 windrows planted when the area was a mostly agricultural area. The combination of high temperatures, low humidity, and Santa Ana winds create critical fire weather conditions capable of producing catastrophic wildland fires and wildland-urban interface conflagrations. The District has experienced a number large area wildland during the course of its existence. Such fires quickly deplete the District's resources and the resources of neighboring jurisdictions as these fire events are generally large regional events that span several cities and many miles. Critical fire weather conditions can result in a public safety power shutoff (PSPS). Actual wildfire events can result in evacuations that fill streets to capacity, which delays emergency response. c. The rapid rise of the San Gabriel Mountains has the potential to and historically has generated thunderstorm and significant rainfall events that quickly result in both localized and regional flooding, including flash flooding. Flooding has resulted in roads and bridges being washed out or otherwise made impassable. Flooding has been substantial enough to result in major debris flows that include whole trees and boulders which block entire streets and knock down poles and towers that support power lines. These conditions cause damage to utility systems and can significantly impede or delay emergency response. NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE RANCHO CUCAMONGA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT HEREBY FINDS AND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 1. The facts set forth in this Resolution are true and correct. 2. Changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are reasonably necessary in the District. 3. The reasonably necessary changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions to specific sections of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are listed along with the applicable findings in a matrix appended to this resolution, marked as Exhibit A, and incorporated by reference herein. 4. The aforementioned changes, modifications, amendments, additions, deletions, and exceptions have been incorporated in detail in Ordinance No. FD-061. 5. Copies of this Resolution and Ordinance No. FD-061 shall be filed with the California Building Standards Commission as required by Health and Safety Code Section 17958.7. Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 3 of 7 PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15'h day of October, 2025. nnis Micha , Presid nt ATTEST: Criere- vy,/ screta ry `— I, Kim Sevy, Secretary of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was duly passed, approved, and adopted by the Board of Directors of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District, at a Regular Meeting of said Board held on the 15'h day of October, 2025. AYES: Hutchison, Kennedy, Michael, Scott NOES: None ABSENT: Stickler ABSTAINED: None Executed this 16'h day of October, 2025, at Rancho Cucamonga, California. Ci evy, Secretary Cam( Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 4 of 7 RESOLUTION NO. FD 2025-025 Exhibit A Rancho Cucamonga Fire Protection District Findings of Fact Matrix for 2025 Wildland-Urban Interface Code Adoption Chapter Applicable Finding(s) Note Adds a reference to Standard for 2 Not a construction provision; finding not required Definitions, which is where any necessary or modified definitions will be listed. Adds Fire District Standards to the list of 7 la, 1b, 1c, 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c referenced standards. Some of the Fire District standards contain construction provisions as noted below. App.A lb, lc, 3a, 3b, 3c Clarifies the applicability of fire protection requirements. Section Applicable Finding(s) Note Supplies the required title of the code. Clarifies the intent of the code as it 101 Not a construction provision;finding not required applies to buildings and vegetation in Fire Hazard Severity Zones or Wildland- Urban Interface Fire Area. Includes references for Fire District 102 Not a construction provision; finding not required Standard and clarifies the intent of the code. Some provisions conflict with District 103 Not a construction provision; finding not required organizational structure; necessary provisions added to Sec. 104. Provides clarifying language and 104 Not a construction provision;finding not required provides additional powers and authorities to the Fire District. Provides clarity and provisions for non- payment. Establishes Fire District Standard for Permits for Construction 105 Not a construction provision; finding not required and Installations for required permits replacing the corresponding lists in the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. 106 Not a construction provision;finding not required pdds Fire District policies and procedures. 108 Not a construction provision;finding not required Adds Fire District policies and procedures. Adds Fire District policies and procedures and provide additional 109 Not a construction provision; finding not required powers and authorities to the Fire District. Deletes model code language for 112 Not a construction provision; finding not required appeals and establishes Fire District Standard for Appeals. Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 5 of 7 Section Applicable Finding(s) Note Deletes model code language for stop 113 Not a construction provision;finding not required work orders and establishes Fire District Standard for Unsafe Structures, Equipment, and Operations. Provides clarifying language, deletes 114 Not a construction provision;finding not required model code language, and establishes Fire District Standard for Stop Work Orders. Establishes Fire District Standard for Fire 401 la, 1 b, lc, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c Apparatus Access Roads and Fire District Standard for Fire Protection Water Supply Systems. Makes permanent certain discretionary 402 la, lb, lc, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c changes to the applicability of fire apparatus access roads and water supply systems for fire protection. Makes permanent certain discretionary 403 la, lb, lc, 2a, 3a, 3b, 3c changes to the design of fire apparatus access roads. Creates a reference to Appendix B of the California Fire Code and Standard for Fire Protection Water Supply Systems, 404 la, lc, 3a, 3b, 3c both of which provide specific detail with regard to the design, installation, and maintenance of fire protection water supplies. Clarifies the applicability of building materials, systems, or assemblies to 501 1c, 2a, 3a, 3b buildings in State Responsibility Areas, Local Responsibility Areas, or Wildland- Urban Interface Fire Areas. Clarifies the intent of the code as it 503 la, 1 b, lc, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c applies to ignition-resistant building materials in Fire Hazard Severity Zones or Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area. Provide specific provisions for ignition- 504 1 a, 1 b, 1 c, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c resistance and protection against radiant heat from a wildfire that is not included in the code. Clarifies the applicability of fire protection 601 1b, lc, 3a, 3b, 3c requirements in State Responsibility Areas, Local Responsibility Areas, or Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Areas. 602 1b, lc, 3a, 3b, 3c Incorporates existing Fire District requirements for Fire Protection Plans. Incorporates existing Fire District requirements for vegetation and defines requirements for a combustible exclusion 603 lb, 1c, 3a, 3b, 3c zone,fuel modification zone, and fuel reduction zone, site specific fuel modification and reduction, non-fire smart vegetation. Establishes Fire District Standard for 605 Not a construction provision;finding not required Open Burning and Fire District Standard for Open Flames and defines requirements and locations for each. Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 6 of 7 Section Applicable Finding(s) Note Define locations and requirements for 606 la, 1b, lc, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c liquefied petroleum gas installations to protect structures from exposures during a wildfire. Define locations and requirements for 607 la, 1b. 1c, 2a, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c combustible materials to protect structures from exposures during a wildfire. • Resolution No. FD 2025-025 - Page 7 of 7