1. Building and Living in California’s Wildland Urban Interface Presented by CAL FIRE California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection State Fire Marshal

2. Year after year, California homes and communities are threatened and destroyed by wildfire

3. California has one of the most severe wildland fire problems in the world. Population (over 5 million in fire hazard areas) Population (over 5 million in fire hazard areas) Vegetation Vegetation Topography Topography Climate Climate

4. Fires have burned in California throughout its history. It is a part of nature.

5. Homes are burned, lives lost, businesses ruined.

6. Fire Siege 2003 Conflagration Fires Most high fire losses are during hot, windy days or nights when flames spread rapidly. Winds blow embers sometimes miles from the main fire. There are not enough firefighters to protect all the Structures threatened, and resources become overwhelmed.

7. Can we afford the millions of dollars spent every year to protect homes and property from wildfires?

8. Is there a way to prevent the devastation and prepare for the inevitable?

9. Who is in the fire prone areas of California?

10. This map is a draft and can be expected to change before the maps are completed. State Responsibility Area (SRA) Maps: Released to CAL FIRE Released to CAL FIRE units May 2007 units May 2007 County public hearing County public hearing process process Moderate, high, and very Moderate, high, and very high zones high zones Final maps completed by Final maps completed by January 2008 January 2008

11. Fire Hazard Severity Zones SRA FHSZ Draft County Map Moderate Zones High Zones Very High Zones

12. Local Responsibility Area (LRA)Maps Sent to local agencies having jurisdiction Sent to local agencies having jurisdiction after SRA Maps are approved after SRA Maps are approved Only Very High FHSZ will be mapped Only Very High FHSZ will be mapped Local Government Hearings Local Government Hearings Final Maps approximately January 2009 Final Maps approximately January 2009

13. Example of how a local Fire Hazard Severity Map may be used with a parcel layer. This helps Building and Fire Officials determine what provisions would apply to a builder.

14.  Direct flame impingement from nearby vegetation, debris, or other combustible materials  Radiant heat from dense vegetation, adjacent to structure/decks. Cause combustibles to heat up, then structure/decks. Cause combustibles to heat up, then ignite. ignite.  Airborne burning embers enter a structure through small openings or lodge/collect in areas where the embers smolder and are fanned by winds, then combustible material ignites, sometimes hours after the fire has passed. Why Buildings Burn in the Wildland Urban Interface

15. From: Landscape and Building Design for Bushfire Areas. Ramsay & Rudolph, CSIRO Building exposed to the main flame front of a wildfire for a relatively short period of time – 5 to 10 minutes. (Direct Flame Impingement) Wildfire Threats To Buildings Building will be exposed to pre- and post- fire flying embers much longer, especially during wind driven fires. (Airborne Burning Embers) If one building starts to burn, it becomes a threat to others. (Radiant Heat)

16. Applies to:  New Construction in all of the SRA  New Construction in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones in Local Jurisdiction ( Buildings in Federal Lands: Check with Local Jurisdiction) New Wildland Urban Interface Building Code Standards Chapter 7A California Building Code

17. Window Testing Wall Testing Ignition Resistive Materials Testing

18. Building Standards Focus on Eliminating Ember Ignitions Phase I Now in Effect Roofs Class A for all VHFHSZ, Class B for HFHSZ and Class C for MFHSZ in SRA) Roof Gutters Provided with the means to prevent the accumulation of debris Vents “Resistant to intrusion of flame and embers” or non- combustible ¼” (6 mm) mesh screen maximum

19. Roof and Roof Assemblies Absence of sustained flaming or glowing combustion of any kind at the conclusion of the 90-min observation period.

20. From This…. To This…. Changes in Roofs and Roof Assemblies

21. From This…. To This…. Changes in Roof Gutters

22. Phase II effective January 1, 2008 Ignition Resistant Construction: Exterior siding Exterior siding Exterior wall vents Exterior wall vents Exterior doors Exterior doors Decking surfaces Decking surfaces Floor projections Floor projections Windows Windows Building Standards Focus on Eliminating Ember Ignitions

23. Exterior Wall Absence of flame penetration through the wall assembly at any time. Absence of evidence of glowing combustion on the interior surface of the assembly at the end of the 70-min test.

24. Windows Absence of flame penetration of windows during the test. Absence of structural failure of the Frame or glazing, or gaps or fissures greater than 0.25 x 6 in. (6 x 150 mm). Absence of flaming or glowing combustion of the framing at the conclusion of the 40-min test.

25. Eaves Absence of flame penetration of the eaves at any time. Absence of structural failure of the eaves subassembly at any time. Absence of sustained combustion of any kind at the conclusion of the 40-min test.

26. Decks Peak heat release rate of less than or equal to 25 kW/ft2 (2.3 kW/m2). Absence of sustained flaming or glowing combustion of any kind at the conclusion of the 40-min observation period. Absence of structural failure of any deck board.

27. Building Standards AND Defensible Space

28. Public Resources Code (PRC) 4290 and 4291 Defensible Space Remove dead vegetation 30 feet around the building. Remove dead vegetation 30 feet around the building. Modify brush, flammable vegetation, or combustible Modify brush, flammable vegetation, or combustible growth within 100 feet around the building by thinning growth within 100 feet around the building by thinning and trimming to minimize a continuous “fuel” path to and trimming to minimize a continuous “fuel” path to the structure. the structure.

29. Road standards for fire equipment access.Road standards for fire equipment access. Standards for signs identifying streets, roads,Standards for signs identifying streets, roads, and buildings. and buildings. Minimum private water supply reserves for emergencyMinimum private water supply reserves for emergency fire use. fire use. Fuel breaks and greenbelts.Fuel breaks and greenbelts. Remove portion of any tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe.Remove portion of any tree that extends within 10 feet of the outlet of a chimney or stovepipe. Public Resources Code (PRC) 4291

30. Help firefighters protect homes… 100 foot defensible space Wildland Urban Interface Building Standards

31. It can and will happen again….

32. Thank you to all the stakeholders who collaborated to write the new codes: Dept. of Housing &Community Development California Building Industry Association Cal-Chiefs NorCal Fire Prevention Officers SoCal Fire Prevention Officers League of California Cities California Building Officials Association UC Berkeley UC Cooperative Extension Regional Council of Rural Counties Personal Insurance Federation Western Fire Center C.C. Lewis and Associates

33. Additional Information http://www.fire.ca.gov/wildland.php http://firecenter.berkeley.edu/toolkit http://www.firewise.org http://www.firesafecouncil.org

34. Questions?