Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 3132 Exhibit B Fire Hazard Response Plan - 080315 Ordinance 3132 Exhibit B Fire Hazard Response Plan Page 1 of 2 EXHIBIT B FIRE HAZARD RESPONSE PLAN This Fire Hazard Response Plan("Plan")is designed to guide City staff responses to the increased fire hazards caused by the ongoing drought emergency. State and City law already provide sufficient legal authority to abate fire hazard nuisances. The emergency powers authorized by the City Council enhance this legal authority by providing a funding source for abatement, and by eliminating a time-consuming administrative appeal process. 1. Lead Department. The Port Townsend Police Department shall be the lead for fire hazard enforcement. PTPD will coordinate with East Jefferson Fire and Rescue ("EJFR") and other City departments are required. 2. Identification of fire hazards. Fire hazards, including vegetation and other fuel sources, will be identified by City staff, EJFR, and citizen complaints. EJFR performed a detailed assessment related solely to vegetation(Encl. A). 3. The City will prioritize fire hazards by determining whether the hazard is immediate or non- immediate. For non-immediate fire hazards, the priorities will be: 3.1. Dense residential/Multi-family 3.2. Less-dense residential 3.3. Dense Commercial/Industrial 3.4. Less-dense Commercial/Industrial 3.5.Public Infrastructure—Utilities 3.6. Hazardous Materials locations. 4. For identified hazards,PTPD will issue a notice to correct with a very short time for corrections. If the property owner agrees, the City will enter the property,perform the work, and bill the owner. If the owner is unable to pay, the City may still do the work if the owner agrees to the City putting a lien on the property to ensure repayment. 5. If administrative abatement is not successful, the City will file a lawsuit in Superior Court to obtain an order of abatement, and to recover the City's costs. Ordinance 3132 Exhibit B Fire Hazard Response Plan Page 2 of 2 ENCLOSURE A ASSESSMENT PERFORMED BY EAST JEFFERSON FIRE AND RESCUE Assessment: CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND This assessment consisted of five elements: A. Vegetative Fuels and Other Sources—Ladder fuels such as grass or hay grass, taller vegetation and eventually trees. Short green grass found in fields or on the side of the road during the earlier or wet times of the year can be a source of fuel for fire if exposed to an ignition source and heat for a period of time. Taller dried or dead hay grass such is found in fields or on the side of roads during the warm time of year, if exposed to an ignition source to include heat would be much more easily ignitable and would provide greater fuel. Once ignited fire would travel upward to large fuels and eventually travel to trees. B. Topography—Once a wild land type fire within an urban Interface area much like the City of Port Townsend is started it will begin to burn upward, utilizing ladder fuels such as grass, then leading into taller brush, then into the trees and eventually traveling up hill. C. Fire History—Port Townsend has a history of vegetative or field grass fires during the summer months. D. Fire Weather- The probability of a fire starting is largely dependent on an ignition source, fuel conditions, and the weather. Currently all of Washington State is under a burn ban. Lack of precipitation for the year has caused the State Governor to declare a state wide drought. The unusually warm temperatures have also caused the ground fuels to become unseasonably dry. Wind(breeze) normally associated with this area of Port Townsend would fan a fire aiding in rapid fire growth and spread. E. Potential Fire—There are several conditions in which the standing dry vegetation e.g ladder fuels could be ignited. First is of natural occurrence e.g., lighting. Second discarded lit material e.g. cigarette or fireworks. Third vehicle or mechanical defect or fault e.g. vehicles traveling on City streets, and Fifth arson. Conclusion: This assessment indicates the need for emergent mitigation to reduce the potential for rapid fire spread within the City limits of Port Townsend. Fires if not controlled, can endanger human life and cause serious damage to property, natural resources, and the environment. Fire damage can be prevented or minimized if mitigation efforts are made. With that said the City should take safeguards to prevent the occurrence of a fire and take action that moderates the severity of a fire hazard or risk, specifically the reduction of fuel directed at reducing the potential incident and severity of a fire. Acceptable methods of ladder fuel reduction from within the City limits of Port Townsend to include easements include, but are not limited to, mowing, weed-eating, edging, hand removal and removal of all cut vegetative material.