WUI Committee Meeting

Palo Alto – June 24, 2005

Members present – Tonya L. Hoover, Co-Chair

DeAnna Fister, Contra Costa County Fire District

George Laing, Contra Costa County Fire District

Roger Sprehn, Corte Madera Fire District

Julie Davis, Central County Fire District

Mike Mentink, San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District

Judy Saunders, Santa Clara County Fire District

Discussed Items:

Update on the Phase II to be submitted to BSC for Sept meeting – As everyone is aware, Phase I was passed by the Building Standards Commission. Phase II will move forward for presentation to Building Standards at the September meeting without reference to decks. The Fire Service will support the Phase II package but will voice a concern about decks and commit to working with all stakeholders to address the "deck" issue and bring it to the Commission in the near future.

Update on SB1084 – SB 1084 was to have language in it to address the State Fire Marshal’s ability to certify private (non fire service) persons as Fire Safe Inspectors using the curriculum developed by fire prevention officers and other interested parties. At the current time this language has been removed because of controversy from a number of political entities such as the Regional Coalition of Rural Counties, County Supervisors Association of California, League of Cities and even a fire service interest. The committee will be working very closely with California Fire Chiefs and all interested parties to clear any misunderstanding concerning the intent of the legislation and provide an educated and consistent enforcement of fire safe regulations and standards to serve the citizens of California and make an impact at reducing the threat of wildfire to those citizens. The committee will be producing a FAQ sheet concerning this legislation language for the FPO website and for the Cal Chief’s website.

Resolution to Cal Chiefs on the Fire Safe Inspector series – The committee has completed the work on a resolution to be submitted to the California Fire Chiefs Association for a commitment to support the Fire Safe Inspector curriculum. It is the committee’s hope that this resolution will pass at the Cal Chief’s annual meeting in September. The committee co-chairs will be at this effect to foster the resolution’s passing. Special thanks to Chief Doug Williams, Chief Joe Perry and Fire Marshal Forrest Craig for all of their assistance and commitment to this project!

Open Discussions – Members of the committee shared information concerning this season’s involvement in enforcement activities of defensible space. General conversation included applications and resources available. For more information, contact any member of the committee.

Co-Chair Hoover updated the FPO Board of Directors on activities of the committee including the resolution to be submitted to Cal Chiefs, Phase II building standards to be submitted to the Building Standards Commission and a request for Cal Chief’s support in efforts to re-introduce language that supports the Fire Safe Inspector Certification into SB 1084.

Committee meeting adjourned at 1200 for lunch. 

Respectfully submitted,

Tonya L. Hoover

Co-Chair, WUI Committee