Monthly Report
California State Fire Marshal
November 2003

Code Development and Analysis

Regulations

The California Building Standards Commission has established four focus groups to concentrate on the NFPA code adoption process. These focus groups consist of state agencies who adopt specific sections in the Building Code. The focus groups are working with NFPA staff to insure compliance with the interests of California. In February, partner groups will be asked to review the draft documents and SFM will invite partner groups such as NORCAL, SOCAL, CALBO, and others to review and make additional recommendations.

The Building Standards Commission scheduled meeting for November 20th was postponed. A new date has not yet been established.

The Governor’s Executive Order S-2-03 could affect the adoption of the rulemaking packages for Bedridden Clients in Residential Care Facilities and Adult Day Programs, as well as other regulations packages submitted to both the CBSC and OAL. The OSFM is requesting an exemption pursuant to the Executive Order for the two regulation packages regarding Adult Day Programs and Bedridden Clients in Residential Care Facilities.

You may access the Governor’s website at the following: http://www.governor.ca.gov/state/newgov/govsite/gov_homepage.jsp

Go to Press Room and then click onto Executive Orders.

Tire Fire Curriculum and Regulations

Rodney Slaughter conducted a pilot training class at the Training Officers Symposium in Fresno on November 6th. He is working on scheduling tire fire prevention and response workshops around the state.

The SFM proposed changes to the Uniform Fire Code with respect to the outdoor storage of tires. Rodney Slaughter presented the SFM’s Uniform Fire Code proposal to the Uniform Fire Code Association Regulations Development Committee in Reno on Saturday November 15th. The committee, after minor amendments, voted to approve the proposal and will carry it forward to NFPA for their formal code adoption process.

Any questions regarding the Tire Fire Curriculum and Regulations Development program should be directed to Rodney Slaughter at (916) 445-8454, or via e-mail: mailto:Rodney.Slaughter@fire.ca.gov

Code Performance Evaluation

State Fire Marshal John Tennant sent fourteen Deputy State Fire Marshals to Southern California from November 6-13 to evaluate code performance at the recent wildfires in San Diego, San Bernardino, Riverside, Los Angeles, and Ventura Counties. Our fire marshals collected information about structure defense and damages incurred under existing and historical fire and building code conditions in order to make recommendations for improvements to the codes. Their efforts were staged out of the State Fire Marshal’s office in Monrovia.

The enactment of Assembly Bill 1216, authored by Assembly Member Juan Vargas, recently granted the State Fire Marshal the legal authority to prepare building standards specific to urban wildland areas known to be threatened by or have a history of wildfire. The SFM staff collected on-site data to determine what made certain structures vulnerable to wildfire damage. These features include, but are not limited to, construction details of roofs, walls, windows, doors, decks and patios, and also the locations of structures in relation to slopes, vegetation and adjacent structures. The information gathered from this effort is still being compiled and analyzed and will directly influence the new building standards for these areas.

Urban Wildland Interface Building Standards

As stated in the Code Performance Evaluation announcement, the information collected from the recent wildfires will be used in conjunction with input from working group stakeholders to influence the development of these new building standards. AB 1216 requires that the SFM package be proposed to the Building Standards Commission no later than January 1, 2005. In light of a recent Executive Order from Governor Schwarzenegger, all pending and proposed regulatory packages are suspended for review. This Order may affect development progress and/or the proposal timeframe of this SFM package.

California All Incident Reporting System (CAIRS)

The CAIRS data collection unit has completed processing of all backlogged NFIRS data and has distributed notices to fire departments about the quality of the data submitted, with instructions for resubmission of any data that did not pass the validation process. Current NFIRS data is being processed as it is received. The CAIRS database now includes more than one million NFIRS incident records submitted by the California fire service.

Fire Engineering

The Fire Engineering Division is diligently working on transition documents that outline the Divisions issues and priorities for the new administration.

Fireworks

Disposal of Fireworks:

We are continuing joint operations with Department of Toxic Substances Control and U.S. EPA on the disposal of fireworks in the Los Angeles County area.

BML

The BML Program would like to inform the local FPO’s that they may access copies of all of the BML listings to assist them in the plan review of fire alarm systems and equipment. The website may be accessed at: http://osfm.fire.ca.gov/bml.html

CUPA Program

Three CUPA hazardous materials program evaluations were completed in November for the following agencies:

  1. Marin County Environmental Health Department. Evaluation included meetings with officials from the City of Novato and Corte Madera Fire Departments.
  2. San Rafael Fire Department.
  3. Hayward Fire Department.

Program staff attended the Unified Program Evaluators Meeting and Northern California CUPA Forum meeting in Martinez, and reported on current activities and issues impacting the SFM and CUPA stakeholders.

Fire Extinguisher Program

Currently in renewal for 2004, Licensed Fire Extinguisher Concerns (companies), Certificate of Registration (individuals), and Automatic Extinguishing Systems companies.

Flame Retardant Program

Renewals are in process for Limited Applicators for Christmas Trees.