Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)

Wild fires have always been a concern in wildland urban interface areas. The Fire Prevention and Life Safety team is responsible for ensuring the maintenance of vegetation and defensible space within these areas. We currently conduct spot inspections and enforcement in the wildland urban interface areas and oversee vegetation management programs at the beginning of every fire season.

Wildland Risk Assessment

Click on the link below and enter your address to find your wildfire risk zone.

• LRA Fire Hazard Severity Zone Maps | OSFM

Code Complaints

Reporting Fire Hazards

If a fire hazard poses an immediate danger to life or property, call 911. Do not use the complaint process to report an emergency.

Fire Prevention & Life Safety investigates complaints of potential fire hazards. Complaints may be submitted for any property type using the Report a Fire Hazard form. Reported conditions may include blocked or locked exits, obstructed fire lanes or fire hydrants, accumulated combustible storage, overgrown vegetation, improper storage of flammable liquids or propane, and damaged or disabled fire protection systems.

Multi-family residential buildings with three or more units also receive an annual fire and life safety inspection. These inspections cover common areas and building systems.

Our authority to inspect the interior of a private residence is limited. This includes single-family homes, duplexes, and individual units within a multi-family building. Entry requires the permission of the occupant or other legal authority.

Complaints about property maintenance, blight, or inoperable vehicles are handled by city code enforcement rather than the Fire Department.

Fire Investigations

Our primary role as Fire Investigators is to determine origin and cause for all types of fires (kitchen, garage, barbeque, vegetation and arson fires). We are certified by the California State Fire Marshal as Investigators. We work closely with the Building Departments, PG&E, American Red Cross and a myriad of other agencies. After the fire we write a comprehensive Fire Investigation Report and potentially testify in court.

Inspections

The Fire Prevention and Life Safety team performs a myriad of different types of inspections. This includes but is not limited to; state mandated inspections, construction inspections, commercial business inspections (CIP), multi-residential exterior inspections (MRIP), new business inspections, ERRC and building fire inspections.

Plan Review & Code Consultation

Before any construction takes place, plans are submitted for review, the team completes Fire Life Safety Plan Reviews, which include but are not limited to; automatic fire sprinklers, fire alarm systems, hood and duct systems, ERRC and building plan reviews. We work closely with our building departments to ensure optimum public safety and satisfaction.