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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/15/1985TOM OF LOS ALTOS HILLS 26379 Fre ont Road Ins Altos Hills, California MR9UTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING Tuesday, October 15, 1985 co: Reel 171, Tr. I, Side II, 500 -ed, Tr. II, Side I, 001-016 Mayor Dronkert called the Special Meeting of the City Council to order at 9:05 P.M. in the Council Chanbers at Town Hall. A. IYtt.T. CALL AND PU= OF ALLEGIANCE: Present: Mayor Dronkert and Councilmambers Allison, Fuhrman, Rydell and vanTamelen Absent: None Staff: City Manager George Scarborough, City Engineer Michael Enright, City Planner Nancy Lytle and City Clerk Pat Dowd Press: Andrea Behr, San Jose Mercury, Mike McDevitt, Los Altos Town Crier B. STUDY SESSION ON FINAL REPORT OF THE JULY 1ST FIRE TASK FORCE of the Committee tar Firesate Rooting, cm mented that there were two areas Ot concern relative to fire retardant roofing: cost and materials, both of which could be addressed in a positive manner. Mr. Burns further noted that until consumer preterence changed, developers would continue to use wood shake roofs. Mr. Burns stated he was available to speak with homeowner groups on the subject and, in concurrence with Councilman Allison's suggestion, stated he would put together a packet of informational materials for use by the 'Town. MOTION SECONDED AMID CAMUM: Moved by Allison, seconded by van Tamelen and passed imanvrously to include a copy of the brochure 'Could this happen to you', prepared by the Cammittee for Firesafe Roofing, with the new Site Development Packets. Council then discussed the Final Report of the July let Fire Task Force with particular attention to the remrtmendations listed in said report. (Due to the length and detail of this report which is dated 8/29/85, a copy is attached to the original copy of the minates of the 10/15/85 meeting, extra copies are on file in the Clerk's Office and copies are available to the public.) Barbara Tryon, Member,July 1st Task Fbrce, suggested, and Council concurred, that co excerpt n Sunset Magazines s article entitled "Protecting Your Home Against Brushfire", which had been included in the Town Newsletter, be a part of the Site Development Packet. Stu Farwell, Ins Altos Fire D�ar�nent, suggested newspaper articles in the pal o the year regarding €irep a. safety. CITY COUNCIL MMlPPES - October 15, 1985 B. STUDY SESSION ON FINAL REPORT OF THE JULY 1st FIRE TASK FORCE: (continued): �. Marc Kaufman, Ca nissioner - Los Altos Fire Protection District, suggested the procedure whereby the Fire Department advise a Town of roads that required weed abatement. The Town would then advise the owners to weed abate or the work would be done by the 'Town and the owners billed. In his opinion this was a more workable procedure than the present one in that it was very difficult for the Fire Department to know who the property owners were who should be notifed. (In line with this the Mayor strongly recamenxded that an administrative charge be assessed when the work was done by the Town.) Mr. Youfman also noted that the Ins Altos Fire Protection District had voted that it was their duty to engage in fire prevention education for the entire district. In view of this decision, he reconmended that a page be inserted in the Town's spring newsletter on the subject of fire prevention; the amount of information to be included would be coordinated with the newsletter's editor. Regarding the weed abatement program, it was agreed that the map showing the pre -emergent spraying schedule for the Town's streets would be displayed in the Council Office. Council discussed the possibility of extending the hours of the scheduled fall clean-up day on November 9, 1985. It was agreed the Manager would discuss this with Los Altos Garbage Company and if it was possible the change in hours would be publicized in the Tuan Crier. Council supported the rearmrendations presented in the Final Report with the addition of Item 2)(j) on page eight as follows: 'To coordinate fire prevention efforts between Ins Altos Hills, Ios Altos, Cupertino, Santa Clara County, Palo Alto, Stanford and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District'. (This reaavendation had been added by Council at their 9/4/85 Council meeting.) MDTION SBMNDED AND CARRIED: P4oved by Rydell, seconded by van Tamelen and passed unanincusly by all members present (Allison had left the meeting at 5:30 p.m. due to a prior commitment.) to direct the Mayor to set up an exploratory meeting with the agencies involved to review the issue of fire prevention planning. Dr. William Perkins, 26623 Snell Lane, was delighted that the Council had specifically discusseTUFe issue 3T -fire hazards in the Town. This was the first time such a meeting had taken place and, in his opinion, the matter should be discussed on an annual basis. C. AATOURZENT: There being no further new or old business to discuss, the City Council adjourned at 5:55 p.m. 6 6'A Respectfully submitted, Patricia Dowd, City Clerk �r TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: July 1st Fire Task Force DATE: August 29, 1985 SUBJECT: Final Report After six weeks of meetings, site visits, source investigations, interviews and discussions, our Task Force has compiled a great deal of information relating to the July 1st fire. The substance of our final report is comprised of general findings and specific recommendations reached by study of this information, and agreed upon by all members. The Task Force feels the recommended actions are necessary to the future safety of residents of the Town and should be undertaken as soon as practicable. The July 1st Task Force appreciates the City Council's confidence, and stands ` ready to answer any questions on its methods or conclusions. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Tr on, Chairman - Safety Committee Ed Barn/esss, Chairman - Community Relations Committee Jean Struthers, Member Me—mbb-er - Planning Commission MaryStutz, Membc4" - Environmental Design Committee; Chairman - Pathway Committee Carl Sorenson, Representative - Fire Area Residents pq 4W REPORT OF THE JULY 1ST FIRE TASK FORCE On the 1st of July, 1985, with temperatures over 1000 and high winds, an arsonist set several fires in dry grasses near the border of Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills. Quickly burning out of control under extreme conditions, the fire ultimately burned 150 acres and destroyed residences, other buildings and vehicles worth approximately $9,000,000. From the first call to local fire departments at 3:14 p.m. until the fire was declared under control at 7:56 p.m., approximately 60 emergency units and 200 firefighters from 21 agencies were called to assist under the Fire Mutual Aid Plan in which the Los Altos and Palo Alto Fire Departments participate. Because of the on -scene capability of City of Palo Alto forces, itwas decided early in the fire suppression effort that Palo Alto would assume incident command. Officers of the Palo Alto Police Department handled traffic control and evacuation. No human lives were lost, although there were numerous injuries to responding personnel. Because of the heat, the size of the area affected, the speed of the fire's spread both on the ground and through the air, the terrain, the changing wind and other factors, this fire was a particularly dangerous and difficult fire to. control. Fire retardant drops from fixed wing aircraft and backfires had to be utilized to slow the progress of the fire, and because of the constant movement of the fire by wind -driven burning brands of trees and roofs, fire equipment and manpower setups were difficult to coordinate. The Palo Alto Fire Department had never before requested assistance to the extent required by the July lst fire, and the experience was a sobering one for all concerned. The fire broke through fire lines and presented extremely complex challenges for professional firefighters. Nine Los Altos Hills families lost their homes and most of their possessions in a matter of hours, and have, in the aftermath of the fire, posed serious questions regarding both the possible prevention of the fire and the handling of the suppression effort by those agencies involved. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills on July 17, 1985 appointed this Task Force to study the issues involved in the fire and to report their findings and recommendations. The following report will attempt to answer the questions that have been raised and present recommendations for the future. L 4W 4 4W FINDINGS Background: The area of Los Altos Hills most heavily damaged by the July 1st fire bordered on City of Palo Alto lands along Arastradero Road which were acknowledged by the City of Palo Alto in its 1982 Foothills Fire Management Plan to comprise a hazardous fire area. At that time, it was considered important to prevent potentially disastrous fires in the area by an active and ongoing program of creating firebreaks by clearing brush, removing debris and cutting back low - hanging tree limbs. The implementation of their five-year plan for reducing fire danger in the foothills area had begun, and aggressive efforts had been taking place for nearly three years with brush clearing, controlled maintenance burn cycles, public education and increased fire -season patrols. The plan, which had not yet been completed, called for making Arastradero Road an effective fuel break. Private property in that portion of the Town of Los Altos Hills bordering the area where the fire started was not uniformly cleared of dangerous dry grasses, brush or hazardous trees. Many homes did not comply with standard fire safety measures, and most homes had combustible roofs which burned easily and, along with tall trees, spread the fire quickly in the air, possibly causing the destruction of other homes which might have been saved with fire retardant roofs. Along with many other areas of the Town, general conditions in this neighborhood were not geared toward optimum fire safety. The City of PaloAltohas adopted a Uniform Fire Code which requires fire retardant roof coverings and interior fire sprinkler systems on new homes in the foothills, which helps address the fire danger existing in this area. The City Council of the Town of Los Altos Hills adopted a fire retardant roof ordinance, but the ordinance was overturned by ballot initiative in 1984. Although the Town of Los Altos Hills states in its Handbook for Residents that "reducing fire danger is an integral part of the planning and development process", and even though the Town had attempted to reduce fire hazards through the fire retardant roof ordinance, it appeared that no other special efforts were being made to protect foothills homes from potentially serious fires. There had been no active or planned program of clearing roadsides or easements of hazardous materials; no fire -safe plantings or "greenbelts" (irrigated areas cleared of combustible plants) had been recommended by Town officials either in site development or through mailings; and no recent fire prevention education programs had been conducted. The Town's policy holds that "open spaces are part of the foothills' character", and natural .vegetation has been encouraged in order to maintain a "rural" environment in this one -acre residential community. When dry grasses, hilly terrain, debris, tall trees, wood shake roofs on hillside homes, open spaces, lack of ongoing fire -prevention activities and hot, dry weather conditions are attacked by an arsonist, catastrophe can be the result. - 2 - tw Response: The negative factors did not end with the starting of the fire - difficulties began then which caused the fire to be more destructive than might have been the case had there not been any further complications. The fire was apparently started in a number of locations, so when responders reached the area to which they had been called and began setting up their equipment and personnel, other areas were breaking out in flames at the same time, some of which were spread by the wind faster than others. Water pressure in the residential areas became almost non-existent when homeowners in certain areas attempted to get water to their dwellings. Because the gravity water system in this neighborhood served both upper and lower addresses, water pressure could not be maintained at the highest levels during the actual fighting of the fire. Even the most sophisticated pressure systems available might not adequately prevent this problem in such an emergency situation., with hundreds of professional firefighters drawing water from hydrants and residents utilizing water for hosing down roofs and vegetation. Even though there were swimming pools which could have been utilized as sources of water to protect homes, the fire moved so quickly that to set up the trucks with pumps and firefighters in one location by a pool could have been an extremely life- threatening effort for firefighters. In those instances where mobile float pumps carried by some Palo Alto fire trucks could be utilized, firefighters did so, and it is believed the use of such pumps did contribute to saving property. The winds were at their worst at the time of day the fire started, so the movement of the fire was very difficult to track, and in fact the fire broke through established lines very quickly, so uniform utilization of this source of water was not possible. The timeliness of the professional response to the fire was difficult for residents to perceive from single locations, but it appears all systems worked to the highest expectations. When fire officers first responded within approximately ten to fifteen minutes to the grass fire call and began setting up their firefighting systems, it was immediately apparent that the fire would require extraordinary measures, and multiple alarms were instituted. California Division of Forestry assistance was automatically requested at the multiple alarm, strike forces from other mutual aid agencies arrived quickly, and as soon as areas became threatened, firefighting forces were marshalled to 'respond. The fire changed from a grass fire to a structure fire within minutes, and operations in the field had to adapt quickly. Travel time was no longer than expected in any instances, and work progressed remarkably smoothly for the number of agencies involved and the wind -driven spread of the fire area. Palo Alto's incident command worked well, and coordination was effective. Equipment and manpower were assigned to the highest priority areas as quickly as feasible, and it is quite possible more homes would have been lost if any necessary systems had broken down. Decisions and communications were handled with the least amount of time necessary, and only on a few occasions did personnel have to be pulled out of the area because of intense heat. LV With flames all around them, lifted high into the air by tall trees, Srr firefighters were in the most dangerous situation imaginable as they tried to contain the fire. It was obvious early in the suppression effort that certain - 3 - houses could not be saved no matter how heroic an effort were mounted nor how quickly personnel could be mobilized, so decisions were made to concentrate on attainable goals, which took into account the reality of the situation, but which might have seemed harsh to those residents whose homes could not ,. possibly have been saved. Since the extent and danger of the fire could not be visualized completely by returning residents, Palo Alto Police faced difficulties in their attempts to protect lives first, property second, as homeowners tried to enter the fire area to remove property or assist firefighters. Traffic control, evacuation efforts and protection of firefighting efforts were handled by both on -duty Palo Alto police officers and off-duty officers who came to the scene as soon as they learned of the severity of the situation. Although many local area residents felt they could have been of assistance to professional firefighters during the emergency, lack of training has been shown to increase the possibility of injuries, and untrained volunteers can pose an extreme liability potential for municipal agencies. It appears that the fire suppression effort as a whole was conducted professionally under highly dangerous conditions, and the few complaints registered regarding procedures and priorities in fighting the fire were - largely based on lack of understanding of the complex requirements of manpower and equipment allocation in such situations, or unrealistic expectations for the timing of controlling a fire of this magnitude. Further, because of the level of human emotions during a disaster such as the July 1st fire, complaints regarding the lack of sympathetic communication between residents and officials charged with keeping all non -firefighters out of the area, no matter how compelling the reason for entry, might be understandable. Those complaints received regarding lack of preventive measures undertaken in the neighborhood which experienced the most devastating losses were more factually based, and will be addressed, among other subjects, in the recommendations of this report. Aftermath: As the fire was brought under control, Town officials and emergency personnel sought to assist residents of the area by whatever means possible - emergency shelter was arranged at Gunn High School by the Red Cross; the County Office of Emergency Services coordinated aid to victims; and the Mayor and City Manager of Los Altos Hills assessed the situation and declared a local state of emergency, which was followed by a similar declaration by the County Board of Supervisors. Immediate needs were met through both official and volunteer efforts, and a meeting of residents of the fire area was called by Town officials to assure that important information was disseminated. After the Lexington fire in the Los Gatos/Santa Cruz mountains area necessitated the declaration by President Reagan of a federal disaster area in Santa Clara County, further services became available to residents, and the City Manager informed fire victims of these additional forms of assistance. At the Los Altos Hills City Council meeting of July 17, 1985, the Council appointed this Task Force to study the issues surrounding the fire and make recommendations. In order to facilitate reconstruction of those homes which were destroyed during the fire, a special Disaster Site Development Committee - 4 - was appointed by the City Council on July 24th, which began processing 4W applications during mid-August. Throughout the entire process of emergency response, immediate aid to victims, follow-up and study, a great deal of effort has been expended to minimize the effects of this disaster wherever possible and learn from the experience anything which might prevent a similar situation in the future. Although not every system has worked perfectly, it is apparent to this Task Force that all agencies involved are to be commended for putting forth their best effort on behalf of those whose lives were so drastically altered by the forces of fire on July 1st. LO - 5 - 4 RECOMMENDATIONS Although many specific problems have been correctly cited as contributing to the severity of the July 1st fire, alleviation of any one of these problems would not be as effective as a comprehensive effort which covers them all. The tall trees along Arastradero Road and in the open space bordering the neighborhood in which the most property damage occurred may have helped spread the fire, but could not be proven to have been as dangerous had there not been dry grasses and debris in which to start the fire. Dry grasses and debris by themselves would not have been as devastating had there not been steep terrain without adequate firebreaks which sped the fire's movement. [louses on these hills would not have been so easily destroyed by fire nor would they have helped spread the fire to other homes had they been equipped with fire retardant roofs or other safety features. Although professional firefighters learn from every fire and are constantly improving their systems and methods, individual cities and neighborhoods which only experience fires once in many decades, if at all, sometimes fail to place significant priorities on fire prevention even when such efforts are highly recommended by fire departments. In the case of Los Altos Hills, priorities had not been placed on fire prevention since the passage of the initiative overturning the fire retardant roof ordinance, and the City Council had, in fact, re -roofed the Los Altos Hills Town Hall with non -fire retardant roofing material. Even though many residents of Los Altos Hills express a desire for minimum government involvement in homeowners' lives, one of the most basic reasons for the existence of government is to work for the well-being of citizens, so some efforts in this regard may be expected. However, in recent years there had not been any comprehensive effort to clear fire hazards from Town -owned lands, and individuals had not been encouraged to clear grasses and weeds from conservation easements (the Town has stated it "encourages maximum retention of natural vegetation). In the most dangerous areas for fire ignition - along roadways - weed abatement of rights-of-way had not been actively pursued. Considering that these omissions have an effect on the attitude of residents regarding the need for vigilance in preventing fires, it becomes incumbent upon the Town itself to adopt a definitive stance in its own efforts if it hopes to obtain the cooperation of homeowners. Therefore, although the recommendations of this report are addressed to residents as well as Town officials, it is felt imperative that the Town take the lead in implementation of a comprehensive program of fire prevention in order not only to provide actual protection to lives and property, but also to encourage further efforts on behalf of individual homeowners. While this Task Force realizes that other hazards, such as earthquakes and floods, are of equal importance in the planning process of the Town, those issues, as well as land use planning requirements, were not addressed in this report, and may at times conflict with attainment of optimum fire safety. These conflicts can be addressed in separate studies. -6- (1) Recommendations to Residents (a) All homes in the Town of Los Altos Hills could benefit from fire retardant roofing. It became apparent that brands from trees and roofs in the fire area on July 1st were driven by hot winds through the air for many miles, and could have landed on combustible roofs in areas a great distance from the fire, causing other homes to be ignited. There are many options for homeowners, both for re -roofing and new construction (see Appendix A), and any Class A roof is highly recommended for this area. N All homeowners should comply with standard fire safety measures when landscaping their properties (see Appendix B), including utilizing greenbelts near their homes, clearing grasses and debris, and preventing combustible trees from overhanging non -fire retardant roofs. Compliance with ordinances regarding spark arrestors on chimneys is mandatory. (c) In high fire hazard areas (near open spaces,, high in the foothills where emergency vehicles do not have quick access, etc.), homeowners .should invest in sprinkler systems in addition to fire retardant roofs and landscaping, since many fires start inside homes and spread quickly. (d) Residents should assume responsibility for informing Town staff when hazardous conditions are apparent, and should work in cooperation with fire officials to assure that necessary actions are taken to protect their neighborhoods. 4W (e)- Residents should work with their neighbors to assure that access to sprinkler systems, pool pumps and hoses is facilitated in case a fire emergency occurs while the residents are away from their homes. (f) Residents with pools should investigate the possibility of auxiliary gas -powered pool pumps as an extra precaution in homes where non - fire retardant conditions exist. (2) Recommendations to Town of Los Altos Hills (a) The provisions of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code which provide for determination of a hazardous fire area and abatement of weeds should be revised to facilitate more aggressive enforcement efforts. In addition, an administrative fee should be added to the weed abatement charge when abatement is performed through action of the fire marshal with Council approval. (b) The Town should adopt a regular plan of weed abatement and maintenance of firebreaks on public lands and rights-of-way in areas where these lands are in close proximity to or otherwise could endanger private residences. (c) The Town should encourage the use of fire retardant roofs at the time of initial application for site development permits. Also, the Town should encourage the use of fire preventive landscaping and site design (see AW Appendix B) through the site development process, in conjunction with present -7 efforts to control potential soil erosion problems and mitigate visual impacts of new structures. (d) The Town should request the assistance of the Los Altos County Fire Protection District in obtaining regular reports of ongoing problems relating to weed abatement and other fire hazard reduction efforts, including areas of the Town which have been visited by fire officials and potential problems which have been noted. Also, increased monitoring of chimney spark arrestor installations should be pursued. (e) The Town should investigate the possibility of implementing a regular program of curbside debris collection for residents in order to assist in the clearing of private property of hazardous materials. (f) The Town should establish the date of July lst as the deadline for annual hazardous brush clearing efforts, and should publicize through its newsletter and other means the importance of having the Town as "fire -safe" as possible by this memorable date each year. (g) The Town should establish a "Neighborhood Emergency Network", as proposed by the Chairman of the Safety Committee, to facilitate safety and emergency efforts within the Town. Because of the Town's limited resources, defining specific neighborhoods wherein residents can disseminate information provided by the Town, encourage local clean-up efforts, prepare for potential disasters and offer an immediate link to Town officials in the event of an emergency such as a fire or earthquake, would allow effective implementation of preparedness plans without placing the entire burden for coordination and education on Town staff. All the educational materials compiled by this Task Force could be used to provide neighborhoods with Town -approved guidelines for their efforts. (h) The Town should study the effects of its desire for certain aesthetic qualities in residential development on the overall safety of its citizens. (The encouragement of wood structures, screen plantings, natural vegetation, drought -tolerant plants and open space areas have not always taken into account flammability of structures in acknowledged fire hazard areas, or the need for greenbelts, fire retardant plants and irrigation.) (i) The Town should upgrade and maintain all fire roads within its boundaries, particularly in remote areas. ****see below (3) Recommendations to Fire Response Agencies (a) Increased fire prevention enforcement and education programs through the Los Altos County Fire Protection District would be helpful. A regular schedule of visiting neighborhoods that present particular fire hazards (proximity to open space grasslands, steep terrain, etc.) and leaving printed materials for homeowners on a more frequent basis (especially during fire seasons) would be recommended. Palo Alto has begun to implement this type of ( program, but the Los Altos Fire Department, which is the contract agency for t/ Los Altos Hills, has not apparently performed this service in recent years in the Town. (j) To coordinate fire prevention efforts between Ins Altos Hills, Ins Altos, Cupertino, Santa Clara County, Palo Alto, Stanford and the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District. 4L (b) It might facilitate the traffic and crowd control efforts if large, standard signs were available from the fire departments involved prohibiting all non -emergency personnel; in•the case of the July Ist fire, officers had to repeat the same warnings to hundreds of persons - some who were residents with valid concerns, but many more hundreds of curious visitors. This caused a great deal of stress for all concerned. (Sample - 'ABSOLUTELY NO ENTRANCE - FIREFIGHTERS ONLY') Also, in the event some misunderstandings could be avoided in the future, education programs specifically dealing with such crises might be undertaken to assist officials in finding the most appropriate, -non -threatening means of dealing with distraught residents. (c) Because of their joint response system, the cities of Palo Alto and Los Altos Hills should be certain the communications systems between emergency operations centers and incident command posts are easily utilized. When the new EOC-to-EOC radio frequency is established by the Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services, all muncipalities and emergency response agencies involved should have both standard and mobile equipment for instant communication with other jurisdictions. -9- rim R CONCLUSION If all the above recommendations were adopted, and much higher priorities placed on fire safety in the most hazardous areas of Los Altos Hills, the danger of future fires similar to that on July 1, 1985would be greatly reduced. However, it is important for all residents to remember the basic climate and vegetation conditions which exist in the area will always present a danger of wildfires. No total prevention plan is practicable if the scenic beauty which is so greatly prized by residents is to be maintained, but the disastrous consequences of serious fires which resist control by firefighters and cause threats to lives and property can be alleviated through proper planning and cooperation between government bodies, fire officials and residents. It must be acknowledged and remembered that the Town of Los Altos Hills is situated amidst brush and grasslands in a relatively warm and dry climate area, and thus will always face fire hazards; however, civic leadership which utilizes education, encouragement and example in its efforts to maintain a safe environment for residents provides the best protection possible. Attachments: Appendix A - roofing materials Appendix B - fire preventive landscaping - 10 - SOURCES M Los Altos Hills Municipal Code v City of Palo Alto Uniform Building Code Handbook for Los Altos Hills Residents, Town of Los Altos Hills, 1984 Palo Alto Foothills Fire Management Plan, City of Palo Alto, 1982 Los Altos County Fire Protection District Los Altos Fire Department Palo Alto Fire Department Purissima Hills Water District San Jose Mercury -News Peninsula Times -Tribune Los Altos Town Crier Santa Barbara City Fire Department County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors and Fire Chiefs' Association University of California Division of Agricultural Sciences Brush Fire Safety Committee, Los Angeles, California Santa Clara County Office of Emergency Services Residents of fire area Other witnesses to fire Various miscellaneous articles and publications Town of Los Altos Hills staff City of Palo Alto staff Sunset Magazine APPENDIX A According to the County of Santa Clara, as well as numerous other agencies within the State of California, "untreated shingle and shake roofs are the greatest single structural hazard in hillside and brush areas". Although voters in Los Altos Hills have specified that no law requiring fire -retardant roofs should be enacted within the Town, the use of such roofs is highly recommended for all structures. The following is a list of Class A roofing material choices which this Task Force feels should be utilized on all new construction and re -roofing in Los Altos Hills: — 12 - TYPE EST. COST PER SQ. FT. COMMENTS .Clay Tiles $200 - $350 Last the life of the house; require strong framing or bracing; available in classic Spanish look, glazed, fired or painted colors Concrete Tiles $170 - $275 Last the life of the house; require strong framing or bracing; many forms, textures, colors Perlite Tiles $220 - $290 Last the life of the house; no special framing or sheathing; look like traditional heavy wood shakes; light or dark shades available Fiberglass $90 - $160 Most economical; easy to install; Shingles different textures available; last 20 to 30 years Pressure -Treated (not available) Recently approved Class A rating; Cedar Shakes treatment darkens appearance; lasts 12 to 20 years; requires two layers of wood sheathing sandwiching 1/2" gypsum board Metal Tiles $200 - $270 Last the life of the house; variety of shapes, some like shakes, others like clay tiles; requires 1/2" gypsum board and felt Built-up Roof $110 - $220 Last 10 - 15 years; look like standard tar -and -gravel — 12 - 4W APPENDIX B The following recommendations regarding fire preventive landscaping, site design and maintenance have been gathered from the County of Santa Clara, the Los Altos Fire Department, and Sunset Magazine. 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X K N Y' int W Y no m in„t 'R n „ aS G v 3 O r Y N N w q VYy y %P YO N M d Y a N O r W D b O O O 4N rt< H g p K K n F G 9 a N O n rf n T" I �H r q bm n��tn w'S' n rn n osp o K n w ry V S, d "O d' na wn" n q n Y• a o n < ne N •wC <n n�.r6 wm.• a Y Ro � �Np"rycpn W W a •we L '� N �, nN o< Oro o aY ff On S `C m 3 qyy� x 0 Kaq•y< n 5 a w p m< m O ro n M n Y r N w m Z Y G Y O n y w n • 0 Y"p r w O K o n M n r O o• n Y 7 o q n N n• �rt a °o � n n n o 0 r�Mr 3H� i a a,r s CITY OF LAS ALTOS 1%W HPE DEPARTMENT JOHN T. SANDERS, Chid v10 ALMOND AVENUE LOS ALTOS. CALIFOFINIA 94022 A WAW RECFIVED oLc 1,. 1984 TEIEIHONES BUSINESS - 9484404 EMERGENCY -948 1071 December 12, 1984 TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS Nancy Lytle Town of Los Altos Hills 26379 Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, CA 94022 RE: Site Development Ordinance Study Dear Nancy: Listed below are items relating to fire and life safety that the L.A.F.D. recommends including within the revised Site Development Ordinance. (1) An approved fire hydrant connected to a public water main shall be located within 500' of each residence. The 500' distance shall be measured from the residence via the driveway and roadway(s). The hydrant shall be capable of flowing 750 gallons per minute or better. A hydrant located at a closer distance and discharging a greater quantity of water may be required when deemed necessary by the Fire Department. The fire hydrant shall be installed and be ready for use prior to the release of the building permit for the site. (2) Remove combustible brush on the site as prescribed by Town regulations and replant with fire resistive plantings. (3) Provide at least twelve feet (12') minimum vertical clearance over the driveway to the building site. (Remove tree limbs, electrical wires, etc.) (4) If any portion of a residence is one hundred fifty feet (150') or more from an approved access road, an all-weather surface driveway not less than twelve feet (12') wide, with adequate passing turnouts if needed, is required. Provide adequate parking and turnaround area for three (3) emergency vehicles at the site. (5) Driveway grades should not exceed 15 percent grade. Inside radius of driveway turns should be forty-two feet (42') or more. (6) All driveway surfaces and bridges must be capable of sustaining 35,000 lbs. loading. - 16 - This page is from Sunset Magazine's article entitled "Protecting Yourome ghf-shfire", which provides detailed information on fire safety. All Los Altos Hills homeowners could benefit from familiarity with its �ntents. Access. Keep fire lane (preferably on Doth sides of house) clear enough for fireman to bring in hoses, ladders, equipment, even v trucks Trees and large shrubs. Plant these 18 lest or more apart. Don't plant pines. eucalypts, or other varieties high in oil content. Regularly prune dead limbs and low branches. Rao(. Use roofing ma N Eaves and vents. Elimmat0i eaves or enclose them with to.. or Other nonflammable mate ial Place vents at outer edge of soffit Vents should 'nave Ya.inch. wire mesh. If feasibleat approach of fire block vents with precut plywood panels. Hydrant. Near street, you can install standpipe for firemen's use; check size with fire department Make sure its easily seen and accessible. It possible, gravity feed from pool. 1% Siding. Noncombustible material such as stucco preferred Avoid shingle Siding. Glass. Thermal pane and safety type are most resistant to heat<aused damage. If lire threatens cover glass with shutters, fire curtains, or plywood panels. J Walls, fences, and railings. Use nonflammable masonry, wrought iron, or chain link— paraculady adjoining Wuse, nce flammable materials can t like fuses. Make wood 'mors or trellises of oversize lumber. pump. Have wel-majohnned pump (gas. diesel, propane) of at least 100-apm capacity, with standard 1 h -inch threaded standpipe. Keep plastic or cotton -jacket fire hose (enough to reach far side of house) and nozzle at 200 -foot reduced fuel zone, Plant low -growing, deep- rooted,drought-tolerant ground rovers. Prune regularly to remove woody growth, encourage new growth. For a reprint of the entire Sunset article, send $1. (to cover handling and postage) pith your request to: Fire Safety, Sunset IaaAt'inP_ Ro Willow Road. MPnln Park. 177�— Pool, hot tele. Either we can serve as a ready reservoir lar you antl fire department pypical fat tub holds about 500 gallons, as much as a tank truck). Il possible. make pool draiaable to aecesside hydrant or pumphouse. Deck. Nonflammable book, are. a concrete deckiN is safest. Still want wood, Recommended 1 -hour fire thick to Wards %W Underpinnings. Decks in 4 wikllaW areas should eitherk z, W enclosed with nonflammable solid Still , concrete block, gypsum ti Ward, stucco. or other ,r eotedo sheathing—or Wilt 'rl with oversize timbers lal least Eby -6 posts and beams). Z ., I Beyond property lines. Planning and protection must be community -wide. Work with neighbors to reduce fuel in common areas. Hillside chaparral. Prune to thinor remove wood chaparral. Keep large native trees and shrubs (mer roots anchor hillsides). Imgate occasionally in summer to maintain moisture leve.