(A) Fuel modification for improvements. The responsible party shall maintain, on a parcel, or on any adjacent sidewalks, parking areas, or streets, within 100 feet of the exterior perimeter of any improvement thereon, fuel modification meeting the adopted standard of the Fire Chief. However, the Fire Chief may authorize a distance less than 100 feet, but not less than 30 feet. Where the distance from the improvement to the property line of the parcel on which the improvement is located is less than the required clearance distance, the responsible party shall only be required to provide fuel modification to the property line.
(B) Fuel modification for vacant parcels. The responsible party shall maintain a fuel mitigation plan approved by the Fire Chief or maintain fuel modification meeting the adopted fuel modification standard within 30 feet of the property line. The Fire Chief may require a distance greater than 30 feet when it is determined that the greater distance is necessary to protect property or the health, safety, and welfare of the public or first responders.
(C) Fuel modification along fire access roadways. The responsible party shall maintain fuel modification within ten feet of each side of the improved width and 13 feet, six inches clear height above fire access roadways. The Fire Chief may require, after providing written notice to the responsible party, a distance greater than ten feet when it is determined that the greater distance is necessary to protect property or the health, safety, and welfare of the public, or for the protection of emergency responders.
(D) Additional fuel modification. Notwithstanding the provisions of divisions (A), (B) and (C) if the Fire Chief determines that a greater distance is necessary to protect property or the health, safety and welfare of the public or first responders, the Fire Chief may require a responsible party to provide additional fuel modification.
(E) Removal of hazard trees. The Fire Chief may designate hazard trees and require the responsible party to remove them within a reasonable amount of time based on the hazard presented.
(F) Fuel modification. The Fire Chief may designate parcels where fuel modification is required for the health and welfare of community residents as well as for the health of the forest and watershed.
(G) Combustible vegetation. For purposes of this section, combustible vegetation does not include single specimens of trees, fire-resistant ornamental shrubbery, and other fire-resistant planting materials or cultivated ground covers, which the Fire Chief determines do not form a means of rapidly transmitting fire from native or landscape plants to any improvement or other vegetation.
(H) Grading. The provisions of this chapter shall not be construed to authorize grading which does not comply with Title XV of this code regarding grading, clearing and watercourses.
(Ord. 922, passed 8-13-20; Res. 3215, passed 8-13-20)