Policies

1. Policy LU-4.2 Fire-adapted communities

   We require new development in high or very high fire hazard severity zones to apply fire-resistant design techniques, including fuel modification areas, fire resistant landscaping, and fire-resistant building materials.

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2. Policy LU-4.3 Native or drought-tolerant landscaping

   We require new development, when outside of high and very high fire hazard severity zones, to install and maintain drought-tolerant landscaping and encourage the use of native species.

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3. Policy LU-4.4 Natural topography in the Mountain region

   We require new development in the Mountain region to retain natural topography and minimize grading unless it is necessary to reduce exposure to natural hazards.

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Policies

1. Policy TM-1.4 Unpaved roadways

   The County does not accept new unpaved roads into the County Maintained Road System, and we require all-weather treatment for all new unpaved roads.

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Goals

1. Goal PP-3 Fire and Emergency Medical

   Reduced risk of death, injury, property damage, and economic loss due to fires and other natural disasters, accidents, and medical incidents through prompt and capable emergency response.

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Policies

1. Policy PP-3.1 Fire and emergency medical services

   We maintain a sufficient number and distribution of fire stations, up-to-date equipment, and fully-trained staff to respond effectively to emergencies.

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2. Policy PP-3.2 Fire District

   We support the expansion of the Fire District to serve additional incorporated jurisdictions, and the use of special funding and financing mechanisms to augment Fire District revenues to improve service and coverage.

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3. Policy PP-3.5 Firefighting water supply and facilities

   We coordinate with water providers to maintain adequate water supply, pressure, and facilities to protect people and property from urban fires and wildfires.

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4. Policy PP-3.6 Concurrent protection services

   We require that fire department facilities, equipment, and staffing required to serve new development are operating prior to, or in conjunction with new development.

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5. Policy PP-3.7 Fire safe design

   We require new development in the Fire Safety Overlay to comply with additional site design, building, and access standards to provide enhanced resistance to fire hazards.

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6. Policy PP-3.8 Fire-adapted communities

   We inform and prepare our residents and businesses to collaboratively plan and take action to more safely coexist with the risk of wildfires.

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7. Policy PP-3.9 Street and premise signage

   We require adequate street signage and premise identification be provided and maintained to ensure emergency services can quickly and efficiently respond.

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8. Policy PP-3.10 Community outreach

   We engage with local schools, community groups, and businesses to increase awareness of fire risk, prevention, and evacuation.

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9. Policy PP-3.11 Post-burn risk

   In areas burned by wildfire, we require new and reconstructed development to adhere to current development standards, and may require additional study to evaluate increased flooding, debris flow, and mudslide risks.

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10. Policy PP-3.12 Fire protection and emergency medical resource allocation

    We use fire and emergency services data analysis and professional expertise to allocate resources, reduce fire risks, and improve emergency response.

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11. Policy PP-3.13 Periodic needs assessment

    We periodically assess our facility, equipment, and staffing needs and use the assessment to allocate funding resources in the annual budget and capital improvement program.

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12. Policy PP-3.14 Qualified workforce

    We attract and retain a qualified workforce of fire fighters, emergency medical technicians, and support personnel, and invest in training and ongoing education.

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13. Policy PP-4.1 Emergency management plans

    A reduced risk of and impact from injury, loss of life, property damage, and economic and social disruption resulting from emergencies, natural disasters, and potential changes in climate.

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14. Policy PP-4.2 Critical and essential facility operation

    We ensure that critical and essential County facilities remain operational during emergencies.

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15. Policy PP-4.3 Automatic and mutual aid

    We participate in agreements for automatic and mutual aid with other local, state, federal, and nongovernmental emergency service providers to improve protection services and emergency response throughout the county.

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Related Materials

1. Policy Maps PP-2 Evacuation Routes (PDF | WEB)

Goals

1. Goal HZ-1 Natural Environmental Hazards

   Minimized risk of injury, loss of life, property damage, and economic and social disruption caused by natural environmental hazards and adaptation to potential changes in climate.

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Policies

1. Policy HZ-1.2 New development in environmental hazard areas

   We require all new development to be located outside of the environmental hazard areas listed below. For any lot or parcel that does not have sufficient buildable area outside of such hazard areas, we require adequate mitigation, including designs that allow occupants to shelter in place and to have sufficient time to evacuate during times of extreme weather and natural disasters.

   • Flood: 100-year flood zone, dam/basin inundation area
   • Geologic: Alquist Priolo earthquake fault zone; County-identified fault zone; rockfall/debris-flow hazard area, medium or high liquefaction area (low to high and localized), existing and County-identified landslide area, moderate to high landslide susceptibility area)
   • Fire: high or very high fire hazard severity zone
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2. Policy HZ-1.5 Existing properties in environmental hazard areas

   We encourage owners of existing properties in hazard areas to add design features that allow occupants to shelter in place and to have sufficient time to evacuate during times of extreme weather and natural disasters.

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3. Policy HZ-1.6 Critical and essential facility location

   We require new critical and essential facilities to be located outside of hazard areas, whenever feasible.

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4. Policy HZ-1.7 Underground utilities

   We require that underground utilities be designed to withstand seismic forces, accommodate ground settlement, and hardened to fire risk.

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5. Policy HZ-1.9 Hazard areas maintained as open space

   We minimize risk associated with flood, geologic, and fire hazard zones or areas by encouraging such areas to be preserved and maintained as open space.

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6. Policy Policy HZ-1.13 Fire protection planning

   We require that all new development in County-designated Fire Safety Overlay and/or CAL FIRE-designated Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones meet the requirements of the California Fire Code and the California Building Code as amended by the County Fire Protection District, including Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations fire safety requirements for any new development within State Responsibility Areas, as well as provide and maintain a Fire Protection Plan or Defensible Space/Fuel Modification Plan and other pre-planning measures in accordance with the County Code of Ordinances.

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7. Policy Policy HZ-1.14 Long-term fire hazard reduction and abatement

   We require proactive vegetation management/hazard abatement to reduce fire hazards on existing private properties, along roadsides of evacuation routes out of wildfire prone areas, and other private/public land where applicable, and we require new development to enter into a long-term maintenance agreement for vegetation management in defensible space, fuel modification, and roadside fuel reduction in the Fire Safety Overlay and/or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.

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8. Policy Policy HZ-1.15 Evacuation route adequacy

   We coordinate with CAL FIRE, California’s Office of Emergency Services, and other local fire districts to identify strategies that ensure the maintenance and reliability of evacuation routes potentially compromised by wildfire, including emergency evacuation and supply transportation routes.

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Related Materials

1. Policy Maps HZ-5 Fire Hazard Severity Zones (PDF | WEB)
2. Policy Maps HZ-6 Fire Responsibility Areas (PDF | WEB)

1. FOCUS STATEMENT A - Improve the quality of our built environment to enhance community health, safety, neighborhood character, and the image of our business corridors.

   Action Statement A.8

   Create and maintain a healthy forest and forest fuels management program.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT C - Improve public and equestrian safety within Muscoy

   Action Statement C.3

   Partner with the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department, County Fire Department, local safety experts, and insurance companies to educate property owners on securing homes and businesses.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT E - Improve the delivery of essential services such as police and fire to the community

   Action Statement E.1

   Coordinate with Cal Fire to change the boundaries of the State Responsibility Area (SRA) by shifting the boundary line of the SRA south to include only federals lands along the San Bernardino Mountains.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT A - Increase water availability and accessibility

   Action Statement A.3

   Establish a map of fire-fighting water resources.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT B - Improve public safety; EMS, fire and sheriff.

   Action Statement B.2

   Install a distributed water supply in case of fire emergencies (10 – 12 tanks).

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   Action Statement B.3

   Establish primary and back-up emergency communication systems.

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   Action Statement B.4

   Establish a local resident recruiting program for both the Citizens on Patrol and the Volunteer Fire Department.

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   Action Statement B.5

   Educate property owners to maintain a 100 foot clearance around homes in the community to reduce fire risk.

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2. FOCUS STATEMENT D - Increase community involvement and volunteerism.

   Action Statement D.5

   Establish a 4-H program and scouting programs (Scouts, Fire Explorer).

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT B - Improve community safety and reduce crime

   Action Statement B.4

   Collaborate with the San Bernardino Fire Department to conduct fire safety education programs for the community.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT D - Enhance public safety by improving communication and coordination with law enforcement.

   Action Statement D.4

   Partner with the Sheriff’s Department, Cal Fire, local safety experts, and insurance companies to educate property owners on securing homes and businesses.

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1. FOCUS STATEMENT B - Improve public health and safety in Homestead Valley

   Action Statement B.4

   Advocate for the reactivation of Fire Station #43 in Johnson Valley and research state and federal grant funding opportunities along with local fundraising efforts and other strategies to assist with funding operation of the Fire Station.*

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