Fire Abatement

Fire Control Access

This page was prompted partly by a growing concern for the increasing frequency of wildfires in this area but mainly because of considerable confusion regarding firetruck access and turnaround specifications in the Building Site Approval process for 22197 Old Santa Cruz Hwy. It includes a brief look at the fire stations in the local area and examines the various specs imposed by State and local jurisdictions.

Building Regulations

Following is a list of the most common regulations for building permits for both new and remodeled structures.

 

These specifications address the primary issues of driveways, access roadways, and fire apparatus turnaround requirements. The following table summarizes those requirements independently for each jurisdiction. The “DRIVEWAY FIRE NOTES” on the current site plan do not correspond with any of these specifications.

Summary & Conclusions

  1. Driveways and Access Roadways
    1. The differences in definitions and requirements are reasonably consistent between the specifications listed, with 18 to 20 feet width for Roadways and 12 feet for Driveways, plus 2 to 3 ft shoulders.
    2. There is general agreement for up to two dwellings per Driveway, requiring Roadway specs for more than two.
    3. Grades are consistent at 15% to 20%, allowing some discretion by the particular authority.
    4. Surfaces are engineered, all-weather, asphalt, or concrete with provision for turf stones with some restrictions.
  2. Turnarounds
    In general, the term “Turning Radius,” as used in these specifications (referring to a geometric property of a line), is not adequate to specify a “Turnaround” (referring to an area).  Therefore, inside and outside radii have no meaning without a specified angular displacement or an associated linear dimension, meaning that only graphical examples should be used as references.

    1. The Santa Clara County Fire Department D-1 specification expressly excludes unincorporated parcels, therefore;
      • References to D1 Standard Turnarounds A, B, or C have no bearing on the subject property.
      • The proper specification for the subject property is County of Santa Clara CFMO-A1, which references CFMO-SD16 for Turnarounds.
      • This sketch shows three alternatives, each using a proper standard from the applicable specification.
        • Red is the “D” standard, which saves only 2 ft on the long dimension but eliminates the radius.
        • Blue shows the same “D” standard but makes use of the Roadway and requires an easement and minor grading.
        • Green is a combination of the “A” and “B” standards.
        • Black suggests endless other possibilities using the specified standard configurations.
      • Additional examples are included in the 2019 California Fire Code but are not applicable here.
    2. Note that the 42 ft reference in paragraph II, D, 1 of the CFMO-A1 specification only applies to Driveways and Roadways – not Turnarounds.
    3. Note also that the only reference to a 50-ft turning radius in any of these specifications applies to State Responsibility Areas (SRA) under PRC-4290 and only to Driveways and Access Roads – not Turnarounds.

Review County Fire Marshal[i]The Office of the Fire Marshal is not part of any other County department and also not a department of its own. It is organized as a separate entity within the County administration, reporting directly to the Board. Meeting Notes – July 16, 2024
Matt McKinna, Alex Goff, Jim, Kelley

  • Attempting to use the D-1 spec for this property is incorrect.
    • The graphic and (SCCFD Standard D-1 Option C) note should be removed from the site plan.
    • The CFMO-SD16 spec is the correct one, and any of the options shown in the sketch are acceptable.
    • These specifications do not justify sacrificing buildable area for a turnaround when the property is adjacent to easements or roads.
      • If the required 5% slope is not possible for the green option, request a variation[ii]“Due to practical difficulties, variations to CFMO-SD16 may be approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Land Development Engineering on a case-by-case basis.” on the next submission.
      • Failing to gain approval for the green option, pursue the blue option, which includes minimal grading and paving.
  • The 42 ft and the 50 ft turning radius references in the CFMO-A1 do not apply to turnarounds.
  • Regarding PRC#4290, since the County sent the prints to Cal Fire and Cal Fire had no comment on the first submission, they are not likely to enforce any of the State regulations.
  • Water requirements
    • One 5,000 gal tank and wharf hydrant are required.
    • A second 3,000 gal tank for domestic use is not required when connecting to SJWC but is recommended.
    • A standard hydrant could be used, but it would require a 6-inch connection to SJWC (a 4-inch connection might qualify).
    • A future ADU likely will require a second tank and second hydrant.
  • There was general agreement that using the Castor Easement as an emergency exit would be a welcome benefit to all, but expecting the County to participate in its development would be highly unlikely.

~More Detailed Review of Turnaround Options – Added August 12, 2024

At a follow-up meeting with Matt McKinna, Fire Marshal, Option #2 (red) was rejected, and Option #1 (green) was approved and added to the building site approval. This requires adding a considerable amount of fill to a 30-foot-long segment at the southern end of the Castor Easement and paving it according to County specs.

By: Jim
Written: July 14, 2024
Published: July 14, 2024
Revised: July 17, 2024
Revised: August 12, 2024

 

footnotes
footnotes
↑i The Office of the Fire Marshal is not part of any other County department and also not a department of its own. It is organized as a separate entity within the County administration, reporting directly to the Board.
↑ii “Due to practical difficulties, variations to CFMO-SD16 may be approved by the Fire Marshal’s Office and Land Development Engineering on a case-by-case basis.”