§ 11-3-4. Chapter 3, General Requirements, amended.

Chapter 3, General Requirements, is amended as follows:

SECTION 304.1.2 Vegetation is hereby revised to read as follows:

304.1.2 Vegetation. Type, amount, or arrangement of weeds, grass, vines or other growth that is capable of being ignited and endangering property-needing to comply with OCFA Guidelines, shall be cut, thinned, and removed by the owner or occupant of the premises in accordance with OCFA Guideline C-05 "Vegetation Management Guideline - Technical Design for New Construction, Fuel Modification Plans, and Maintenance Program. Vegetation clearance requirement in urban-wildland interface areas shall be in accordance with Chapter 49.

SECTION 305.6 Hazardous Conditions is hereby added as follows:

305.6 Hazardous Conditions. Outdoor fires are not allowed when predicted sustained winds exceed 8 MPH during periods when relative humidity is less than 25%, or a red flag condition has been declared or public announcement is made, when an official sign was caused to be posted by the Fire Code Official, or when such fires present a hazard as determined by the Fire Code Official.

SECTION 305.7 Disposal of rubbish is hereby added as follows:

305.7 Disposal of rubbish. Rubbish, trash or combustible waste material shall be burned only within an approved incinerator and in accordance with Section 307.2.1.

SECTION 307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces is hereby revised to read as follows:

SECTION 307 Open Burning, Recreational Fires, Fire Pits, Fire Rings, and Portable Outdoor Fireplaces

SECTIONS 307.6 Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Fire Rings, or similar devices used at Group R Occupancies is hereby added as follows:

307.6 Outdoor Fireplaces, Fire Pits, Fire Rings, or similar devices used at Group R Occupancies. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits, fire rings, or similar exterior devices used at Group R shall comply with this section.

Exception: Barbeques, grills, and other portable devices intended solely for cooking.

SECTION 307.6.1 Gas-fueled devices is hereby added as follows:

307.6.1 Gas-fueled devices. Outdoor fireplaces, fire pits and similar devices fueled by natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas are allowed when approved by the Building Department and the device is designed to only burn a gas flame and not wood or other solid fuel. At R-3 occupancies, combustible construction shall not be located within three feet of an atmospheric column that extends vertically from the perimeter of the device. At other R occupancies, the minimum distance shall be ten feet. Where a permanent Building Department approved hood and vent is installed, combustible construction may encroach upon this column between the bottom of the hood and the vent opening. Where chimneys or vents are installed, they shall have a spark arrester as defined in Section 202.

SECTION 307.6.2 Devices using wood or fuels other than natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas is hereby added as follows:

307.6.2 Devices using wood or fuels other than natural gas or liquefied-petroleum gas. Fireplaces burning wood or other solid fuel shall be constructed in accordance with the California Building Code. Fires in a fireplace shall be contained within a firebox with an attached chimney. The opening in the face of the firebox shall have an installed and maintained method of arresting sparks. The burning of wood or other solid fuel in a device is not allowed within 15 feet of combustible structures, unless within a permanent or portable fireplace. Conditions which could cause a fire to spread within 25 feet of a structure or to vegetation shall be eliminated prior to ignition. Fires in devices burning wood or solid fuel shall be in accordance with Sections 305, 307, and 308.

SECTION 307.6.2.1 Where prohibited is hereby added as follows:

307.6.2.1 Where prohibited. The burning of wood and other solid fuels shall not be conducted within a fuel modification zone. Wood and other solid fuel burning fires in devices other than permanent fireplaces are not allowed within Wildfire Risk Areas (WRA) and Wildland-Urban Interface Areas (WUI) or in locations where conditions could cause the spread of fire to the WRA or WUI unless determined by the Fire Code Official that the location or design of the device should reasonably prevent the start of a wildfire.

SECTION 309.2.1 Indoor charging of electric carts/cars is hereby added as follows:

309.2.1 Indoor charging of electric carts/cars. Indoor charging of electric carts/cars where the combined volume of all battery electrolyte exceeds 50 gallons shall comply with following:

1.

Spill control and neutralization shall be provided and comply with Section 608.5.

2.

Room ventilation shall be provided and comply with Section 608.6.1.

3.

Signage shall be provided and comply with Section 608.7.1.

4.

Smoke detection shall be provided and comply with Section 608.9.

SECTION 320 Fuel Modification Requirements for New Construction is hereby added as follows:

320 Fuel Modification Requirements for New Construction. All new structures and facilities adjoining land containing hazardous combustible vegetation shall be approved and in accordance with the requirements of OCFA Guideline C-05 "Vegetation Management Guideline - Technical Design for New Construction Fuel Modification Plans and Maintenance Program."

SECTION 321 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways is hereby added as follows:

321 Clearance of brush or vegetation growth from roadways. The Fire Code Official is authorized to cause areas within 10 feet (3048 mm) on each side of portions of highways and private streets which are improved, designed or ordinarily used for vehicular traffic, to be cleared of flammable vegetation and other combustible growth. Measurement shall be from the flow-line or the end of the improved edge of the roadway surfaces.

Exception: Single specimens of trees, ornamental shrubbery or cultivated ground cover such as green grass, ivy, succulents or similar plants used as ground covers, provided that they do not form a means of readily transmitting fire.

SECTION 322 Unusual Circumstances is hereby added as follows:

322 Unusual circumstances. The Fire Code Official may suspend enforcement of the vegetation management requirements and require reasonable alternative measures designed to advance the purpose of this code if determined that in any specific case that any of the following conditions exist:

1.

Difficult terrain.

2.

Danger of erosion.

3.

Presence of plants included in any state and federal resources agencies, California Native Plant Society and county-approved list of wildlife, plants, rare, endangered and/or threatened species.

4.

Stands or groves of trees or heritage trees.

5.

Other unusual circumstances that make strict compliance with the clearance of vegetation provisions undesirable or impractical.

SECTION 323 Use of Equipment is hereby added as follows:

323 Use of Equipment. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person shall use, operate, or cause to be operated in, upon or adjoining any hazardous fire area any internal combustion engine which uses hydrocarbon fuels, unless the engine is equipped with a spark arrester as defined in Section 202 maintained in effective working order, or the engine is constructed, equipped and maintained for the prevention of fire.

Exceptions:

1.

Engines used to provide motor power for trucks, truck tractors, buses, and passenger vehicles, except motorcycles, are not subject to this section if the exhaust system is equipped with a muffler as defined in the Vehicle Code of the State of California.

2.

Turbocharged engines are not subject to this section if all exhausted gases pass through the rotating turbine wheel, there is no exhaust bypass to the atmosphere, and the turbocharger is in good mechanical condition.

SECTION 323.1 Spark Arresters is hereby added as follows:

323.1 Spark Arresters. Spark arresters shall comply with Section 202, and when affixed to the exhaust system of engines or vehicles subject to Section 323 shall not be placed or mounted in such a manner as to allow flames or heat from the exhaust system to ignite any flammable material.

SECTION 324 Sky Lanterns or similar devices is hereby added as follows:

324 Sky Lanterns or similar devices. The ignition and/or launching of a Sky Lantern or similar device is prohibited.

(Ord. No. 2016-186, § 2, 12-6-16)