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DATE: |
September 24, 2024 |
FP01 |
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TO: |
Board of Directors, San Diego County Fire Protection District |
SUBJECT
Title
FIRE INSPECTION REPORTING FOR FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 (DISTRICTS: 1, 2, AND 5)
Body
OVERVIEW
San Diego County Fire (County Fire) operates a robust pre-fire inspection program to promote safety and well-being for residents in the Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD). County Fire also conducts inspections within the Deer Springs Fire Protection District, by written agreement. The inspection program is mandated under California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.4, which require the fire agency of record in a service area to annually inspect any building used as a school, hotel, motel, lodging house, apartment building, and/or residential care building for compliance with fire and safety regulations. In Fiscal Year 2023-24, San Diego County Fire completed 100% of the mandated inspections comprising 258 specific sites. The local fire agency is required to report its findings annually to its governing board.
Today’s request is for the Board of Directors to adopt a resolution acknowledging receipt of the report for the Fiscal Year 2023-24 mandated fire inspections.
RECOMMENDATION(S)
DIRECTORS
1. Receive the County Fire’s report of the State-mandated inspections, as required by California Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4.
2. Adopt a resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE COMPLETION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-24 FIRE INSPECTIONS.
EQUITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The San Diego County Fire Protection District (SDCFPD) recognizes the systematic impacts that inequitable policies may create for residents of the County of San Diego. More than 80% of the SDCFPD’s jurisdictional area qualifies as a disadvantaged unincorporated community, based on a San Diego Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) report on the funding, administration, and performance of the former County Service Area No. 135 (now SDCFPD). In addition, one aspect of fire prevention is ensuring fire and safety codes are complied with, including facilities housing the most vulnerable. By performing these fire inspections, the SDCFPD is ensuring equitable safety for residents of our county.
SUSTAINABILITY IMPACT STATEMENT
The proposed action to adopt a resolution acknowledging receipt of the report of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 mandated fire inspections contribute to the County of San Diego’s Sustainability Goals to protect the health and wellbeing of residents. These actions will impact the sustainability of health and wellbeing by identifying and addressing potentially hazardous conditions and imposing safety measures in schools, apartment complexes, group care facilities, residential care facilities, camps, jails, law enforcement stations, transient housing units, daycare facilities, and a vacant occupancy. San Diego County Fire continues to engage with the community by collaborating with property owners and managers during these inspections to build, enhance, and maintain resiliency.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with today’s request to adopt a resolution acknowledging receipt of the annual report of the Fiscal Year 2023-24 mandated fire inspections. There will be no change in net General Fund cost and no additional staff years.
BUSINESS IMPACT STATEMENT
N/A
Details
ADVISORY BOARD STATEMENT
This item was brought before the Fire Advisory Board on August 12, 2024, and a motion was passed to accept the report on mandated inspections by a vote of 3 to 0.
BACKGROUND
California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.4 require fire agencies to annually inspect all hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartment houses, and schools for compliance with building fire and safety standards. Section 13146.4 requires fire agencies to provide an annual report to their governing boards regarding compliance with the mandated fire safety inspections.
During Fiscal Year 2023-2024, San Diego County Fire completed 100% of the state-mandated inspections on behalf of the San Diego County Fire Protection District and Deer Springs Fire Protection District.
In total, 258 inspections were completed at 67 schools, 56 apartment complexes, 15 group care facilities, 2 residential care facilities, 17 camps, 15 jails and law enforcement stations, 77 transient housing units, 8 daycare facilities, and 1 vacant occupancy. In addition, San Diego County Fire staff conducted 1,183 non-mandated business inspections during the past fiscal year.
San Diego County Fire also completes business inspection annually. Both the state-mandated and business support the Board’s investment in a robust community risk reduction program, with a goal of improving fire safety for the region’s residents. On July 1, 2023, the Borrego Springs Fire Protection District dissolved, and the area annexed into the San Diego County Fire Protection District. The annual inspection report (Attachment B) includes the Borrego Springs community into the work completed in Fiscal Year 2023-24.
ENVIRONMENTAL STATEMENT
N/A
LINKAGE TO THE COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO STRATEGIC PLAN
Today’s reporting of fire inspections supports the Community Initiative of the County of San Diego’s 2024-2029 Strategic Plan by ensuring the safety of County residents.
Respectfully submitted,
ebony n. shelton
Chief Administrative Officer
ATTACHMENT(S)
Attachment A - A RESOLUTION OF SAN DIEGO COUNTY BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT TO ACCEPT THE REPORT OF THE COMPLETION OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2023-2024 FIRE INSPECTIONS
Attachment B - FY 2023-2024 FIRE MARSHAL PROGRAM INSPECTIONS