HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 2519

             As Reported By House Committee on:

                  Natural Resources & Parks

Title:  An act relating to fire protection.

Brief Description:  Enacting the rural homeowners fire protection act.

Sponsor(s):  Representatives Dellwo, Wynne, Fraser, D. Sommers and Paris; by request of Department of Natural Resources.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

Natural Resources & Parks, February 7, 1992, DPS.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON

NATURAL RESOURCES & PARKS

Majority Report: The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  Signed by 7 members:  Representatives Belcher, Chair; Scott, Vice Chair; Dellwo; Fraser; Hargrove; Riley; and Sheldon.

Minority Report: Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Beck, Ranking Minority Member; Brumsickle, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Morton; and Wynne.

Staff:  John Conniff (786-7119).

Background:  The wildfire that destroyed many homes in the Spokane area last year demonstrated the danger to life and property by the development of residential housing on land abutting or within a forest or wildland.  Often such residential housing developments have been designed and constructed without sufficient attention to the risk of fire and the need for fire protection services.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  By July 1, 1993, and in cooperation with public fire agencies, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) must develop a system for rating the wildfire risk in developed and potential development areas and must prepare maps displaying these high or extreme fire hazard areas.

By January 1, 1994, each county must adopt an ordinance or resolution addressing fire protection standards for high or extreme hazard areas designated by DNR.  The ordinance or resolution must include standards for fire resistance building construction, for water systems, for management of flammable growth, and for fire protection service access to developed areas.

By July 1, 1993, the state Building Code Council must adopt guidelines to assist counties in the adoption of an ordinance or resolution required for fire protection in high or extreme fire hazard areas.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  All provisions requiring public utilities to take certain action for reducing fire hazards along electrical transmission line corridors are removed.  All provisions requiring counties to disapprove proposed developments that would not comply with certain fire protection standards are removed.  Instead of requiring amendments to the uniform building code, the state Building Code Council is directed to develop guidelines to assist counties in adopting fire protection resolutions and ordinances.

Fiscal Note:  Available.  New fiscal note requested February 8, 1992.

Effective Date of Substitute Bill:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  (Original bill):  As residential developments spread out away from urban areas into wildland areas, the risk of a wildfire destroying homes and injuring residents grows.  Many of these new developments have not made adequate provision for fire fighting.  Insufficient water supplies and inadequate roadways limit the ability for fire fighters to respond to wildfires that threaten these developments.  In addition, public utilities need to better control the growth of vegetation along utility transmission lines in high and extreme fire hazard areas.  Requiring counties and utilities to address fire protection issues will reduce the probability that a future wildfire will destroy homes and injure residents living in high and extreme fire hazard areas.  However, some changes to the legislation are necessary.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  (Original bill):  Stan Biles, Department of Natural Resources (in favor); Otto Jensen, State Fire Chiefs (in favor); Ed Lewis, Spokane County Fire Department (in favor); Bob Gear, Benton County Fire District #1 (in favor); Mike Harrison, Deputy Fire Chief of Chehalis (in favor); Terry Oxley, Puget Power Light Company (in favor); Ken McAllister, Committee on Firesafe Roofing (in favor); Dick Welsh, property rights advocate (in favor); and Bill Vogler, Association of Counties (in favor).