The Return of the Evil: What Is to Be Done? : New fires highlight importance of best possible safety steps

And so now the fiery evil has come again--making no distinctions, devouring almost everything in its path, reminding us of our mortality and of this elemental, powerful force of nature. Triggered by either the evil hand of a yet-to-be-identified arsonist or some accidental flame, the new fires linked up with the hot, dry Santa Ana winds and soon became a driving firestorm of fearsome destruction and fury.

The infernos engulfed parts of Malibu and areas of Riverside, San Bernardino and San Diego counties--as Southern California still lay in shock amid the smoldering remains of blazes in Laguna Beach, Altadena and Thousand Oaks. The latest fires have injured many, destroyed vast acreage and ruined untold dreams. Even as firefighters and volunteers struggle to put out the latest firestorms near the Pacific and elsewhere, a major consideration is how to rebuild the ravaged areas to make them less vulnerable to future firestorms.

For years, building fire standards have been an issue before the Legislature. In the aftermath of one of the state’s worst fires, in the Oakland Hills in 1991, the Legislature passed two bills last year establishing some minimum statewide fire standards for home and building codes. Neither law, however, takes effect until 1995.

One measure directs the state Department of Forestry to map and classify the state into zones of fire severity. Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties are among the first seven counties to be mapped. New or rebuilt homes in the zones of highest fire risk will be required to have a Class B roof or better. (The highest standard is Class A, which requires a roof to be highly fire-resistant, such as an all-tile roof). Homes replacing 50% of a roof will have to have at least a Class B roof. The law also gives local jurisdictions power to enforce--with fines up to $500--an existing state mandate requiring homeowners to leave 30 feet of clearance between their house and adjoining flammable vegetation. The second measure will require new homes built throughout the state to have at least a Class C roof.

These statewide measures provide minimum standards, which can--and should--be exceeded by local building codes, particularly in areas known to be high risk. One out of five local jurisdictions already have requirements that are stricter than the new Class C roof requirement. Laguna, for example, already meets or exceeds state fire safety standards, and in new or remodeled homes prohibits wood shingle roofs or siding not treated with fire-resistant materials. Oakland requires material capable of resisting a fire for one hour to be used between wood decks and houses, and the elimination of vents in roof eaves.

Cities must also consider requiring rooftop sprinklers and, where possible, widening of narrow canyon roads. Also shrub clearance must be a top priority for many more hillside communities.

Nothing can totally protect homes from the evil of arsonists, who are suspected to be the culprits in some of the recent fires. But Southern California has to do all it can to protect itself--and to help those fire victims who are in need with voluntary contributions of food and clothing. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has quickly set up shop to help fire victims with claims and government assistance. That--and the courageous work of brave firefighters and cooperative citizens--is all we have against the madness of arson and the fury of fire.