1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: August 22, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Eric Garcia, Fire Chief
BY: David Burke, Fire Marshal/Battalion Chief
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Acknowledging Receipt of the Fiscal Year 2022- 23 Fire Inspection Performance Report
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK ACKNOWLEDGING RECEIPT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 20 22-23 FIRE INSPECTION
PERFORMANCE REPORT REGARDING REQUIRED ANNUAL INSPECTIONS IN OCCUPANCIES PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13146.2 , 13146.3 AND 13146.4 OF THE CALIFORNIA HEALTH AND SAFETY CODE (Attachment 1).
BACKG
ROUND
In 2016, the deadly Ghost Ship Fire occurred in Oakland, California. After this incident, State legislators reviewed fire safety laws, particularly the performance of fire inspections, and passed California Senate Bill 1205 (SB 1205) which became effective on January 1, 2019, and added Section 13146.4 to the California Health and Safety Code. The law requires that fire departments annually report their performance of state mandated fire inspections to their administering authority, which then acknowledges receipt of the report in a resolution. Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4 requires a report about the inspections of public and private schools, hotels, motels, lodging houses, apartments, and certain residential care facilities for compliance with building standards. A nnual inspections of these occupancies are mandated in California Health and Safety Code Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
2 DISCUSSION
The Burbank Fire Department (BFD) is dedicated to protecting lives, property, and the environment through vital community risk reduction services such as fire prevention inspections. Since August 13, 2019, BFD has annually provided to Council a Fire Inspection Performance Report (Attachment 2) summarizing BFD’s inspection activities in the preceding fiscal year for various categories of occupancies.
Educational Group E occupancies are generally those public and private schools, used by more than six persons at any one time for educational purposes through the 12th grade. In Burbank, there are 58 Group E occupancies. During Fiscal Year (FY) 2022-23, BFD completed the annual inspection of all 58 Group E occupancies, resulting in a 100% compliance rate. All inspections were completed by o ne Fire Engineer, who is assigned to the Fire Prevention Division.
Residential Group R occupancies generally contain sleeping units. This includes hotels, motels, apartments (three units or more), and certain residential care facilities. These residential care facilities have different sub-classifications and may contain residents with needs relating to custodial care, mobility impairments , and cognitive disabil ities. In Burbank, there are 2,25 2 Group R (and their associated sub- categories) occupancies.
During FY 2022- 23, BFD completed the annual inspection of all 2,252 Group R occupancies, resulting in a 100% compliance rate. These inspections are performed by Fire Prevention Bureau and Fire Suppression personnel.
In addition to the previously described inspections of educational and residential occupancies, during FY 2022 -23 BFD performed various other inspections for the following occupancy types: assembly, hazardous materials, business/mercantile, and fire hazard reduction program/brush clearance to further its fire prevention mission. Health and Safety Code Section 13146.4 does not require compliance reporting for these other inspections, but they are listed in the Fire Inspection Performance Report to provide a more complete picture of BFD’s fire prevention inspection activities.
In the FY 2023-24 budget, Council approved the addition of two new Fire Inspector I positions for BFD . Recruitment for these positions is currently in process and t hese positions will enhance the Fire Prevention Division workflow and improve fire inspection performance.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This required fire prevention inspection reporting has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
3 FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund Budget currently.
CONCLUSION
BFD will continue to evaluate and improve its fire inspection performance, specifically the staffing and workflow of the Fire Prevention Division. Staff recommends that the Council adopt a resolution acknowledging receipt of the FY 2022-23 Fire Inspection Performance Report regarding required annual inspections in occupancies pursuant to Sections 13146.2 and 13146.3 of the California Health and Safety Code.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment 1 – Resolution
Attachment 2 – FY 2022-23 Fire Inspection Performance Report