Draft Resolution- 2025 Building Standards Code Findings Conditions

Resolution 2025-XX Page 1 of 15 DRAFT
RESOLUTION NO. 2025-XX

A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF

FREMONT WITH FINDINGS OF LOCAL CONDITIONS
SUPPORTING AMENDMENTS TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE
CODE AND THE 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN

INTERFACE CODE ADOPTED BY THE CITY
WHEREAS, pursuant to California Health and Safety Code Section 17958 et seq., the City of Fremont (City) may adopt its own fire and building standards and regulations or submit to the state codes approved by the California Building Standards Commission; and WHEREAS, the City historically has adopted its own uniform regulations consisting of a combination of state building standards contained in the California Building Standards Code with amendments that address local conditions; and
WHEREAS, adoption of building and fire standards contained in the California Building Standards Code with local amendments require express findings that the amendments are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, geographic, or topographic conditions; and
WHEREAS, on September 9, 2025, the City Council conducted a public hearing during which members of the public had the opportunity to be heard and the Council considered oral and written testimony provided therein concerning the proposed introduction of the 2025 California Fire Code and 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code including the local amendments; and
WHEREAS, the City Council introduced the two ordinances on September 9, 2025, and scheduled a second public hearing for September 16, 2025 for adoption of the ordinances.

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FREMONT RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City Council finds that the local amendments to the 2025 California Fire Code and 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code introduced by the City Council are reasonably necessary to address the local climatic, geological, geographic, and topographical conditions as described in Attachment 1, attached hereto and incorporated into this resolution by reference.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 2 of 15 ADOPTED ___________ 2025, by the City Council of the City of Fremont by the following vote:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

_________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
__________________________________
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_________________________________
City Attorney

Resolution 2025-XX Page 3 of 15 ATTACHMENT 1 TO RESOLUTION 2025-XX

LOCAL CONDITIONS SUPPORTING AMENDMENTS TO THE 2025 CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE AND 2025 CALIFORNIA WILDLAND URBAN INTERFACE CODE AS

ADOPTED BY THE FREMONT CITY COUNCIL

INTRODUCTION
City of Fremont Ordinances XX-2025 and XX-2025 contain amendments, deletions and additions to the building standards contained in the 2025 California Building Code, 2025 Mechanical Code, 2025 Residential Code , 2025 Existing Building Code, 2025 California Fire Code, and the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code. These modifications are reasonably necessary because of the climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions found in the City of Fremont. In accordance with Health and Safety Code Sections 179 58, 17958.5, 17958.7, and 18941.5, this document describes the climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions found in the City of Fremont and the specific modifications and the local conditions determined by the City of Fremont to make each modification to the building standards codes reasonably necessary.

PART I:

LOCAL CONDITIONS
A. Profile of the City of Fremont
The City of Fremont encompasses an area of roughly 90 square miles, with a resident population of approximately 230,000 people. The physical location of the City is in the southern portion of Alameda County, with the City of Union City to the north, City of Newark to the west, City of San Jose and City of Milpitas to the south and the unincorporated areas of Alameda County to the east.

The City of Fremont has a large supply of diverse and high quality housing units, and a wide range of industries , including a variety of advanced manufacturing, alternative energy, life science firms, a vehicle assembly plant, warehousing and distribution businesses, and a city center with several million square feet of office, retail, and medical facilities.

The balance of developed and undeveloped open lands has been a goal of the City of Fremont and is reflected in the steep forested ridges and foothills to the northeast, bay lands to the west, and some vast open spaces including: Central Park, Quarry Lakes, Coyote Hills, Vargas Plateau, Mission Peak and Ardenwood Forrest regional parks and the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge, which are scattered throughout the City.

Winding through the City of Fremont are two major interstate highways; Interstate 880, known as the Nimitz Freeway, and Interstate 680, known as the Sinclair Freeway as well as State Routes 84, 238 and 262. The Union Pacific and Bay Area Rapid Transit railroad tracks also wind through the City of Fremont.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 4 of 15 B. Local Conditions Create Potential for Major Fires and Earthquakes The climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions found in the City of Fremont create a heightened risk of large loss fires and damaging earthquakes, making changes and modifications to the 2025 California Building Code, 2025 Mechanical Code, 2025 Residential Building Code, 2025 California Existing Building Code, 2025 California Fire, and the 2025 California Wildland Urban Interface Code reasonably necessary in order to provide a reasonable degree of fire and life safety in this community. These conditions are discussed in detail below.

1. Climatic conditions
a. Precipitation. The weather patterns within the City of Fremont are moderately affected by the Pacific Ocean and the San Francisco Bay, which extends the seasonal growing patterns of the vegetation. The normal annual precipitation ranges from eight to thirty inches (8 " to 30") per year with an average of approximately fifteen inches (15") per year. Ninety percent (90%) falls during the months of November through April, and ten percent (10%) from May through October.

The City of Fremont has experienced major droughts in the past and the frequency and intensity are likely to increase in the future. Drought conditions create more frequent and larger fire incidents, especially wildfire events in the hill areas , as well as the primary transportation and utility corridors of the City.
b. Relative Humidity. Humidity generally ranges from 60% during daytime to 80% at night. Humidity can frequently drop to 40% during the summer months and occasionally drops lower.
c. Fog. Radiation fog from the Central Valley enters the Bay Area through the Carquinez Strait during wintertime offshore flow. It can also spill into the Fremont area over the Sunol Pass from the Livermore Valley. Dense fog can develop overnight when these c onditions include a moist lower layer (i.e. following recent rain), clear skies and calm winds. Dense fog is not very common but can have a great impact upon transportation because of reduced visibility. d. Temperatures/Extreme Heat . Temperatures have been recorded as high as 109°F.

Average summer highs are in the 80°F range. Fremont is projected to experience increased annual average temperatures and additional heat waves over the coming decades. The daily average temperature is projected to increase up to 3.5 °F by 2050 with approximately 12 to 16 days above 90°F by 2050. Periods of extreme heat can also worsen local air quality, especially when combined with wildfire smoke.
e. Wildfire Risk. Fremont has very high fire hazard severity zones in many areas of the city. Climate change is expected to worsen many of the factors that contribute to wildfire risk through increased intensity of droughts and by creating hotter and drier landscapes more susceptible to burning. The increase in fuel loads combined with the increa sing frequency and severity of intense wind conditions will cause fires to spread rapidly and irregularly. Additionally, Fremont residents will be impacted by smoke from wildfires originating outside of the city.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 5 of 15 f. Winds. Prevailing winds are from the west or northwest. However, winds are experienced from virtually every direction at one time or another. Velocities are generally in the 8 mph to 10 mph range, gusting to 25 to 35 mph, particularly during the summer months. Extreme winds, up to 85 mph, have been known to occur.

Analysis. These local climatic conditions affect the acceleration, intensity, and size of fires in the community. The dry winds result in increased demand for emergency response by the Fire Department by drying the fuel load and increasing the risk of ignition, and by spreading fire more rapidly and across a broader area. The winds can have a tremendous impact upon wildland fires, wood shake and shingle roof fires and fires involving the interiors of buildings. In building fires, winds can force fires b ack into the building and create a blow torch effect, while preventing "natural" ventilation and cross-ventilation efforts. In developed areas of the City, fires can occur in buildings, rubbish, vehicles, and vegetation on vacant lots. In undeveloped and hillside areas of the City, there is a risk of large vegetation fires. Times of little or no rainfall, combined with low humidity and high temperatures, create extremely hazardous conditions, particularly as they relate to wood shake and shingle roof fires and conflagrations. If a fire occurs, local dry conditions combined with high winds create the risk of potential fire storms. At other times, reduced visibility and traffic accidents due to dense fog can increase demand on emergency services and incre ase emergency response time.

In addition, local residential development has been occurring in hillside areas adjacent to the historically designated hazardous fire area. These developments increase the chance of wildfire, while simultaneously being located further from fire stations, delaying critical response times.

2. Geological or topographical conditions
a. Seismic Hazard. A table from a 1998 Association of Bay Area Governments publication shows that the southern section of the Hayward Fault is slipping at a rate of 9 mm per year and can generate an earthquake with a moment magnitude of 7.0. As of September 1998, the southern section of the Hayward Fault was identified as having a 23% possibility of generating a major earthquake in the next 30 years. 1 Fremont is a narrow and long city. The Hayward Fault traverses the City in a longitudinal direction; cons equently, most sites in the City will be subject to a near -fault effect and can expect significant damage or collapse of buildings. Secondary impacts could include ruptured gas lines, collapsed power lines, and breaks in the water distribution system.

The proximity of the northern segment of the Hayward Fault must also be taken into consideration. The northern segment has been estimated to be capable of generating a magnitude

7.1 earthquake with a 28% possibility of an occurrence in the next 30 years. Due to proximity and directivity effects2 and shaking amplification,3 a major earthquake on the northern segment of the Hayward Fault can be anticipated to cause substantial damage in Fremont.

The combined probability of damage to buildings in the City of Fremont as a result of an earthquake along either segment of the Hayward Fault stands above 28% in the next 30 years.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 6 of 15 b. Soil Conditions . Surface soils in Fremont vary from bay mud (very expansive) to alluvial fan material (moderately to highly expansive). Expansive soils swell and shrink with variations in moisture content resulting in (1) differential "settlement" of structures, and (2) variations in surface storm water runoff. In addition, soft soil in combination with the presence of a high-water table can cause liquefaction in some sites in the event of major earthquake shaking.

Structures built on soils prone to liquefaction have a greater probability of severe damage in an earthquake than buildings on other soil types.

Landslides and mudslides have been experienced within the City of Fremont, along Interstate 680 south of Curtner Road, in Niles Canyon and on the westerly slopes of Mission Peak, Mt. Allison and Monument Peak. When slopes fail and landslides occur in the developed areas, creeks and streams below the slide area become dammed with slide debris, which results in flooding. Additionally, landslides often block access roads in the hill area due to slope failure.

This has occurred in the past on major single ac cess roads in the City such as Morrison Canyon Road, which is currently closed in the midway section , Mill Creek Road, Interstate 680, Niles Canyon Road, and Sabercat Road , which lie downhill from area s subject to landslides and slope instability.
c. Vegetation. Dry grass and brush are common in the hilly and open space areas during six to eight months of each year. The woodland areas along Niles Canyon, Morrison Canyon, Mission Creek and various other canyons in the hills have stands of eucalyptus, oaks, redwo ods and other broad -leafed evergreen trees. The dropped dried leaves, branches, dead trees and undergrowth of brush within these hills and canyons contribute to fuel -loading. The fire danger presented by these conditions is exacerbated by dry hot winds associated with the summer months (May through October). Many of these areas experience wildland fires that threaten nearby buildings - particularly those with wood roofs or wood siding. During the dry season, more fire department resources can be occupied with vegetation fires, which occasionally results in fewer resources being available for structure fires, than during the rest of the year. d. Hills, Creeks, Canals, Freeways, Railways, Housing Tracts, Large Buildings and Building Complexes. Fremont is characterized by hills, creeks, canals, freeways, railways, housing tracts, large buildings and building complexes. All these surface features, both natural and manmade, have a major adverse effect upon the road and street layout in this community, including major traffic routes. These conditions limit the number and cause indirect routing of major arterial streets for normal traffic as well as emergency vehicle response. e. Terrain. Areas with buildings include level, sloping and rolling terrain. This terrain is not dissimilar to terrain in other locations, which have already experienced major conflagrations. f. Roads and Streets. During the peak a.m. and p.m. traffic periods, the City experiences very heavy traffic congestion at key intersections and near freeway on -ramps and off-ramps. As noted above, the limited number and the indirect routing of some roads and streets in the community can create heavy, slow traffic conditions and excessively long travel routes from point- to-point within the community. Thus, in the event of an emergency at a key intersection, overpass, underpass, bridge, or other circulati on corridor, sections of the City may become temporarily isolated and response times for emergency crews increased beyond ideal times.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 7 of 15 Hillsides and slopes, caused by the mountains and hills surrounding the northeastern boundaries of the City of Fremont, have roadways with designated surfaces (grades) of 15% maximum; however, there are some private roadways and driveways to building sites with roadway surfaces in excess of 20%. These conditions can further slow emergency vehicle response times.

Intersections are rated on a level of service scale (LOS). This scale is “A” for excellent operational conditions to “F”, which represents a poor ratio. In the General Plan, dated December 2011, chapter 3 of the Mobility Study evaluated 68 intersections. Of the intersections evaluated, ten (10) received a LOS of “D” or less for both a.m. and p.m. peak hours. These less than satisfactory or failing marks reflect “barriers” which reduce the response time of emergency equipment.

g. Population. The current and rapidly growing population in the community creates both fire and police protection problems:
(i) With more people, more emergency incidents requiring a public safety response occur.

The greater the frequency of alarms, the greater the likelihood that there will be simultaneous emergency incidents requiring public safety response. This results in longer response times and fewer fire companies or police units to respond to any emergency within the community; and
(ii) With more people, there is more traffic congestion during a greater part of the day.

Such traffic congestion not only slows emergency vehicle response but often restricts access to crime and fire scenes.
h. Buildings, Landscaping and Clearances . Many of the newer large buildings and building complexes are of designs which greatly limit visibility, approach and accessibility by public safety resources. Many houses and other buildings with wood roofs or sidings are so close together that fire will readily spread from one to another by both radiation and convection. i. Water Supply. The water supply (domestic, industrial and fire -flow demands) system within the City of Fremont is directly affected by the topographical layout of the City. The water distribution system operates from eleven (11) reservoirs that are supported by twelve (12) booster pump stations strategically located throughout the City of Fremont. This water distribution system provides adequate water (fire-flow of 2,000 GPM) in most parts of the City; while some hydrants still provide less than 500 GPM.
j. Business and Industry Centers. The current clusters of high-tech, biotech, green-tech and manufacturing businesses create additional demands on water, sewer and electrical facilities and offer opportunities and access to innovative products and technology:
(i) The more businesses, the greater the demands on water, sewer and power facilities during peak mid-day periods and could lead to shortages and service interruptions that can affect health and safety; and
Resolution 2025-XX Page 8 of 15 (ii). The availability of high-tech, biotech and green-tech businesses creates unique access to innovative products and technology to reduce energy and water use and reduce waste discharge to mitigate business demands.

Analysis. The above local geologic and topographic conditions increase fire frequency, magnitude, exposure and accessibility problems and have a negative impact upon the response capability of public safety resources. Seismic hazards in combination with soils conditions have the potential to produce substantial structure damage or structural failure, multiple major fires and additional fire dangers, as well as place great strain on police, firefighting and rescue resources. A seismic event could also trigger widespread damage to hazardous material storage vessels and cause substantial hazardous material releases into the environment. In addition, the quantity of Police and Fire Department resources that can arrive within an effective time is limited. A major seismic event would disrupt transportation systems that already limit emergency response due to congestion, steep terrain, landslide vulnerability, firestorm vulnerability, reduced visibility and indirect routing.

3. Causes & Effects of Climate Change
Daily economic and development activities within Fremont rely on the combustion of fuels to supply energy to buildings, transport people and goods, and manufacture goods, as well result in the decomposition of waste materials in the landfills. Such activit ies emit atmospheric gases with global warming potential, including but not limited to carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane, and ozone. Over the next century, increasing levels of atmospheric greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations are expected to result in global temperature increases, causing a variety of local changes including sea level rise, more frequent heat waves and extended periods of drought. Local risks associated with climate change include:
a. Fire. Fires in the urban environment and in the wildland-urban interface result in direct damage to the built environment and can injure or kill residents. Wildland fires can cause damage to linear infrastructure systems that serve the Bay Area, causing outages downstream, can impact the air quality in cities during the duration of the fire, and can impact water quality in watersheds impacted by a wildland fire. Wildland and wildland-urban interface fires can also damage natural environments, such as recr eational areas, and can cause lasting impacts to slopes and soils .

Wildfire risk increases due to climate change because of higher temperatures and longer dry periods over a longer fire season. Additionally, wildfire risk will also be influenced by potential changes in vegetation.
b. Landslides. Climate change could change the behavior of winter storms. If winters are compressed, with more rain falling in fewer months, or if individual years are more extreme, the chance of rainfall-induced landslide will increase. Additionally, if fires burn greater portions of landslide-vulnerable hillsides, removing vegetation and increasing storm runoff, the landslide probability will increase.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 9 of 15 c. Drought. Drought occurs over several dry years, depleting reservoirs and groundwater basins without the expected annual recharge from winter precipitation. Climate change is likely to increase the number and severity of future droughts, resulting in drier conditions, and will alter the timing and efficiency of the Bay Area water supply. An increase in temperature and a reduction in snowpack are the two most direct effects of climate change that will result in a drier state with fewer natural water resources than historically have been available. Prolonged periods of drought can reduce water supply for regional crops and livestock feed ; i ncreased w ildfire hazard; and subsidence. F ire hazard increases whe re drought conditions are high. Additionally, drought reduces the water supplies available to fight wildfires, leading to larger and more extended fires. d. Sea Level Rise. Globally, sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion caused by the ocean warming and the melting of land ‐based ice, such as glaciers and polar ice caps. Without intervention, rising sea levels may cause more frequent flooding, longer -duration flooding, erosion, overtopping and increased salinity intrusion. Sea level rise can cause shoreline protection, such as levees, berms and revetments, to be damaged or fail due to increased tidal and wave energy.

Levee failure poses a great risk to life and property in areas where levees protect surrounding property from sea level rise, surge and flooding. The City has two primary levees. One is located along Alameda Creek protecting North Fremont and the other along Coyote Creek protecting the south Baylands area. If the levees were to fail, then property adjacent to these areas would be susceptible to flooding and flood damage. As sea levels rise, groundwater and salinity levels are also predicted to rise , causing damage to below grade living spaces and electrical/mechanical equipment that is below or at -grade. In addition, increasing groundwater levels may increase liquefaction susceptibility, and require the use of pumping of stormwater for flood management, which will increase both operations and maintenance costs. e. Extreme Heat. Fremont can experience extreme heat days, where the Heat Index, a function of heat a nd relative humidity, is high. Extreme heat days pose a public health threat, causing symptoms, such as, exhaustion, heat cramps, and sunstroke if the Heat Index is over 90F.

Heat emergencies occur when residents are subject to heat exhaustion and heatstroke and are more likely to occur in areas not adapted to heat and without air conditioning, cooling centers, or vegetation to mediate heat impacts in exposed areas. Certain populations are typically the most at risk during extreme heat emergencies, including people with disabilities, chronic diseases, the elderly, and children. Climate change is expected to generate an increase in ambient average air temperature, particularly in the summer. The frequency, intensity, and duration of extreme heat events and heat waves are also expected as regional climate impacts.

Analysis. Increases in greenhouse gas emissions result in climatic changes that can have an adverse impact on the local community. Failure to address and significantly reduce these greenhouse gas emissions can cause global temperature increases, resulting in the increased likelihood of and exacerbating the damage caused by such events. Infrastructure and ecosystem damage caused by these events put at risk the health, well-being, and livelihoods of Fremont residents and businesses. Efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at a local level will help to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 10 of 15 Greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts include: energy and water efficiency measures; renewable energy generation; localized energy storage; fuel switching (i.e. switching from energy sources with a higher global warming potential like natural gas, gasoline, and diesel to those with a lower or no global warming potential like hydrogen fuel, biogas, wind turbines, solar photovoltaics, hydropower, or geothermal energy); use of low carbon materials in construction and manufacturing; alternative transportation; and waste reduction, recycling, and reuse of materials. Additional efforts to capture and sequester GHG emissions as well as to adapt to the effects of climate change are also important to consider.

4. Conclusion
Local climatic, geologic, and topographic conditions impact crime prevention efforts and the frequency, spread acceleration, intensity, and size of fires involving buildings, strength of building structural systems to resist local hazards, and ability to deliver uninterrupted water, sewer and power utility services in this community. Further, the potential for significant damage arising from these conditions is found to make it reasonably necessary that the 2025 California Building Code, 2025 California Me chanical Code, 2025 California Residential Building Code, 2025 California Existing Building, 2025 California Fire Code , and 2025 California Wildland -Urban Interface Code be changed or modified to mitigate the effects of the above conditions.

PART II:

SPECIFIC MODIFICATIONS
A. Amendments to the 2025 California Fire Code & 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code
Time is the eternal enemy to the firefighter. The elapsed time from ignition to extinguishment is directly proportional to the amount of heat, smoke and toxic gases created from a fire. This information demonstrates the rapid growth of heat, flame and toxi c properties of fire over time. Professional sources indicate that as temperature increases over time, survivability of occupants and conservation of property decreases. (Fire Protection Handbook 19th ed., the National Fire Protection Association).

Local environmental factors including topographical, geological and climatic conditions contribute to the likelihood of major fire , wildland fire, rescue and toxic containment operations as well as contribute to emergency response delays. Mitigation systems aid in the confinement, extinguishment and notification of occupants to allow for evacuation and will assist in the further reduction of injury and fatalities to life and the loss of property.

The modifications proposed to the California Fire Code and the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code are designed to mitigate the response time delays, increase survivability, and mitigate the impact of hazardous materials incidents , fires, and wildfires caused by the climatic, geologic and topographic conditions present in the City of Fremont. For all of the reasons listed below, these regulations are needed to reduce human and property losses due to fire, wildland fires or hazardous materials releases in the City of Fremont.

Resolution 2025-XX Page 11 of 15

1. Modification to 2025 California Fire Code Section 508 Local Conditions Part I B.1.c, B.2.a, B.2.d, and B.2.h.

This modification to the Fire Code may require the dedication of a fire command center.

Because of the nature of mid-rise buildings, more people are required to coordinate and execute a response to more remote areas of these structures. It is typical for a confirmed mid -rise fire to require six engines, two trucks, and two Battalion Chiefs to deal with the initial emergency and logistical needs at the scene. This code modification allows the fire department to strategically place a fire command center within these structures.

The fire command center will improve fire ground assessment, coordination and rescue efforts during an emergency, thereby increasing firefighting efficiency. The increased efficiency will correspondingly reduce injury to persons and property in mid -rise fires. By improving the delivery of services and reducing the demand on fire department resources in mid -rise structures, more emergency personnel are available for other emergencies, either during dry seasons to combat wildfires in the hill areas or after a seismic event.

2. Modifications to 2025 California Fire Code Sections 903, 904, and 905 (Fire Extinguishing Systems)
Local Conditions Part I B.1.a through B.1.f and B.2.a through B.2.j This series of modifications generally requires the installation of an automatic fire extinguishing system (AFES) in all new buildings excluding Group U, Division 1 (private garages, carports, sheds and agricultural buildings). AFES’, the alternatives presented, and standpipe systems are effective in confining, extinguishing, or aiding in the extinguishment of a fire, as well as reducing the amount of toxic gases and smoke generated by a fire. They also allow people to safely evacuate the building and can confine the fire until emergency resources arrive at the scene.

An AFES throughout a structure serves to limit the loss of life and property.

AFES’ will help mitigate dry, hot seasonal local conditions that contribute to fire ignition and fire loss. They will also help mitigate emergency response delays that impair the survival of people and structures, whether those delays are caused by the na ture of the City’s transportation system, impairment of the transportation system by fog, earthquakes, firestorms, congestion and other local conditions, or deployment of firefighting resources to other emergency situations during major disasters, such as firestorms or earthquakes. AFES’ will also help mitigate fire and structural vulnerability in other structures and locations by helping to extinguish fires sooner, thereby freeing up firefighting and rescue resources.

3. Modifications to 2025 California Fire Code Sections 907 and 914 (Fire Alarm and Detection Systems)
Local Conditions Part I B.1.a through B.1.e and B.2.a through B.2.j

Resolution 2025-XX Page 12 of 15 This series of modifications requires that fire alarm and detection systems be installed to nationally recognized standards and that they “alarm” or signal with a more specific location within a building. The installation of more specific fire alarm and detection devices helps to minimize the amount of time firefighters need to determine the nature and extent of a fire and provides occupants additional time to escape.

The installation of emergency voice/alarm communication systems improves the fire department incident commander’s ability to control or give instruction to the large number of people that would be expected to be present throughout a covered mall or Buildings four or more stories in height.

4. Modifications to 2025 California Wildfire Urban Interface Code Sections 101, 103, 109, 202, 301, 302, 501, 504, and 602 (Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Areas) Local Conditions Part I B.1.a through B.1.f and B.2.a, B.2.c through B.2.i This series of modifications generally allows the fire department to require Community Protection Plans, new or remodeled structures to comply with enhanced Building Standards and establishes the need for Defensible Spaces around structures in the Wildland -Urban Interface Areas. These requirements help mitigate dry, hot seasonal local conditions that contribute to fire ignition, its spread and ultimately fire loss.

Pre-established Community Protection Plans can help mitigate emergency response delays that impair the survival of people and structures, whether those delays are caused by the nature of the City’s transportation system, impairment of the transportation sy stem by fog, earthquakes, firestorms, congestion and other local conditions, or deployment of firefighting resources to other emergency situations during a major disaster. The enhanced construction and defensible space requirements also improve the ignition resistance of, and the fire spread toward these structures in the event of a fire in the Wildland-Urban Interface Area.

Fires in Los Angeles, Palisades, Eaton, Santa Barbara, the Oakland Hills and Malibu have shown that fires in hill areas spread rapidly and, in all of these fires, burned out of control for a long time resulting in many deaths and major devastation. Post-fire analyses revealed that noncombustible buildings and those with certain fire-resistant construction had a much higher level of survivability.5
The Fire Hazard Zone in Fremont is extremely similar to the fire zones in Oakland, Santa Barbara, and Malibu. The climate is very similar to Oakland except that Fremont is dryer and hotter during the summer. The winds pass through Fremont with the same speed and intensity as the Santa Ana winds in Southern California. The potential of a major fire occurring in the Fremont Fire Hazard Zone is substantially the same as the regions named above.

The proposed construction measures are targeted to enhance the fire resistivity of structures located in the Wildland-Urban Interface Fire Area and thereby provide a reasonable level of safety for the occupants of those structures.6

5. Modifications 2025 California Fire Code Sections 202, 5001, 5003-5005, 5701, 5703, 5705 and 6004 (Hazardous Materials Related Requirements) Resolution 2025-XX Page 13 of 15 Local Conditions Part I B.1.c, B.1.e, B.2.a, B.2.d, and B.2.f through B.2.j These modifications to the California Fire Code provide extra protection systems for management and use of hazardous materials, including flammable and toxic gases, liquids and solids. These provisions require increased spill containment, improved seconda ry containment mechanisms for a wider range of hazardous materials, lower quantity thresholds and construction and monitoring for hazardous materials systems.

These changes are necessitated by the likelihood of substantial earthquake events in Fremont. Intense shaking during earthquakes increases the risk of hazardous material being released, whether directly caused by the earthquake shaking, or indirectly as the result of structural failure or earthquake -caused fires. The improved management and containment measures will mitigate the possibility of containment failure during an earthquake, and correspondingly reduce the likelihood of injury to persons and loss of property caused by the release of hazardous material to the environment.

6. Modifications to 2025 California Fire Code Chapter 56 Local Conditions Part I B.1.a through B.1.e and B.2.a through B.2.j These modifications to the California Fire Code maintain the prohibition on fireworks and periodic management of explosives within the City of Fremont as established in the California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 1, Chapter 10 respectively.

7. Modifications to 2025 California Fire Code Chapter 80 Local Conditions Part I B.1.a through B.1.e and B.2.a through B.2.j The Standard referenced in Chapter 80 (Highly Toxic and Toxic Materials) is NFPA 13 and is being changed to align with the provisions of Section 903 of the California Fire Code.

Prepared and Submitted by:

______________________________
Zoraida Diaz
Fire Chief

______________________________
Eric Govan
Fire Marshal

Resolution 2025-XX Page 14 of 15

References:

1 Jeanne Perkins, On Shaky Ground Supplement, Association of Bay Area Governments.

September 1998. pg. 17.

2 John Boatwright and Jeanne Perkins, On Shaky Ground. Association of Bay Area Governments, April 1995. pp. 6,7.

3 Wilfred D. Quan, Near Fault Seismic Issues. EERI Annual Meeting, 1997.

4 Drs. Charles Scawthorn and Mahmoud Khater, Fire Following Earthquake, Conflagration Potential in the Greater Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle and Memphis Areas. National Committee on Property Insurance. 1992. Figure 3-7, Section 3-23.

5 Scawthorn and Khater, Fire Following Earthquake.

6 Scawthorn and Khater, Fire Following Earthquake. Section 3-15.

Fremont City CouncilSeptember 9, 2025

Fremont City Council
September 9, 2025