Fire Marshal's Message

The objective of the Fire Prevention Division is to reduce the threat of life and property loss by providing community outreach, managing fuel break and weed abatement programs, reviewing plans and inspecting construction projects, and conducting annual inspections on local businesses and multi-family housing to ensure maintenance of safe conditions.

The fuel break program uses goat grazing and hand crews to create a strip of land with reduced vegetation around most exterior parts of the City, and some interior canyons.  This helps to significantly reduce flame length and radiant heat from an approaching fire and increases the potential for survival of the homes and neighborhoods adjacent to the fuel break strip.   This program was started 30 years ago, and is still being expanded.

The weed abatement program addresses invasive weeds and grasses on properties throughout the City.   With the removal of these weeds, the potential for fire ignition is reduced, and the ability of a fire to spread quickly is decreased.  There are approximately 400 properties in the program, and the weeds are abated annually and verified by Fire Prevention Division staff.

The Division reviews plans and conducts inspections for new construction and remodels of multi-family, commercial and industrial occupancies for compliance with all applicable state, federal and municipal codes.  This includes fuel modification in landscapes and fire / life safety in multi-family and commercial buildings.  Review and inspection of fire protection systems and other fire code permitted conditions is also conducted.  NOTE:  Review and inspections for all single family homes, duplexes, and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) is conducted by the Building Division of the Community Development Department.  This includes associated fire protection systems (sprinklers, alarms) and fuel modification.  Please contact them for more information.

Annual inspections of local businesses and multi-family housing are conducted by the engine companies, with support from the Prevention Division.   The Fire Department’s four engine companies conduct a total 1,665 inspections each year and follow up to verify corrections have been made.  State mandated inspections of all multi-family occupancies, transient and non-transient, have been given the highest priority due to their potential hazard to human life.

Please contact the Fire Prevention Division with any questions at:  firemarshal@lagunabeachcity.net or 949-497-0352.

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