By Bianca Kaplanek – The Coast News

DEL MAR — As the city prepares to adopt state-mandated updates to its fire code, council members are seeking public input on local ordinances that would affect homeowners.

In a presentation at the May 5 meeting, Dismas Abelman, Solana Beach deputy fire chief, recommended provisions that would require eave protection and sprinkler systems in all new residential construction. Existing homes undergoing a remodel that costs more than 50 percent of the value of the house would also be subject to those same requirements. Linda Niles, director of planning and community development, said the city uses a prescribed formula to determine the 50 percent valuation.

Additionally, the proposed ordinances will prohibit wood- or shake-shingle roofs on any home in the city after 2013. Specific requirements are also being considered for homes located in an area referred to as the wild land urban interface, which is where urban land meets wild land.

Abelman said the importance of covering eaves became apparent during the wildfires last October. “Because of the velocity of the winds, the embers were traveling literally horizontally and getting underneath roofs and finding the most vulnerable portion of the home to attack,” he said.

Addressing the home sprinkler requirement, Abelman noted that 82 percent of all civilian fire deaths occur in the home. “That’s where people die in the fires,” he said, adding that according to the National Fire Protection Association, in the United States, “a person has never died in a home with a working fire protection system.”

Although council members unanimously supported the ordinances, most were hesitant to require residents to spend money they may not have.

“Something that imperils a whole community, certainly we can’t ignore,” Councilman Carl Hilliard said. “I don’t discount for a moment that we need to do what we can … to lower the risk of harm to our community. Some of the concerns I have is that (the requirements) impose some fairly stringent costs on our citizens.”

Councilwoman Crystal Crawford said she was also concerned about enforcing the ordinances, especially the roofing requirement. Abelman said insurance coverage could be an incentive. “Having a noncompliant roof would invalidate an insurance policy in the event of a fire,” Abelman said.

Mayor Dave Druker and Councilman Richard Earnest worked with the fire department to develop what Earnest called “practical, doable” solutions.

“The things we came up with … we thought were reasonable and ones that people, if given enough warning and time, could absorb,” Earnest said. “I don’t think any of us should kid ourselves into believing we’re going to be fireproof.”

But if enough residents can make significant changes, that would improve the city’s ability to survive a fire, he said.

“Things may have changed since last October, and I’d like to hear from the public whether they feel things have changed,” Councilman Henry Abarbanel said, adding that he was scared during the October wildfires.

“If there’s no objection from the public, I’m inclined to go along with the fire department as our experts on this matter,” Abarbanel said. “And if it’s money, what are we trading off the money for? According to the arguments we’ve heard … for lives.”

Council will hear public input and vote on adopting the ordinances at the June 2 meeting.

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