REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: BILLY ALCORN, Fire Chief
Fire Department
SUBJECT
Title
Actions pertaining to Repealing the 2022 California Fire Code and Adopting of the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments:
1. Adopt a finding that this project is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3) as there is clearly no possibility the adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code or local amendments may have a significant adverse effect on the environment
2. ***RESOLUTION - Adopt Resolution making express findings that modifications or changes to the 2025 California Fire Code, 2025 California Historical Building Code, and 2025 California Residential Code are reasonably necessary because of local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions (Subject to Mayor’s Veto)
3. BILL (For Introduction) – Adopting express findings of necessity related to local climatic, topographical, and geological conditions, which make the City’s amendments to the California Fire Code reasonably necessary, repealing Article 10 of Chapter 5, and adding Article 10 to Chapter 5 of the Fresno Municipal Code relating to fire and life safety regulations
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that Council approve the following:
1. Adopt the finding that this project is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines, Section 15061(b)(3).
2. Consider and adopt the attached Resolution making express findings that modifications or changes to the 2025 California Fire Code, 2025 California Historical Building Code, and 2025 California Residential Code are reasonably necessary.
3. BILL (For Introduction) – Adopting express findings that the City’s amendments to the Municipal Code relating to relating to fire and life safety regulations are reasonable and necessary, repealing Article 10 of Chapter 5, and adding Article 10 to Chapter 5 of the Fresno Municipal Code relating to fire and life safety regulations.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Fire Department is requesting the City Council adopt the 2025 California Fire Code with local amendments. Every three years, the California Building Standards Code (CBSC) is reviewed (and modified where applicable) then adopted by the California Building Standards Commission. In 2024, the Commission voted to adopt the 2025 edition of the CBSC which includes the 2025 edition of the California Fire Code, 2025 edition of the California Historical Building Code, and 2025 California Residential Code. The CBSC will go into effect January 1, 2026.
The City of Fresno Municipal Code contains these standards, which are adopted or modified as necessary to ensure the safety of our residents and firefighters. Staff is introducing the attached Resolution and Ordinance to be considered for adoption. This year’s adoption process has been significantly abbreviated because Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 130 in June of 2025, which significantly curtails the City’s ability to modify residential building standards unless they are in place by September 1, 2025.
This ordinance generally carries forward existing, previously adopted, building standards related to fire and public safety. Failure to adopt these building standards would constitute a significant reduction in safety to our residents, particularly in residential occupancies.
BACKGROUND
The 2025 CBSC incorporates the 2024 edition of the International Fire Code with necessary California amendments. The 2025 CBSC will become effective on January 1, 2026 and is mandated by the California Building Standards Commission for statewide adoption and enforcement. The City of Fresno has the authority to make necessary modifications to the State adopted codes.
Modifications that are administrative in nature do not require express findings, however, non- administrative modifications to building standards in the California Fire Code must be supported by an express finding relating to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions. Additionally, any modification to building standards and to other provisions of the California Fire Code adopted by the California State Fire Marshal cannot be less restrictive in the specific requirements of those provisions.
In June of 2025 Governor Newsom signed Assembly Bill 130 which significantly reduces the time available for the City’s adoption process. This is because Assembly Bill 130 restricts the City from making a modification or change to any building standard, affecting a residential unit, from October 1, 2025, to June 1, 2031, unless those building standards are fully adopted and in place by September 1, 2025.
FINDINGS REGARDING LOCAL CLIMATIC, TOPOGRAPHICAL AND GEOLOGICAL CONDITIONS THAT MAKE THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CALIFORNIA FIRE CODE REASONABLY NECESSARY
The express findings relating to local climatic, geological, or topographical conditions, including an analysis of the modifications, may be found in the proposed Resolution and Ordinance. The following is a brief summary of the local climatic, topographical, and geological conditions, which make the amendments to the California Fire Code reasonably necessary, including that the City of Fresno experiences extreme temperatures and foggy conditions, has a water supply which may experience low pressure, may be subject to significant seismic activity, has poor air quality, and lower density
development pattern facilitated by the local topography.
1. CLIMATIC – EXTREME TEMPERATURES, ARIDITY & FOG
1.1 As documented in the 2025 Fresno General Plan and the Master Environmental Impact Report No. 10130 for the General Plan, during the summer months the City of Fresno (City) experiences periods of what can only be described as extreme heat.
The last three years’ worth of the “Local Climatological Data Annual Summary with Comparative Data” reports for 2022, 2023, and 2024 promulgated by the United States Department of Commerce, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Climatic Data Center demonstrate this condition. In the 2022 summary, the mean daily maximum temperature for Fresno in June, July, August and September is: 96.1°F, 100.8°F, 101.7°F and 95.3°F respectively. In 2023 the same information is noted as: 87.8°F, 101.8°F, 97.5°F and 88.7°F and in 2024 was: 97.0°F, 105.3°F, 98.4°F and 94.5°F.
Though Health & Safety Code § 17958.7 does not require the local conditions to be unique to a particular jurisdiction, the temperature charts demonstrate that the temperatures experienced in Fresno are extreme when compared to temperatures experienced in other parts of California.
1.2 Because of the extreme heat Fresno experiences during the summer months, Fresno firefighters responding to fires and other incidents requiring the evacuation of a building are regularly exposed to temperatures in excess of 101ºF degrees, when accounting for their protective gear, exposing them to the probability of heat cramps, heat exhaustion and possibly heat stroke.
1.3 These dry climatic conditions also contribute to the rapid spread of even small fires. These rapidly spreading fires create a need for increased levels of fire protection. The added protection of automatic fire sprinkler systems and other fire protection features supplement normal fire department response by providing immediate protection for the building occupants and by containing and controlling the spread of fire.
1.4 The City is also susceptible to periods of heavy fog, which dramatically reduces operator visibility during fire apparatus operation, and reduces fire apparatus speeds. Fog also results in multiple vehicle collisions by private motorists which reduce emergency response capacity for extended periods of time. Together these factors increase the need for additional fire protection features like automatic fire sprinkler systems.
2. GEOLOGICAL – WATER SUPPLIES & EARTHQUAKES
2.1 The Fresno City Metropolitan Area relies primarily on groundwater for its municipal water supply. According to the California Department of Water Resources (2020), the Kings basin (our underground aquifer) is in a state of critical overdraft.
2.2 Due to the hot, dry summers in the Fresno area, domestic water demand can substantially reduce the ability of the public water system to dependably meet the larger fire flow pressures that may be required during a significant fire event. Additionally, the City is served by two private water purveyors which also routinely display lower fire flow pressures.
2.3 The City has significant earthquake risk. A severe seismic event has the potential to negatively impact fire suppression, and other life-threatening response capability because it is likely to create obstacles on roadways, slowing fire apparatus response. History has shown that an increased numbers of fires will occur as a result of significant earthquake damage and the inclusion of additional fire protection features like automatic fire sprinkler systems will help to suppress fires during these challenging times.
3. TOPOGRAPHICAL – POOR AIR QUALITY CAUSED BY THE TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AIR BASIN
3.1 As a result of the San Joaquin Valley's topography, the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin (SJVAP) is predisposed to poor air quality. High mountain ranges surrounding the Valley frequently create air layer inversions that prevent mixing of air masses. The large number of sunny days per year, and high temperatures in the summer, favors the formation of ozone. In nearly all seasons, inversions form that often trap particulate matter.
3.2 The California Air Resources Board have classified the San Joaquin Valley Air Basin as extreme non-attainment/extreme (Federal standards) and non-attainment (State standards) Ozone 8 – hour. PM10 is suspended particulate matter that is less than 10 microns in size. Given its small size, PM10 can remain airborne for long periods and can be inhaled, pass through the respiratory system, and lodge in the lungs. The City continues to be in non-attainment status for PM10. Automatic fire sprinkler systems help reduce air pollution by limiting the amount of particulate matter in the air during any fire event.
3.3 Smoke is composed primarily of carbon dioxide, water vapor, carbon monoxide, particulate matter, hydrocarbons and other organic chemicals, nitrogen oxides, trace minerals and several thousand other compounds. Particulate matter is the principal pollutant of concern from some for the relatively short-term exposures (hours to weeks) typically experienced by the public. Particulate matter in wood smoke has a size range near the wavelength of visible light (.4-.7 micrometers). Since these particles can be inhaled into the deepest recesses of the lungs they are thought to represent a greater health concern than larger particles. Another pollutant of concern during some events is carbon monoxide. The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District states "Emissions from burning include fine particulate, hydrocarbons, oxides of nitrogen, oxides of sulfur, carbon monoxide, and toxic air contaminants that contribute to our air quality problems."
4. TOPOGRAPHICAL – FRESNO'S DEVELOPMENT PATTERN
4.1 Due to the relatively low-density growth pattern in the Fresno area, the City of Fresno’s fire stations are spaced approximately four (4) miles apart resulting in an average of a two-mile running distance for the designated first-in engine company.
4.2 This average two-mile fire apparatus travel distance increases the response time to fires and other life-threatening emergencies, which result in an increase in the size and intensity of uncontrolled fires.
4.3 Traffic and circulation congestion is an artificially created obstructive topographical condition which occurs throughout the City of Fresno. This congestion increases the response time to fires and other life-threatening emergencies. Travel time is critical factor during the initial stages of any emergency. Typically, the earlier that suppression measures can be started or aid can be rendered the sooner the incident will be concluded.
4.4 The City of Fresno has several man-made topographical features that restrict fire apparatus response and/or increase travel times. The adoption of permissible traffic calming devices on public roadways may slow apparatus response. Additionally, the City is intersected by several major rail lines, including California High Speed Rail construction activities which divide the community, neighborhoods, and regions. Travel across these obstructions can cause delayed response to fires and other life- threatening emergencies which may be partially mitigated by the installation of built-in fire protection features like automatic fire sprinkler systems and other protection measures to protect occupants, firefighters and property.
4.5 Topographical and/or traffic-caused delays in areas of the City not equipped with traffic preemption devices translates into slower responses and fire suppression operations.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
This item is not a project pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. Staff has conducted a preliminary environmental evaluation of this ordinance pursuant to the requirements of California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, section 15061(b)(3) and has determined with certainty that there is no possibility that the adoption of the 2025 California Fire Code or amendments may have a significant adverse effect on the environment, as defined by CEQA Guidelines, section 15382.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference was not implemented because this item is not an award of a construction or services contract.
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of this ordinance will have a low fiscal impact since it generally only carries forward existing building standards.
Attachments:
Resolution
Ordinance
2025 CFC Environmental Notice of Exemption
2025 CFC Documentation Final List Supporting Findings