Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Safety Fire topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council adopts ordinance creating fire hazard severity zones in Torrance (Ordinance 3949)
Summary
Council adopted Ordinance 3949 to add Article 4 (Fire Hazard Severity Zones) to the Torrance Municipal Code, designating moderate, high and very high fire hazard severity zones in the city; staff cited newly released state maps and will distribute guidance to residents.
The Torrance City Council adopted Ordinance 3949, adding Article 4 to Chapter 5, Division 8 of the Torrance Municipal Code to designate local fire hazard severity zones as moderate, high or very high.
Richard Kazanjan, fire marshal for the Torrance Fire Department, presented the item and said the mapping was released by state authorities on March 24 and that the designations are new for some areas of Torrance. "It's a first time for many cities. The maps were released on March 24... and some areas are first time designators," Kazanjan said. He told council the city prepared outreach materials including a flyer with QR links to the California Insurance Commissioner’s resources on insurance impacts.
Council members asked for clarification about potential insurance effects; Kazanjan said the city’s flyer directs residents to state resources and that impacts remain uncertain. After a motion to adopt the ordinance and to approve a publication summary, the council carried the motion with Council Member Sheikh absent.
The ordinance adds a formal map and local code language to identify fire hazard severity zones within Torrance and requires staff to continue public outreach to affected neighborhoods.
