State wildfire‑resiliency rules push county to prepare inspections, inspections could be costly and unfunded

County planning and emergency‑management staff briefed the board on the state’s draft wildfire‑resiliency map and a 40‑page set of regulations produced by the state Wildfire Resiliency Board. Staff said the regulations will require counties and municipalities that fall inside mapped “interface” areas to adopt the statewide standards or a stricter local code.

Staff emphasized three practical points: first, the resiliency requirements are broad and proactive, covering roof and siding materials, ember‑resistant mesh for vents, screening under decks, and inspection cycles (including re‑inspection every few years). Second, enforcement will require staffing and an inspection program; the state provided an option to request implementation assistance, but staff reported that, at present, no state funding has been committed to cover new inspection or enforcement costs. Third, staff said insurance companies are likely to use the adopted standards when underwriting or deciding coverage, increasing the urgency for local compliance.

Planning staff reported that San Juan County already includes elements of firewise and defensible‑space language in local code and that many new buildings in the county already use fire‑resistant roof materials and other recommended measures. The regulatory change will be more challenging for older structures and for retrofit requirements that might require homeowners to replace siding or decks when they perform substantial maintenance.

County staff described preventative work already underway, including completion of a certified wildland‑fire risk assessment course (ASAP/Firewise‑style assessments) to help staff and volunteers offer assessments and advice to property owners. Staff also said they will coordinate with fire districts and neighboring jurisdictions and explore potential mitigation crews and funding sources that could perform fuels reduction and mitigation work on both public and private lands.

Why this matters: the statewide regulations, when finalized and adopted at the local level, could create inspection requirements and retroactive retrofit obligations. Staff told the board that the regulatory package is written to be enforceable at the county or municipal level, and the county must plan for staffing, inspection protocols and potential homeowner assistance or grant programs.

Next steps: staff will verify whether the draft map definitively includes the town and county properties, identify the extent of the mapped interface areas, and return with recommended amendments or an adoption timeline. Staff also suggested a coordinated public‑education effort focused on easy‑to‑implement actions (gutters, vents, roof covering, deck screening) and a plan to seek grant funding for mitigation crews.