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Battalion chief says Rolling Hills parcels are compliant after defensible‑space checks
Summary
Battalion Chief David Dantic told the Rolling Hills City Council that, per a July 29 check, properties in the city’s very‑high fire severity zone were compliant with 410B inspections; he urged continued neighbor education for those outside the zone.
David Dantic, a battalion chief covering the peninsula, gave the council a defensible‑space update focused on the city’s classification as a very‑high fire severity zone.
Dantic said the State Fire Marshal identifies very‑high, high and moderate zones and that the city’s most recent check showed compliance: "everyone was compliant with all the 4 10 B issued," he said, noting the July 29 date for the last sweep. He explained changes in the state’s mapping had reduced counts in some categories and that station 56’s coverage affects parcel tallies near the city gates.
Council members pressed Dantic on how areas outside the state‑designated very‑high zone are handled. He said fire crews do not issue 410B notices outside the designated zones, but they can visit and educate residents: "If it does not fall in the very high, then we do not ... write a 4 10 if you're not compliant," he said. He offered that engine crews will perform outreach and suggested the city could request forestry or public‑works assistance to expand nonpunitive education or targeted drive‑by checks.
Discussion covered specific concerns: canopy and clearance over roads, whether red‑tagging can target parts of a structure, and whether annual or multi‑year review cycles make sense for supplies and vegetation. Dantic emphasized the priority is life safety and neighborly education: "If we could all be good neighbors and participate with 1 another and help them out, I can come out and educate people on what is proper brush clearance and why the importance of it is." Council members asked staff to explore options that balance insurance impacts and nonpunitive outreach.
