Title
Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-368; An Ordinance Amending Chapter 10, Building and Building Regulations, Article III, Division 1, Section 10-71, and Chapter 22, Fire Prevention and Protection, Article II, Division 1, Section 22-31, of the Code of the Incorporated County of Los Alamos to include Chapters 2, 5, and 6 of the International Wild Land-Urban Interface Code.
Recommended Action
I move that Council adopt Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-368; and ask staff to assure that it is published in summary form.
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council adopt Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-368
Body
Los Alamos County faces an elevated risk of wildfires due to its unique combination of natural landscape and human development. This vulnerability is particularly pronounced in Los Alamos townsite, where residential and business areas are in close proximity to wildland. As wildfire activity continues to increase nationwide, more state and local governments are adopting regulations for wildland-urban interfaces-areas where human structures and development meet or intermingle with wildland or vegetative fuels.
Recognizing the County's persistent and severe wildfire hazard, the County Fire Marshal and Chief Building Official conducted a thorough evaluation of available data, standards, and industry best practices. Their assessment led to a shared conclusion: for the safety and welfare of the community, it is in the County's best interest to formally designate the entire County as a wildland-urban interface area. As a critical step in this process, they recommended adopting the 2021 edition of the International Wildland-Urban Interface Code (IWUIC), specifically Chapters 5 and 6, with tailored amendments to address the County's unique needs.
Chapters 5 and 6 of the IWUIC outline essential procedures for mitigating wildland fire risks. These measures will be integrated into the County's existing legal framework-Chapter 10 of the County Code of Ordinances, which governs buildings and construction, and Chapter 22, which regulates fire prevention and protection. By embedding these updated codes into local law, the County aims to enhance its ability to prevent and respond to wildfire threats effectively.
Further supporting their decision, the Fire Marshal and Building Safety Manager determined that the County meets the criteria for Class I fire hazard designation-the highest level of wildfire risk under the IWUIC. In adopting these specific IWUIC provisions, with amendments as necessary, the County will enforce only those requirements applicable to Class I designations and wildland-urban interface areas.
Under this new framework, the Chief Building Official will oversee the implementation and enforcement of the IWUIC amendments within Chapter 10 of the County Code. Simultaneously, the Office of the Fire Marshal will be responsible for enforcing the corresponding amendments within Chapter 22. Together, these measures mark a significant step toward safeguarding the County’s residents and property from the increasing threat of wildfires.
Attachments
A - Notice of Publication
B - Incorporated County of Los Alamos Code Ordinance No. 02-368