Laguna Did Act to Cut Fire Threat

* While most of the March 8 editorial is accurate, there is a statement that is incorrect, i.e., “but the City Council did not accept other proposals designed to reduce the fire threat.”

In fact, the city adopted many changes to reduce the threat of future fires and to improve our suppression efforts when a fire occurs. These changes include:

* Adopting rigorous building requirements, which preclude shake shingle roofs, mandate the enclosure of all eaves and require fireproofing material under wood siding.

* Phasing out all existing wood roofs over the next 20 years; property owners will be required to install non-wood roofs when reroofing is required and new roofs will be required by the end of the 20-year period.

* Inspecting every home adjacent to open space areas so that the property owners are aware of steps they should take to reduce hazards to their dwellings.

* Expanding the fuel modification program in which goats reduce the vegetation on hillsides as a year-round program throughout the entire perimeter of the city.

* Upgrading all fire engines so that they have the capacity to dispense Class A foam to enhance firefighting efforts.

* Upgrading fire equipment such as hoses and nozzles to increase suppression capacity.

* Forming a coalition with fire experts in the insurance industry to study ways to further improve fire safety in Laguna Beach.

In fact, these changes have been recognized by the insurance industry.

STEVEN M. DICTEROW

Mayor

Laguna Beach