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6.C. - Page 16 of 35 against these requirements. Finally, the Grand Jury recommends that fire departments make data on compliance with annual inspection requirements available on their websites to members of the public. BACKGROUND Building safety inspections by fire departments are essential to identify potential fire hazards before they occur. When inspections do not occur, disasters result. Lawmakers have focused special attention on certain categories of buildings and require them to be inspected annually. California Health and Safety Code Sections 13 146.2, 13 146.3, and 17921(b) mandate that fire departments conduct annual inspections of all the buildings in the following building categories within their jurisdiction: • Public and private schools2 • Hotels • Motels • Apartment buildings, and • Condominiums3 Fire departments are also authorized, but not required, to annually inspect high-rise buildings in their jurisdictions (California Health & Safety Code, Section 13217a). Significantly, prior to the passage of SB 1205 in 2018, California law did not include any requirement for fire departments to report on their compliance with annual inspection obligations. The infamous December 2016 Oakland Ghost Ship warehouse fire in which 36 people were killed brought this problem to public attention.4 Investigations of the fire by Oakland and Alameda County officials found a number of conditions that contributed to the disaster,' including: • The Oakland Fire Department (OFD) had no record of the Ghost Ship warehouse property, therefore the property was never the subject of formal fire inspections.6 2 Includes buildings and structures occupied by more than six children two years of age and older used for educational purposes through the 12t' grade. California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Chapter 3, Use and Occupancy Classification. https://up.codes/viewer/califomia/ca-building-code-2016-vl/chapter/3/use-and- occupancy-classification#305. 3 California State Fire Marshal Code Interpretation. http://osfin.fire.ca.gov/codeinterpretation/pdf/2008/08_090.pdf 4 Oakland Fire Department, Fire/Arson Investigative Unit, Origin and Cause Report, Incident #2016-85231, December 2, 2016, 1315 31s' Avenue, March 18, 2017, 3. https://www2.Oaklandnet.com. ' Oakland Fire Department, Fire/Arson Investigative Unit, Origin and Cause Report, Incident #2016-85231, December 2, 2016, 1315 31St Avenue, March 18, 2017, 3. https://www2.Oaklandnet.com. 6 Kimberly Veklerov, "Oakland Fire Department Software Blamed for Inspection Lapses," San Francisco Chronicle, April 9, 2017, accessed May 23, 2018. https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Oakland-Fire- Department-software-blamed-for- 11061705.php. 2018-2019 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury 105