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7B <br /> Page 19 <br /> The protection of human life and the preservation of praperty in the event of such <br /> occurrence support fihe imposition of fire-protection and life-safety requirements greater <br /> than those set forth in the 2006 Edition of the International Fire Code. <br /> Finding 3: The seasonal climatic conditions during the late summer and fall <br /> create numerous serious difficulties regarding the control of and protection against#ires <br /> in the City o# Redwood City. Althaugh the ci#y has experienced an annual mean rainfall <br /> of 20.21 inches since 1948, one can anticipate no measurable precipitation at all during <br /> the summer months. The dry period average maximum temperature is 82.7 degrees <br /> Fahrenheit with an extreme maximum of 110 degrees Fahrenheit.4 These <br /> temperatures are often accompanied by light to gusty prevai[ing westerly to <br /> northwesterly winds. These dry winds, mixed with the natural vegetation which is <br /> predominant throughout the area, crea#es a hazardous fuel condition which has caused <br /> �x#�nsive yrass an� U�ashland fires. Vb'i�� ma�e and more developr�e�t �����a�hing <br /> into these wooded and grass covered areas, wind driven fires could have severe <br /> consequences as shown on many occasions in other areas of the state. Recorded <br /> weather pattems indicate that the average annual rainfali cannot be relied upon. Water <br /> shortages and water rationing may result as was experienced during recent drought <br /> years. <br /> While some code requirements, such as fire-resistive roof classification, have a <br /> direct bearing on building survival in a wifdland fire situation, others such as automatic <br /> fire sprinklers, may also have a positive effect. In dry climate on low humidity days, <br /> many materials are much more easily ignited. More fires are likely to occur and any <br /> fire, once started, can expand extremely rapidly. Au#omatic fire sprinkler systems can <br /> arrest a fire starting within a structure befare it could spread to adjacenf brush and <br /> structures. <br /> The aforementioned probEems support the impositian of fire-protection and life- <br /> safety requiremen#s greater than those set forth in the 2006 Edition of the fnternetional <br /> Fire Code. <br /> Finding 4: The City of Redwood City experiences water shortages from time <br /> to time. Those shortages can have a severe adverse effect an water availability for <br /> firefighting. <br /> Fires starting in sprinkiered buildings are typically contralied by one or two <br /> sprinkler heads, flowing as little as 13 galions per minute each. <br /> Hose streams used by engine campanies on well established structure fires <br /> operate at about 250 gallons per minute each. The estimated water need for a typicaf <br /> 4 Source: National Weather Service,Western Regianal Climate Center, Desert Research Insti#ute, 2215 <br /> Raggio Paricway, Reno, Nevada 89512, (775}674-7010. <br /> Atty/Reso.1762 �j <br /> 120307 <br />