Tehama Municipal Code Art. IV Emergency Water Standards

Emergency water for wildfire protection shall be available and accessible in quantities and locations specified in the statute and these regulations, in order to attack a wildfire or defend property from a wildfire. Such emergency water may be provided in a fire agency mobile water tender, or naturally occurring or manmade containment structure, as long as the specified quantity is immediately available.

(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)

The provisions of this article shall apply only when new parcels are approved by the county. The emergency water system shall be available on-site prior to the completion of road construction, where a community water system is approved, or prior to the completion of building construction, where an individual system is approved.

(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 2023, §§ 39, 40, 5-3-2016)

Water systems that comply with the below standard(s) meet or exceed the intent of these regulations. Water systems equaling or exceeding the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1142, "Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting," 2012 Edition, hereby incorporated by reference, and California Fire Code, California Code of Regulations Title 24, Part 9, shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this article. Such emergency water may be provided in a fire agency mobile water tender, or naturally occurring or manmade containment structure, as long as the specified quantity is immediately available. Nothing in this article prohibits the combined storage of emergency wildfire and structure firefighting water supplies unless so prohibited by local ordinance or specified by CAL FIRE. Where freeze protection is required by CAL FIRE, such protection measures shall be provided.

(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 2023, §§ 41, 42, 5-3-2016)

A. The hydrant shall be:

1. Eighteen inches above grade;

2. At least eight feet from flammable vegetation;

3. At least four feet, but no more than twelve feet from a roadway; and

4. Located where fire apparatus using it will not block the roadway.

B. The hydrant serving any building shall be:

1. At least fifty feet, but not more than one-half mile by road from the building it is to serve; and

2. Located at a turnout or turnaround, along the driveway to that building or along the road that intersects with that driveway.

C. The hydrant head shall be:

1. Two and one-half inch and/or four and one-half inch National Hose male thread with cap for pressure and gravity flow systems; or

2. Four and one-half inch draft systems.

Such hydrants shall be wet or dry barrel as required by the delivery system. They shall have suitable crash protection as required by CAL FIRE.

(Ord. 1537 § 1 (part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 2023, §§ 43, 44, 5-3-2016)

Each hydrant or access to water shall be identified as follows;

A. If located along a driveway, shall be identified with:

1. At least a three inch reflectorized blue marker on the driveway address sign; and

2. Mounted on a fire retardant post.

B. If located along a street or road, shall be identified with:

1. At least a three inch reflectorized blue marker on the sign in a horizontal position;

2. Mounted on a fire retardant post at least three feet, but not greater than five feet above ground;

3. Located within three feet of said hydrant; and

4. Visible from the driveway; or

5. As specified in the State Fire Marshall's Guidelines for Fire Hydrant Markings Along State Highways and Freeways, May 1988.

(Ord. 1537 § 1(part), 1991)

(Ord. No. 2023, §§ 45, 46, 5-3-2016)