Ventura Municipal Code Ch. 14.200 Fire-Prone Area Zone

This chapter is intended to minimize the risk of a fire on public lands within the city of San Buenaventura that contain mountainous forest, brush, or hazardous vegetation by creating a new zone in which city officials can enforce no trespassing and no flames restrictions when determined appropriate by the city manager, or designee, with input from the fire chief and police chief. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

The fire-prone area zone is hereby established and declared to be those areas of public property included within the boundary described and set forth on the fire-prone area zone map, which is incorporated herein and made a part hereof for all purposes and is available for review at fire department headquarters. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

No open flame or self-contained device capable of producing flame is permitted within the fire-prone area zone. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

No person may light, ignite, or smoke any cigar, cigarette, tobacco in a pipe, or other form of smoldering substance or product within the fire-prone area zone. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

After receiving input from the fire chief and police chief, the city manager, or designee, may close the area within the boundaries of the fire-prone area zone to the public. Any member of the public who enters or is present in the fire-prone area zone after this closure, without express written permission from the city manager or designee, is committing a trespass and will be in violation of this section. This section shall not restrict any public officer in the pursuit of their duty. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

No person, except one authorized and acting within the scope of their official duties, shall unlock, open, damage, or tamper with or cause to be unlocked, opened, damaged, or tampered with any lock, gate, or sign installed by or under control of the city. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

The city may post suitable signs giving notice of the prohibitions outlined in this article in locations within the fire-prone area zone. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

No person, except one authorized and acting within the scope of their official duties, may remove, deface, mar, mutilate, or change the position of any sign, installed by the city pursuant to this chapter, designating “CLOSED AREA,” “NO SMOKING,” “NO OPEN FIRES,” “RESTRICTED ENTRY,” or other sign or device installed to give warning and to regulate persons’ actions within the fire-prone area zone. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

For purposes of this chapter, notice may be given as follows:

A. Posted Property. By posted signs identifying the property closed to the public within the fire-prone area zone, bearing the words “PROPERTY CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC – TRESPASSING FORBIDDEN BY LAW” in letters not less than three inches in height, at the entrance thereto and along all exterior boundaries at equal intervals not less than three to the mile, and at all roads and trails entering the property; or

B. Personal Notice. By personal notice given directly to a person found in an area of the fire-prone area zone closed to the public advising the person that the area is closed to the public and that if the person refuses or fails immediately to leave the closed area, or if the person leaves and returns, the person’s presence in the nonpublic area constitutes trespassing. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)

Each violation of this chapter by any person will constitute a misdemeanor and may be subject to penalties pursuant to Chapters 1.50 and 1.150. (Ord. No. 2012-013, § 1, 11-8-21)