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~'~•~„~.a'`` City of Campbell -- Community Development Department
70 N. First Street, Campbell, CA 95008
MEMORANDUM
To: Distribution
From: Tim J. Haley, Associate Planner
Subject: Fire District Access Requirements
Date: December 2, 1996
Please find attached a letter from Chris Veazgason which clarifies the Fire District's access requirements for the width of roadways
and pazking facilities. These standazds conflict with the standazds adopted within the San Tomas Area Plan.
It may be helpful for the City's Development Staff to get together and discuss the implementation of this roadway standazd as well
as well as the minimum fuming radius previously discussed for cul-de-sacs and fire truck turnarounds. Perhaps a DRC(Design
Review Committee) discussion item ?
Distribution: Steve Piasecki
Darryl Jones
Gloria Sciara
Aki Irani
Barbara Ryan
Frank Cauthom
Bob Kass
Michelle Quinney
Harold Housley
Peter Eakland
Chuck Gomez
Kirk Heinrichs
Paul Kern
SANTA CLARA COUNTY
CENTRAL FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
SERVICE
14700 WINCHESTER BOULEVARD
LOS GATOS, CA 95030-1818 (408) 378-4010
SINCE 1947 FAX (408) 378-9342
25 November 1996
RE~EIVE~
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PLANNING DEPT.
Mr. Tim Haley, Associate Planner
City of Campbell
Community Development/Planning Department
70 North First Street
Campbell, CA 95008
RE: Fire Department Required Access Roadway Width and Required Parking
Dear Tim,
It has come to my attention that there maybe some misunderstandings and/or
confusion relative to required Fire Department access width and how on-street parking
can affect the ability for fire apparatus to respond to emergencies. Therefore, I felt it
would be a good idea to try and clear up the issue with this letter.
The Fire Code requires that a minimum 20 feet of all weather paved surface roadway be
provided for Fire Department access. This required access is not allowed to be
obstructed in any manner and must remain open at all times. The reason for the 20 foot
wide roadway is so that first arriving fire apparatus can park along one side of the road
to immediately initiate rescue and fire attack. Then, subsequent arriving fire units can
drive by the parked apparatus to connect to hydrants, lay hose lines, etc. This width
also facilitates ambulance and private vehicle movement around the parked fire
apparatus. However, if vehicles are parked along the street and are within the 20 foot
roadway width, later arriving apparatus will not be able to proceed and may need to
turn around to find a secondary means of access into the scene yvhich results in the loss
of precious time.
For some time now the Fire District has been faced with the problem of developers and
project designers wanting to use the roadway for on-street parking in order to satisfy
Community Development requirements for available parking. However, the additional
width necessary to accommodate such parking is often overlooked. Therefore, in order
to help ensure that the necessary and required Fire Department access width is
provided for new developments and not compromised by parked vehicles, the Fire
District will use the following guidelines relative to parking restrictions along
roadways:
Proudly Serving Santa Clara County and the Cities of:
Campbell, Cupertino, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill,
Saratoga and the Town of Los Gatos