General Plan Update - City of Inglewood

Chapter 6 Community Safety and Hazards
spread. The City’s extensive grid pattern of streets provides a natural system of
“firebreaks” in both commercial and residential areas in addition to accessibility for fire
fighting equipment.
As discussed in more detail in Section 2.3 (Housing) of this TBR, the City of Inglewood
has a relatively old housing stock, with approximately 26.8 percent of units built prior to
1950. This relatively old housing stock is likely to have a significant number of units in
need of major repairs; approximately 4,000 housing units were identified as substandard
and in deteriorating or unsound conditions. While not identified by the LACFD, it is
possible that the older housing stock within the City could pose a fire hazard threat, as
some homes may not have fire alarms or other typical fire prevention devices that are
commonly installed on newer homes.
Further, while significant fire damage occurs infrequently, it is most likely to occur where
industrial chemicals and fuels are used, stored, or transported. Industrial uses are generally
in the northwestern portion of the City, clustered around West Florence Avenue. Such
dangers, however, are minimized by the stringent enforcement of State requirements and
of the City’s Fire Code, Building Code, and Zoning Code.
• Regulatory Setting
Federal
Uniform Fire Code
The Uniform Fire Code contains regulations relating to construction and maintenance of
buildings and the use of premises. Topics addressed in the Code include fire department
access, fire hydrants, automatic sprinkler systems, fire alarm systems, fire and explosion
hazards safety, hazardous materials storage and use, provisions intended to protect and
assist fire responders, industrial processes, and many other general and specialized firesafety
requirements for new and existing buildings and premises. The Code contains
specialized technical regulations related to fire and life safety.
State
California Fire Code (Title 24, Part 9, California Code of Regulations)
The California Fire Code is Part 9 of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, also
referred to as the California Building Standards Code. The California Fire Code
incorporates the Uniform Fire Code with necessary California amendments. This Code
prescribes regulations consistent with nationally recognized good practice for the
safeguarding to a reasonable degree of life and property from the hazards of fire
explosion, and dangerous conditions arising from the storage, handling and use of
hazardous materials and devices, and from conditions hazardous to life or property in the
use or occupancy of buildings or premises and provisions to assist emergency response
personnel.
6.4-2
City of Inglewood General Plan Update Technical Background Report