Monrovia ordinances and regulations (8.14.030-050) FIRE HAZARDS RELATING TO VEGETATION require that property owners create defensible space around their buildings, keeping the area within 30’  of any structure “clean and green”, and removing  hazardous vegetation for a minimum of 200 feet around their buildings. Property owners are responsible for maintaining defensible space within that radius around their buildings. The full text can be read in the Monrovia City Ordinance - 8.14.030-050.

The State Fire Marshal is mandated to classify lands within State Responsibility Areas into Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ).

Fire Hazard Severity Zones fall into the following classifications:

• ­Moderate
• ­High
• ­Very High

The California laws that require Fire Hazard Severity Zones include California Public Resource code 4201-4204, California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 1280 and California Government Code 51175-89.

Supporting Documents & Links

• Fire Hazard Zone Map Terrain
• CALFire VHFHSVZ Map
• Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)

The Monrovia Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a living document, aimed at protecting life safety, homes and infrastructure adjacent to and surrounding Monrovia’s natural hillside.

The concept of Community Wildfire Protection Planning arose from the 2003 Healthy Forests Restoration Act in which, among other actions, recommended steps to make communities fire resilient was encouraged.

The Monrovia Hillside Wilderness Preserve Resource Management Plan (RMP) supports the CWPP as a natural next step in implementing best management practices related to protecting Monrovia’s hillsides and natural resources in our efforts to create a fire safe community.

Residents at the meeting will be provided opportunities to give comments and input to Monrovia’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan.

Monrovia is a community at the Wildland-Urban Interface, popularly called the WUI.  This is where human development meets the wildland areas. As a result, we acknowledge that Monrovia is a community at risk from wildfire and that damage or expense to our community may increase if we do not take steps to mitigate those hazards related to wildfire.

The Monrovia CWPP evaluates the risks and hazards and then sets forth actions that the community can undertake to reduce risks of wildfire and/or minimize damage if a wildfire occurs, while creating an educational resource to help interpret the emerging science of wildfire protection.

Monrovia’s CWPP was developed in the context of a particular commitment to protecting unique community environmental and historic preservation values. Based on the mandate from the RMP, and recognizing that in our community natural resource management and wildfire safety are linked, the CWPP evaluates strong fire safety actions with needed environmental stewardship to strike a balance unique to Monrovia.

Finally, this CWPP was prepared to meet the definition set forth under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act, which provides improved access to Federal and State grant resources.

To that end, the Monrovia CWPP was developed collaboratively, addressing vegetation and structural ignitability while providing prioritized recommendations for building sustainability, defensible space, and fuel reduction projects.

For inquiries, contact Monrovia Fire & Rescue at 626-256-8181.

Supporting Documents & Links

• CWPP - Complete Plan - revised Nov 20, 2014 (104 MB)
• CWPP - Executive Summary - revised Nov 20, 2014 (626 KB)
• CWPP - Chapters 1-3 - Revised Nov 5,2014 (7 MB)
• CWPP - Chapters 4-10 (4 MB)
• CWPP - Appendices - Revised Nov 5, 2014 (92 MB)
• SAFE Landscaping: Making Property Fire Safe (939 KB)
• SAFE Landscaping: Fire Resistant Structures (108 KB)
• SAFE Landscaping: WUI (697 KB)
• SAFE Landscaping: Fire Resistant Plants (1 MB)
• SAFE Landscaping: Design Options (2 MB)
• Topagnga Video Series (106 KB)
• Witch Fire Case Study (5 MB)
• Megafires Summary (425 KB)
• Checklist Spanish (604 KB)
• Wildland Fire threat, Cohen (434 KB)
• Equipment Use, Spanish (121 KB)
• Firewise Video Links (91 KB)
• CWPP Flier and Map (2 MB)
• Neighborhood Meetings CWPP (1 MB)
• Fremontia (2 MB)

Fire Inspections are performed annually for new/existing businesses and as required by California Fire Code for construction. Members of  Monrovia Fire & Rescue will inspect each business to ensure that they are complying with California Fire and Building Codes and Monrovia Municipal Code.

For more information, contact:

Laura Bednar, Fire Inspector
626-926-5477
lbednar@monroviaca.gov

Monrovia Fire & Rescue Department Fees

*Failure to obtain permit and approval from the Fire Department results in double fees*

For more information, contact:

Laura Bednar, Fire Inspector
(626)926-5477
lbednar@monroviaca.gov

ANNUAL FIRE INSPECTION FEES 

Hazardous Materials 

The Monrovia Hazardous Materials Division complies with the mandates of the State Legislature for administering the Hazardous Materials Disclosure Program. Hazardous materials storage and disclosure information is monitored to assist with the development of business and area plans to reduce the likelihood of accidental release and mitigate the effects in the event a hazardous materials release occurs. The Hazardous Materials Division works closely with fire prevention and fire suppression to catalogue and monitor the hazardous materials and processes used by businesses within the City with the goal of continued public safety.

For the California Environmental Reporting System (CERS), visit cers.calepa.ca.gov.

Reporting thresholds are as follows:

• 55 gallons of liquids
• 500 pounds of solids
• 200 cubic feet of gas

If quantity is greater than the threshold, you may be required to report the contents to Monrovia Fire & Rescue.

For more information, contact:

Israel Razo, Hazmat Inspector
(626)256-8105
irazo@monroviaca.gov

Seven people die in home fires every day, most often in homes without working smoke alarms! Because of this, the American Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014 to help save lives.

Monrovia Fire & Rescue has partnered with American Red Cross and Kidde Smoke Alarms to install smoke detectors in homes to protect our community.

During the installation, Monrovia Fire & Rescue and our Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), will educate families and community members on the pillars of fire safety. Upon request, an inspection can be performed to ensure residents have the appropriate number of alarms. 

If you or someone you know is in need of a smoke detector, please send an email to; smokealarm@monroviaca.gov.