Fire Prevention

Fire prevention starts at home. The sections below cover defensible space inspections, smoke and carbon monoxide detector basics, the Felton Fire Code, and a wildfire-readiness guide for living in the San Lorenzo Valley.

Defensible Space

Felton Fire works closely with Cal Fire inspectors each year to improve defensible space in our neighborhoods. Each year we assess the areas most in need of inspection and forward the information to the Cal Fire inspectors. Cal Fire hires 3 to 4 inspectors March–October to perform the inspections, funded by the Fire Prevention Fee collected by the state. Defensible space inspections look at several different aspects of a homeowner's property.

To see what we look for in an inspection, see the LE100 form below.

LE100 Inspection Form (PDF)

Felton Fire will also inspect any property within our area upon request, as well as field any complaints regarding fire safety issues. To report a fire safety issue, please contact the fire district.

Fire-Resistant Plant Lists

Choosing the right landscape plants is one of the simplest ways to reduce wildfire risk around your home.

Fire-Free Resistant Plants Guide — comprehensive list of plants suitable for fire-prone areas.

Living with Wildfire Guide

For more information on protecting your property from wildfire, download the full guide produced by Cal Fire and the local Resource Conservation District.

Download Living with Wildfire (PDF)

Smoke Alarms

~4,000

Americans die every year in residential fires — most from inhaling smoke and toxic fumes, not heat or flames.

Smoke refers to the particles of combustion generated by what is burning — paper, wood, chemicals, plastic, upholstery, or other fuels. These particulates are toxic to inhale in large quantities.

Buying Time

When a smoke detector senses smoke, it sounds an alarm automatically. Most fatal home fires occur between 8:00 PM and 8:00 AM. Fires often generate lethal amounts of unseen smoke and fumes well before flames are visible — and before heat makes residents uncomfortably warm. As a result, many people who die in home fires are asleep and never wake up. When carefully purchased, installed, and maintained, smoke detectors buy time to get out of the house fast — before toxic fumes accumulate to lethal levels.

Purchasing quality, not price, should be the determining factor when buying smoke detectors. Check for:

Laboratory label, ensuring the model has been carefully tested
Alarm loud enough to awaken the family through closed bedroom doors
Malfunction signal to warn you when batteries are weak or dead
Manufacturer's warranty of at least five years
Ease of maintenance and cleaning

Which Type?

Type	How It Works	Best For
Ionization	Contains a small amount of radioactivity that conducts electricity between two electrodes. Smoke particles disturb the flow and trigger the alarm.	Flaming fires with small, fast-moving particles
Photoelectric	Contains a light beam and photocell. Smoke deflects the beam onto the photocell, setting off the alarm.	Smoldering fires with larger particles

The differences between the two types are generally not critical — the difference in response time is only a matter of seconds. Since most home fires produce a rich mixture of smoke types, with detectable amounts of both large- and small-particle smoke early in the fire's growth, either an ionization or a photoelectric detector will meet most needs.

Placement

Buy as many smoke detectors as it takes to give your home complete coverage. You increase your chances of survival with each detector — one on each level of the house is the absolute minimum.
Have a smoke detector in each bedroom, in the hallway close to each sleeping area, and in heavily occupied areas such as living rooms.
When bedroom doors are left open, always have at least one detector in the hallway outside the bedroom area.

Installation

Follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
On ceilings, mount the device 8–10 inches away from corners and walls, where dead air pockets exist.
On walls, install detectors high (smoke rises) and 8–10 inches away from corners and ceilings.
Install at least 3 feet from vents, which can recirculate smoke.
Never place smoke detectors on uninsulated walls or ceilings — extreme temperatures can ruin batteries and prevent smoke from reaching the detectors.

Maintenance Checklist

Test your smoke detector at least once a month by pressing the test button.
Replace weak or worn-out batteries at once.
Never borrow smoke detector batteries for other uses.
Keep extra batteries on hand.
Change batteries twice a year — a good way to remember is when you change the clocks for daylight saving time.
Dust and vacuum smoke detectors twice a year.
Make sure smoke detectors are working when you return home after an extended absence.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly gas produced by burning any fuel. When inhaled, CO rapidly displaces oxygen in the victim's blood, and after enough exposure can result in serious illness or death. Since CO is completely invisible, odorless, and tasteless, many people have no idea they are being poisoned until it is too late. For this reason, CO is often called the silent killer. Airtight design in today's modern energy-efficient homes can compound the problem by trapping CO-contaminated air inside.

Recognize the symptoms: Low-level CO poisoning often mimics the flu — mild headaches, shortness of breath, nausea, drowsiness, and dizziness. Higher levels cause severe headaches, mental confusion, vomiting, loss of consciousness, and coma. Severe poisoning can cause an irregular heartbeat, brain damage, and death.

High-risk groups — fetuses, children, the elderly, and those with heart and lung disorders — are particularly vulnerable, even at low levels over a longer period. The Fire Marshals Association of North America recommends installing at least one CO detector in the sleeping area of your home, with additional devices near other emission sources such as heating appliances.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is carbon monoxide, and why do I need a detector?

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, toxic gas produced as a by-product of combustion. Any fuel-burning appliance, vehicle, tool, or other device has the potential to produce dangerous levels of CO. Common household sources include:

Fuel-fired (non-electric) furnaces
Gas water heaters
Fireplaces and woodstoves
Gas stoves
Gas dryers
Charcoal grills
Lawnmowers and other yard equipment
Power generators
Automobiles

The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports approximately 200 people per year are killed by accidental CO poisoning, with an additional 5,000 injured. These deaths and injuries are typically caused by improperly used or malfunctioning equipment, aggravated by modern construction that limits fresh air flow into homes.

What are the medical effects, and how do I recognize them?

CO inhibits the blood's ability to carry oxygen to body tissues, including vital organs such as the heart and brain. When CO is inhaled, it combines with hemoglobin to form carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), which is no longer available to transport oxygen.

How quickly COHb builds up depends on the concentration of gas (measured in parts per million, or PPM) and exposure duration. The half-life of COHb is approximately 5 hours — meaning it takes about 5 hours for COHb levels to drop by half after exposure ends.

COHb Levels & Symptoms

% COHb	Symptoms & Medical Findings
10%	No symptoms. Heavy smokers can have as much as 9% COHb.
15%	Mild headache.
25%	Nausea and serious headache. Fairly quick recovery with oxygen and/or fresh air.
30%	Symptoms intensify. Potential long-term effects, especially in infants, children, the elderly, heart-disease patients, and pregnant women.
45%	Unconsciousness.
50%+	Death.

Airborne Concentration & Exposure Time

PPM CO	Exposure Time	Symptoms
35 PPM	8 hours	Usually none or slight headache. OSHA workplace maximum over an 8-hour period.
200 PPM	2–3 hours	Mild headache, fatigue, nausea, dizziness.
400 PPM	1–2 hours	Serious headache. Life-threatening after 3 hours.
800 PPM	45 minutes	Severe dizziness, nausea, seizures. Unconscious within 2 hours. Death within 2–3 hours.
1,600 PPM	20 minutes	Headache, dizziness, nausea. Death within 1 hour.
3,200 PPM	5–10 minutes	Headache, dizziness, nausea. Death within 1 hour.
6,400 PPM	1–2 minutes	Headache, dizziness, nausea. Death within 25–30 minutes.
12,800 PPM	1–3 minutes	Death.

The recurring symptoms — headache, dizziness, and nausea — are often mistaken for the flu, leading to delayed or misdiagnosed treatment. When these symptoms occur alongside a sounding CO alarm, suspect a serious buildup and act immediately.

What are the different types of detectors?

CO detectors are most easily characterized by whether they run on household current or batteries. Both types must conform to Underwriters Laboratory standard UL 2034 — never purchase a detector that isn't UL listed.

Feature	Household Current	Battery Operated
Cost	$30 – $50	$30 – $50
Installation	More difficult — needs outlet near detector or hard-wiring	Easier — can be placed anywhere
Maintenance	No maintenance for life of product (5–10 yrs). Sensor becomes more sensitive with age.	Requires battery/sensor module replacement every 2–3 years (~$20)
Display	Continuous CO level display, updated every few minutes	Reaction time depends on concentration; limited display
Reset Time	Resets immediately once problem is corrected	Depends on exposure; may require removing sensor pack. Silence button is provided/required.

How many detectors should I have, and where should I place them?

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends a detector on each floor of a residence. At minimum, install a detector on each sleeping floor, plus one near any major gas-burning appliance such as a furnace or water heater.

Place detectors high (near the ceiling) for most effective use.
Do not install within 5 feet of gas-fueled appliances or near cooking/bathing areas.
Always follow the manufacturer's installation instructions for the specific area.

What are the most common causes of CO alarms going off?

Many causes are preventable. Here are the most common, along with preventive actions:

Cause	Preventive Action
Inadequate fresh-air venting	Have a heating contractor install a fresh-air makeup system.
Running gas equipment or vehicles in a home or garage	Never operate gas equipment or vehicles inside, even with the garage door open — most homes are at lower pressure than outside, so exhaust can be drawn inside.
Charcoal grilling indoors	Charcoal produces enormous amounts of CO. Never grill with charcoal in a home or garage.
Malfunctioning appliances	Schedule periodic inspection and preventive maintenance on all fuel-burning equipment.
Malfunctioning or overly sensitive alarm	Buy only UL-listed alarms conforming to the latest UL 2034 standard.

Less preventable but more serious causes include cracked furnace heat exchangers, malfunctioning furnaces or water heaters, blocked chimneys, and unpredictable events such as a vehicle left running in the garage.

Where can I purchase CO detectors locally?

CO detectors are available at local hardware stores and online retailers. Several manufacturers also offer support lines for product questions:

Manufacturer	Phone
American Sensors	800-387-4219
Enzone	800-448-0535
First Alert	800-323-9005
Jameson	800-779-1719
Nighthawk	800-880-6788
Quantum	800-432-5599
S-Tech	800-643-5377

Phone numbers are provided as a historical reference and may have changed. For the latest contact info, check the manufacturer's website.

Felton Fire Code

Felton Fire Protection District has adopted the local ordinance of the 2022 edition of the International Fire Code with California amendments. These regulations are used to enforce fire and life-safety codes during occupancy inspections and building construction.

Plan Check & Review Process

The Felton Fire Protection District performs plan checks and reviews for all projects within District boundaries. Plan review can take up to two weeks for most projects. Before submitting your plans, review any Fire District ordinances and Santa Cruz County Standards that may apply to your project. To determine if your parcel is located within the Scotts Valley Fire Protection District, visit the Santa Cruz County interactive GIS website.

All plans must be submitted to the Fire Chief. Use the contact page to request the current submission email address.

Plans Reviewed by Felton Fire

Commercial & industrial buildings — new construction, additions, remodels
Single-family dwellings, duplexes, or subdivisions — new construction, additions, remodels
Fire Alarm plan reviews — new, additions, remodels
Fire Protection Plans when required by the Fire Department
Fire Sprinkler plan checks — new, additions, remodels
Hood and duct systems — new, additional tanks, relocations
Special Event Applications
Fire Code Use Applications

Plans Requiring Direct Submittal to FFPD

Fire Alarm plan reviews — new, additions, remodels
Fire Protection Plans when required by the Fire Department
Fire Sprinkler plan checks — new, additions, remodels
Hood and duct (fixed fire) systems — new, additional tanks, relocations
Fire Code Use / Special Events Applications
All other plans should be routed through the Santa Cruz County Building Department.

Download FFPD Fire Code Ordinance (PDF)

Living with Fire

The Living with Wildfire guide — produced jointly by Cal Fire and the local Resource Conservation District — is the most comprehensive resource we recommend for San Lorenzo Valley homeowners preparing for wildfire. It covers home hardening, defensible space zones, evacuation planning, and what to expect during and after a wildfire.