PRESS RELEASE
March 20, 2008

Supervisors Support Fire-Related State Bill
Board Approves Slater-Price Board Letter to Support Plescia Legislation

SAN DIEGO – The Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved Supervisor Pam Slater-Price’s recommendation to officially endorse state legislation that would provide tax credits to property owners throughout the entire state who make certain fire safety improvements to their properties.

Assembly Bill 1912, authored by Assemblyman George Plescia (R – San Diego), would allow tax credits for property owners that make structure improvements that fall within the guidelines of “wildfire risk reduction improvements.” The window of opportunity for taxpayers to be eligible for the credit would be Jan. 1, 2009 to Jan. 1, 2013.

The County of San Diego’s Firestorms After Action Report declared that newer homes constructed with new fire-safe building codes handled the fire better than older homes built to less stringent codes. Additionally, the report stated many homes burned as a result of flying embers landing on wooden decks and on shake wood roofs. Weaknesses in the exterior also contributed to the number of homes lost. Small openings, including cracks and holes, created a tinder box for fires.

“I would like to thank Assemblyman Plescia for introducing this legislation in response to the 2007 wildfires,” said Supervisor Slater-Price. “After surveying the damage in Rancho Bernardo, homes there seemed to burn from the inside-out. Retrofitting homes with the appropriate fire-safety improvements could increase chances of being saved in the next fire.”

According to AB 1912, structure improvements are explained as replacement of less fire-resistive materials with fire-resistive or noncombustible roofing, siding or walls, decking materials, and windows as well as improvements that create boxed eaves, louvered attic vents and other modifications to reduce the opportunity for wind-blown embers to penetrate into vulnerable areas of a structure.

Assemblyman Plescia stated, “In 2007, my district took a huge hit with the California wildfires. This is why I am proposing AB 1912. This is a net tax credit of up to 15 percent for those who make improvements to their homes under the guidelines of ‘wildfire risk reduction improvements.’ This credit will help reduce future damages and cost that the state incurs during wildfire.”

“The County of San Diego is dedicated to improving fire protection throughout the region,” added Slater-Price. “Endorsing AB 1912 is just one example of how this Board will continue to work with area leaders to improve public safety in San Diego.”