The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for the enforcement of fire related state and local laws and ordinances as adopted by both the State of California and the Aptos/La Selva Fire District. To accomplish this, a Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Prevention Specialist and a part-time Weed Abatement Inspector staff the Fire Prevention Division. The enforcement of the various laws and ordinances is delivered at both the engine company and division level, and always with customer service in mind.

The Aptos/La Selva Fire District and all fire districts within Santa Cruz County adopted a fire sprinkler ordinance in 1989. Since the inception of this ordinance, fire sprinklers protect nearly every new structure, and many existing structures when they have been added to or undergone a major remodel. The installation and required testing of new fire protection equipment is under the direction of the fire service, and is part of the fire code, rather than the building code. Prior to the adoption of the sprinkler ordinance, the Aptos/La Selva Fire District adopted an ordinance for the installation of automatic fire alarm systems in all commercial occupancies not otherwise protected, and in some specific residential occupancies. This ordinance has been in place since the early 1970's, and is still in use today for those occupancies not protected by an automatic fire sprinkler system.

The Fire Prevention Division provides planning input for developers, plan checking and inspection services at the various levels required by the County of Santa Cruz Planning Department. Plans check for all specialized fire detection and suppression systems are performed by outside resources, while the inspection of these systems is performed by Prevention personnel. The Prevention Division also coordinates Public Education at various public venues, Station Tours for all age groups, Special Events, Fire Hydrant Maintenance, water system improvements and installation of fire hydrants, weed abatement, urban interface compliance, and investigations of suspicious fires and/or fires of undetermined origin.

The following product safety recall was conducted voluntarily by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Customers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Kidde 10 lb. industrial dry chemical fire extinguishers with black plastic Zytel® nylon valves in steel cylinders manufactured between 1991 and 2000.

Units: About 470,000

Manufacturer: Walter Kidde Portable Equipment Inc., of Mebane, N.C.

Hazard: The nylon valves on these extinguishers can separate from the steel cylinder during the 6-year recharge service or shortly afterwards creating a safety hazard to fire extinguisher service personnel and consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Kidde has received five reports of valve separation during either technical service of the units or shortly afterwards, resulting in three reports of injuries.

Description: This Alert involves all Kidde 10 lb. dry chemical fire extinguishers manufactured with a black plastic Zytel® nylon valve assembly and a steel cylinder between 1991 and 2000. These units were the subject of Kidde Service Bulletin 007 issued on July 21, 2004. These units were designed for commercial and industrial applications, and the majority of these units were placed into service in factories, plants, businesses and other commercial locations as they require service by a qualified Fire Extinguisher Distributor or Service Organization every 6 years. Some of these units are in use in residential settings. The affected extinguishers have a steel cylinder with a welded neck ring and are between 19 to 21 inches tall as depicted in the image below. This Alert does not apply to Kidde’s smaller 2 1/2 and 5 lb. residential fire extinguishers.

Sold at: Commercial fire equipment distributors and stores nationwide between 1991 and 2000.

Manufactured in: United States.

Remedy: Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations must immediately stop servicing all units covered under this Alert. Kidde has instituted a Fire Extinguisher Replacement Program (“Replacement Program”) for all units covered by this Alert. If you are a Fire Extinguisher Distributor or Service Organization and you have not already received a copy of the Replacement Program, as outlined in Service Bulletin 007, please contact the number below. Only professional Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations should remove the affected units and the steps as outlined in the Replacement Program must be followed.

Consumer Contact: Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations should contact Kidde at 1-877-777-8170 between 8 AM and 5 PM ET Monday through Friday to participate in Kidde’s Replacement Program. Only professional Fire Extinguisher Distributors and Service Organizations should call this number. Consumers who suspect that they may possess one of the industrial units covered by this Alert should not remove the unit and should contact Kidde at (800) 631-7377 between 8 AM and 5 PM ET Monday through Friday. Units should not be returned to place of purchase. More information can also be obtained by visiting Kidde’s Web site at www.kiddeus.com and referencing Kidde Service Bulletin 007 and Recall Alert.