Section 6-1101.
Purpose
Forest vegetation represents a significant wildfire threat to structures developed within the Pinelands. Therefore development in the Pinelands shall conform to the requirements of this Part in order to protect life and property from catastrophic forest fires and to ensure the maintenance of the Pinelands forest ecosystems.
Section 6-1102.
Fire Management Program
In order to be certified under the provisions of Article 3
[CERTIFICATION OF COUNTY, MUNICIPAL AND FEDERAL INSTALLATION PLANS] of this Plan, a municipal master plan or land use ordinance must provide a fire management program. It is not necessary that the municipal program incorporate the literal terms of the program set out in this Part; rather, a municipality adopt alternative and additional techniques which will achieve the equivalent management objectives as would be achieved under the provisions of this Part.
Section 6-1103,
Fire Hazard Classification
The following vegetation classifications shall be used in determining the fire hazard of a parcel of land:
Fire Hazard Classification
Hazard Vegetation Type
Low:
Atlantic white cedar. Hardwood swamps.
Moderate:
Pine-oak or oak-pine greater than 20' tall and less than 20' spacing.
Non-Pine Barrens forest
Prescribed burned areas.
High:
Pine-oak or oak-pine less than 20' tall and greater than 20' spacing.
Extreme:
Immature pine-oak or oak-pine, including those less than 20' tall and less than 20' spacing
Pitch pine lowlands (all size classes).
Section 6-1103.
Fire Hazard Mitigation Standards
No application for development approval shall be granted in moderate, high and extreme fire hazard areas unless the applicant demonstrates that:
A. All proposed developments, or units or sections thereof, of 25 dwelling units or more will have two access ways of a width and surface composition sufficient to accommodate and support fire fighting equipment;
B. All dead-end roads will terminate in an area adequate to provide ingress and egress for fire fighting equipment;
C. The rights-of-way of all roads will be maintained so that they provide an effective fire break;
D. A fire hazard fuel break is provided around structures proposed for human use by the selective removal or thinning of trees, bushes, shrubs and ground cover as follows:
In moderate fire hazard areas a fuel break of 30 feet measured outward from the structure in which:
(a) shrubs, understory trees and bushes and ground cover are to be selectively removed, mowed, or pruned on an annual basis; and
(b) all dead plant material is removed.
2. In high fire hazard -areas a fuel break of 75 -feet measured outward from the structure in which:
(a) shrubs, understory trees and bushes and ground cover are to be selectively removed, mowed or pruned and maintained on an annual basis;
(b) all dead plant material is removed.
3. In extreme high hazard areas a fuel break of 100 feet measured outward from the structure in which:
(a) shrubs, understory trees and bushes and ground cover are to be selectively removed, mowed or pruned and maintained on an annual basis;
(b) no pine tree (Pinus spp.) is closer than 25 feet to another tree; and
(c) all dead plant material is removed.
E. All residential development of 100 dwelling units or more in high or extreme high hazard areas will have a 200-foot perimeter fuel break between all structures and the forest in which:
(a) shrubs, understory trees and bushes and ground cover are selectively removed, mowed or pruned and maintained on an annual basis;
(b) all dead plant material is removed;
(c) roads, rights-of-way, wetlands and waste disposal sites shall be used as fire breaks to the maximum extent practical; and
(d) there is a specific program for maintenance.
F. All structures will meet the following specifications;
1 Roofs and exteriors will be constructed of fire resistant materials such as asphalt rag felt roofing, tile, slate, asbestos cement shingles, sheet iron, aluminum, brick, or fire retardant-treated wood shingles or shakes.
2. All projections such as balconies, decks, and roof gables shall be constructed of fire resistant materials or materials treated with fire retardant chemicals.
3. Any openings in the roof, attic, and the floor shall be screened
4. Chimneys and stovepipes which are designed to burn solid or liquid fuels shall be equipped with screens over the outlets.
5. Flat roofs are prohibited in areas where vegetation is higher than the roof