Fire Access and Roads
Emergency responders must be able to safely reach structures and properties during all weather conditions.
Requirements may address:
- Road and driveway width
- Vertical clearance
- Surface and load capacity
- Grades
- Curves and turning radii
- Turnarounds
- Bridges and culverts
- Gates and access controls
- Address visibility
- Access to firefighting water supplies
Review the requirements before roads, driveways, gates, bridges, or structures are designed or constructed. Early review can prevent delays and costly changes.
Applicants shall demonstrate full compliance and conformance with El Paso County’s adopted Land Development Code (LDC), Engineering Criteria Manual (ECM), adopted International Fire Code (IFC), and all other adopted codes, provisions, or statutes that impact fire safety to include access/egress, water supply, hardening of structures, addressing, fire protection systems, etc. The applicant shall submit a comprehensive fire protection report from a qualified fire protection engineer that is licensed as a Professional Engineer (PE) by the Colorado State Board of Registration for Professional Engineers to demonstrate conformance to all requirements. Furthermore, the District does not support any waivers or variances that negatively impact any fire safety provisions including access/egress, water supply, hardening of structures, addressing, fire protections systems, etc.
