Hollister
– When the St. Francis Catholic Retreat was devastated by a fire
in late June, hundreds of religious artifacts were destroyed, as
were the retreat offices and the friars’ living quarters.
Rebuilding is likely to take two years and could cost up to $9
million.
Hollister – When the St. Francis Catholic Retreat was devastated by a fire in late June, hundreds of religious artifacts were destroyed, as were the retreat offices and the friars’ living quarters. Rebuilding is likely to take two years and could cost up to $9 million.
County fire marshal Jim Dellamonica said much of the damage could have been prevented.
“Had the upstairs bedroom been sprinklered, those buildings would be there today,” Dellamonica said.
The county is currently considering an ordinance that would make sprinklers a requirement for anyone building a home or doing major renovations in unincorporated San Benito County.
The Board of Supervisors will discuss the ordinance at its meeting today. If the board supports the idea, it will vote on the ordinance at a future meeting.
According to Dellamonica, the ordinance would just formalize an already existing practice. He said that during the past two years, the county has been asking home builders without water available for firefighting – through hydrants or other sources – to include sprinklers in the buildings.
“It’s like having a firefighter on duty, 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Dellamonica said.
San Juan Bautista already has a fire-sprinkler ordinance in place, and Dellamonica said Hollister is likely to follow the county’s lead.
He estimated a sprinkler system would add between $3,000 and $5,000 to the cost of building a new home. However, Dellamonica noted that San Benito’s push for sprinkler systems – coupled with the installation of powerful steamer fire hydrants – has already caused the Insurance Services Organization to substantially lower the risk rating for county homes. This should, in turn, lower insurance costs for homeowners.
Rosario Contreras, office manager at Amezcua and Gonzalez Insurance Services, told the Free Lance that if the owners of a $500,000 home installed a sprinkler system, their annual insurance costs would fall by about $100, from $500 to $400. In addition, Contreras said, many companies are wary of insuring homes without sprinklers.
When he built his new home in the Ashford Highlands development, local businessman Ignacio Velazquez decided against installing a sprinkler system. He said the nearby fire hydrants made him confident that his home will be safe.
“You hear more stories about damage done than about sprinklers saving a home,” Velazquez said, but he added, “As systems get better, the trend is toward sprinklers in all homes.”
Velazquez made a different choice for two multistory downtown buildings he owns at San Benito and Fifth streets. Although it wasn’t required, Velazquez decided to install sprinkler systems in both buildings.
“I decided it was the best thing for the buildings, and for the downtown,” he said.
Local architect David Huboi thinks the ordinance is a good idea, given the distance between many rural homes and the county’s fire service. He said he’s currently working on two out-of-county homes – one in Prunedale and one in Los Gatos – that will definitely be safer because of their indoor sprinkler systems.
Supervisor Don Marcus also supports the proposed rules. He said he’s been working with the fire department on the ordinance for a year.
“I believe it’s something residents will agree with,” Marcus said. “It’s a health and safety issue.”
Anthony Ha covers local government for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
