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damage by earthquake intensity.) In residential areas, moderate shaking during a quake may damage chimneys, porches, and stucco. FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE Fire hazards exist in both developed and undeveloped areas. Those occurring in developed areas typically include buildings, rubbish, automobiles, and grass fires on vacant lots. Those in undeveloped areas often include large brush and grass fires. Urban Fire Hazards Due to the proximity of people and structures, fires in urban areas can pose a threat to both life and property. Those structures posing the greatest fire hazards include unsprinklered buildings, public assembly buildings, institutions, multiple-family residential structures, shopping centers, hazardous use occupancies, multi-story large floor area occupancies, and homes in and near wildland areas. The majority of fires in Pleasanton's urbanized area tend to be vehicle, building, grass, and refuse fires. Historically, structural fires have occurred mosdy in residential buildings because of the city's large proportion of housing. In the future the existing housing stock will age, and some additional residential developments may be built in previously undeveloped areas adjacent to wildfire hazard areas. These trends might increase the chance of fires and will require appropriate prevention and safety measures. Wildfire Hazards Over 7,000 acres in the Pleasanton Planning Area are identified in Special Fire Protection Areas that are in wildland-urban interface fire-threat areas. Human activities such as equipment use or smoking are the usual cause of wildfires that result in loss of valuable natural resources, soil erosion, and damage to life and property. Once a wildfire has been ignited, its outcome is affected by three environmental factors: fuel, climate, and topography. The quantity and type of vegetation available for burning is called fuel loading. Woodlands over six feet in height and covering 20 percent or more of the ground area are considered heavy fuel loading. Scrub including brush, shrubs, and other perennial vegetation less than six feet in height and having similar coverage is considered medium fuel loading. Open areas including grasslands, fields, and barren land are considered light fuel loading. Climate conditions which affect the severity of fires include wind, relative humidity, and precipitation. Topography influences wildfire behavior and the ability of firefighters to suppress fires once they occur. Fires tend to burn more rapidly upslope than down, and the steeper the slope the greater the rate at which the fire spreads. Steep slopes also contribute to the channeling effects of winds which spread fires more quickly. In addition, steep slopes increase travel times for fire vehicles and firefighters and restrict the methods possible for fighting the fire. Public Safety 082906, clean V-14 City Council 8/29/2006