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Case
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Reference no. HKS1051.0
Published by: Harvard Kennedy School
Published in: 1991

Abstract

In the wake of a disastrous 1962 fire, the city of Los Angeles restricted wood shingle roofs, a popular aspect of California architectural style but singled out for blame in helping flames to leap from one structure to the next. In response, however, manufacturers of wood shingles-based on the West Coast but not in California-developed specially-treated forms of their product which they asserted, and tests showed, were fire resistant. Following a 1988 fire, however, the Los Angeles Fire Department proposes to ban wood shingle roofs outright in select high-risk zones of the city. This case focuses on the Los Angeles City Council''s consideration of the fire department proposal. It allows for discussion both of the rationale for public safety regulations and for reflection on the way public safety issues are considered by elected officials.

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Abstract

In the wake of a disastrous 1962 fire, the city of Los Angeles restricted wood shingle roofs, a popular aspect of California architectural style but singled out for blame in helping flames to leap from one structure to the next. In response, however, manufacturers of wood shingles-based on the West Coast but not in California-developed specially-treated forms of their product which they asserted, and tests showed, were fire resistant. Following a 1988 fire, however, the Los Angeles Fire Department proposes to ban wood shingle roofs outright in select high-risk zones of the city. This case focuses on the Los Angeles City Council''s consideration of the fire department proposal. It allows for discussion both of the rationale for public safety regulations and for reflection on the way public safety issues are considered by elected officials.

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