Patrick Siegman
@siegman.biz
Transportation planner and economist. Founder, Siegman & Associates. Formerly Principal & Shareholder at Nelson\Nygaard. LinkedIn: https://tinyurl.com/5cekhrjh
Many years ago, when I first began working on efforts to improve fire and traffic safety, I was surprised to learn that many countries around the world have better fire safety records than we do. We can learn a lot from the building codes of other advanced nations.
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Sources:
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
November 23, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Many years ago, when I first began working on efforts to improve fire and traffic safety, I was surprised to learn that many countries around the world have better fire safety records than we do. We can learn a lot from the building codes of other advanced nations.
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Those researchers investigated the safety of modern mid-rise single stair buildings in the US cities that allow them. They discovered that in buildings that meet modern fire safety requirements, the extra staircase adds cost, leading to higher rents, but does not improve safety.
See:
See:
Small Single-Stairway Apartment Buildings Have Strong Safety Record
Policymakers could increase the supply of multifamily housing in their states and localities by revising outdated building codes that require more than one stairway in small apartment buildings. If en...
www.pew.org
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Those researchers investigated the safety of modern mid-rise single stair buildings in the US cities that allow them. They discovered that in buildings that meet modern fire safety requirements, the extra staircase adds cost, leading to higher rents, but does not improve safety.
See:
See:
In recent years, American fire safety researchers have began paying more attention to building codes in nations with better fire safety records than the US (Switzerland, etc.). They realized that the norm in those countries is to allow much taller single-stair buildings than the US does.
November 23, 2025 at 3:45 AM
In recent years, American fire safety researchers have began paying more attention to building codes in nations with better fire safety records than the US (Switzerland, etc.). They realized that the norm in those countries is to allow much taller single-stair buildings than the US does.
I think Berkeley also needs better fire engine and trucks.
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Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I think Berkeley also needs better fire engine and trucks.
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Most of the groups that endorsed California's #AB2097, which removed virtually all minimum parking regulations near frequent transit, should be willing to support removing minimum parking mandates statewide. Who else would be willing to sign on?
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAn...
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAn...
November 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Most of the groups that endorsed California's #AB2097, which removed virtually all minimum parking regulations near frequent transit, should be willing to support removing minimum parking mandates statewide. Who else would be willing to sign on?
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAn...
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billAn...
Sources:
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Sources:
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
www.pew.org/en/research-...
Center for Fire Statistics (CFS CTIF). 2025. World Fire Statistics Report No. 30. International Association of Fire and Rescue Services (CTIF). www.ctif.org/sites/defaul...
I’ve heard emergency responders offer many different stories about why the fire road width provisions of the IFC were originally adopted, and that’s one I sometimes hear. However, the original rationale seems to be lost to history.
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One big problem with America’s highly-prescriptive building and fire codes is that they are full of provisions that were adopted based on implicit assumptions (about staffing, equipment, etc.). Yet those assumptions generally aren’t written down anywhere. Often, they are lost to history.
November 22, 2025 at 4:48 PM
I’ve heard emergency responders offer many different stories about why the fire road width provisions of the IFC were originally adopted, and that’s one I sometimes hear. However, the original rationale seems to be lost to history.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
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Portland should buy better fire engines and trucks, if they don’t already have them. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Portland should buy better fire engines and trucks, if they don’t already have them. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars, as you’ve shown.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars, as you’ve shown.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked cars.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
Many fire departments around the world use ladder trucks with outriggers that fully deploy in far less than 26 feet of width. In fact, many have outriggers that work just fine on streets with far less than 20’ of clear width.
For more info on this topic, read this.
For more info on this topic, read this.
If You Want Safe Streets, Buy a Better Fire Engine - Opticos Design
If you want safe streets, you need to buy fire engines that fit on safe streets. The same goes for ladder trucks, foam tenders, HazMat rigs, and other fire department vehicles.
opticosdesign.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Berkeley should buy better fire engines and trucks. They need vehicles that work well on the many slender streets the City already has. Some have just 8-10 of clear width between parked car.
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
bsky.app/profile/sieg...
This is a major expansion of the territory where #Waymo is allowed to operate its robotaxis. To be sure, they aren’t yet allowed to carry paying passengers in all these areas, but we can expect that to follow.
November 22, 2025 at 3:39 AM
This is a major expansion of the territory where #Waymo is allowed to operate its robotaxis. To be sure, they aren’t yet allowed to carry paying passengers in all these areas, but we can expect that to follow.
Cities already had many good reasons for removing minimum parking mandates. This is yet another.
November 22, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Cities already had many good reasons for removing minimum parking mandates. This is yet another.
The overall fire death rate in the UK is far lower than the fire death rate in the United States. Even in 2017, the year the Grenfell tragedy happened, it was far lower. Do you think the UK should adopt the building codes and firefighting practices that have given the US its high fire death rate?
November 22, 2025 at 12:58 AM
The overall fire death rate in the UK is far lower than the fire death rate in the United States. Even in 2017, the year the Grenfell tragedy happened, it was far lower. Do you think the UK should adopt the building codes and firefighting practices that have given the US its high fire death rate?
TIL today:
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#Italy allows single-stair apartment buildings up to 26 stories high. U.S. cities (with rare exceptions) limit single-stair apartment buildings to 3 stories. Which one has a higher fire death rate?
The United States! The fire death rate in the United States is more than twice as high as in Italy.
The United States! The fire death rate in the United States is more than twice as high as in Italy.
November 22, 2025 at 12:45 AM
TIL today:
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