ASHLAND, Ore. - The fire chief in Ashland is proposing that all new homes in the southern Oregon city have fire-resistant roofs and that flammable roofs on existing homes be phased out within 10 years.

Ashland Fire and Rescue Chief John Karns made the recommendation after a fire burned 11 houses in the Oak Knoll neighborhood last August, causing more than $3 million in damage in the city's worst residential fire in more than a century.

The Daily Tidings reports the proposals are among recommendations that likely will be considered by the Ashland City Council before next year.

Some of the homes that were destroyed had flammable wood shingles. With the help of helicopter water drops, firefighters were able to stop the advance of the fire at a house with a fire-resistant roof.

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Information from: The Ashland Daily Tidings, http://www.dailytidings.com


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