COLUSA, CA (MPG) — A recent inquiry about storing explosive materials in Colusa County prompted county officials Tuesday to revisit local oversight of hazardous materials, transparency, and fire safety coordination during the Board of Supervisors meeting.
Community Development Director Alexandra Fowler told the board her department received an inquiry last week from a Colusa County property owner approached by a company seeking to lease heavy industrial-zoned land for explosive material storage and shipping containers.
“In light of the recent Oakdale Fire and Esparto incidents involving the storage of explosive materials, I thought it best to bring this to your attention,” Fowler said. “The property being considered is zoned heavy industrial, and the proposed use is permitted under county zoning as warehousing.”
Because the use is permitted, Fowler said, no public hearing or notice to nearby property owners would be required. A building permit, emergency response plan, and fire safety plan would still be necessary before approval.
Supervisor Merced Corona suggested bringing the matter back once an application is filed so the board could review safety measures in detail.
Supervisor Darucie Smith agreed and said it might be time to examine whether the county’s zoning ordinance needs updates to address such uses.
Fowler noted that the business has no connection to the Yolo County incidents and that no permit has been submitted.
“We just wanted you to be aware that businesses with those operations are now looking to relocate to neighboring counties like ours,” she said.
The issue resurfaced later in the meeting when supervisors ratified amendments to the 2025 California Fire Code for the Williams Fire Protection Authority and the Arbuckle–College City Fire Protection District.
Williams Fire Chief Jeff Gilbert said his district’s code standards have been in place for six years and are designed to address local conditions such as limited water supply and the presence of hazardous materials. The updates lower the sprinkler requirement threshold for commercial buildings to 5,000 square feet, require sprinklers in modular homes, and regulate the placement of shipping containers used for storage.
Gilbert said. “We simply need to know where these storage containers are and what’s in them for firefighter safety. ”
Gilbert said the decline in volunteer firefighters across the region makes prevention and coordination even more important.
Fowler said her department continues to work with fire districts to improve transparency and ensure public safety before incidents occur.
Agricultural Commissioner Anastacia Allen added that her office regularly inspects on-farm chemical storage and already enforces safety rules for pesticide handling and labeling.
“Farmers are required to secure chemical storage, often using shipping containers in orchards or fields,” Allen said. “We can coordinate with Fire to improve transparency and reporting of container locations.”
Supervisors supported the idea, with Smith calling the coordination effort “an excellent step toward improving safety and compliance.”
Fowler also reported on several upcoming items, including the Maxwell Community Plan and the Sites Reservoir Project development agreement, both scheduled for board consideration Nov. 4.