Unincorporated Urban Fires & Wildfires November 3, 2009 Plan Update
Flanagan & Associates, LLC Consultants Tulsa, OK www.rdflanagan.com rdflanagan@rdflanagan.com Plan can be reviewed at: www.rdflanagan.com/county.html
Chapter 3 Committee Members
Chapter 3 Committee Members
Urban Fires
County Base map
County Fire Districts
Unincorporated County Structure Fire Damages Source: Oklahoma State Fire Marshall, VFDs All Damages listed in 1,000s of Dollars 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total Single Family # Dmg # Dmg # Dmg # Dmg # Dmg # Dmg Family 6 $25 0 $0 0 $0 1 $150 1 $0.4 8 $175 Apartment 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 Mobile Home 1 $10 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 1 $10.0 Commercial / Office Warehouse & Industrial Office 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 1 $2.0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 1 $5.0 2 $7.0 Critical Facilities Facilities 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 0 $0 Total 8 $37 0 $0 0 $0 1 $150 1 $5.4 11 $192
Unincorporated County Structure Fire Casualties Source: Oklahoma State Fire Marshall, FD Casualty 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total Civilian Injuries Civilian Deaths Firefighter Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 Firefighter Deaths Deaths 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Injuries 0 0 0 0 0 0 Total Deaths 0 0 0 0 0 0
Additional Factors Urban Fires The percentage of older structures (built before 1970) is slightly lower than the state average (42.3% vs. 45.9%) The history of casualties due to urban fires listed above is substantially lower than the state numbers (0 casualty /11 fires vs. state figures of 1 casualty /16.8 structure fires) Unincorporated has some public information and education programs in place that include fire safety Unincorporated fire casualties have not occurred or not been reported over the last five years.
Goals & Objectives GOAL: To reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage to property, equipment and infrastructure caused by Urban Fires
Goals & Objectives 1. Public Information & Education. Improve public awareness of Urban Fire hazards and measures by which people can protect themselves, their property and their community 2. Preventive Measures. Identify and protect populations, structures and critical infrastructure particularly vulnerable to Urban Fires.
Goals & Objectives 3. Structural Projects. Include Urban Fire considerations in landscaping. Include infrastructure improvements that support effective firefighting. 4. Property Protection. Implement building materials and techniques in retrofitting or in new construction to minimize the risk to public property caused by Urban Fires.
Goals & Objectives (cont.) 5. Emergency Services. Establish or expand emergency services protocols that adequately address firefighting response. 6. Natural Resource Protection. Ensure that Structure Fire mitigation policies have no negative impacts and, whenever possible, provide positive enhancements to the environment.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Continue education and get funding to inform people on proper evacuation plans for city buildings, offices, and homes. Develop a public education program to explain the advantages of individual fire suppression in homes, including fire extinguishers.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Make sure fire extinguishers are strategically placed and properly maintained in all community facilities. Replace inadequately sized water lines with lines of sufficient size to provide adequate fire protection.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Apply for mitigation funding for fire hydrant meter backflow preventers. Use City / County money for a fire suppression demonstration project. Require commercial zoning to use fire proof materials for building
Potential mitigation measures Which 2004 measures do we keep? What are some additional measures we may adopt in 2010?
Potential Urban Fire Public Information & Education Assure that warnings, alerts, and educational materials are available to all residents, including deaf/hard of hearing and Hispanic populations Encourage homeowners participation in EDITH ( Exit Drills in the Home ) ) Programs
Potential Urban Fire Preventive Measures Institute a Fire Department smoke detector installation and battery replacement program Consider more stringent building codes for fire resistant roofing materials and other construction materials Emergency Services Review and evaluate the community fire alarm program
Wildfires Oklahoma Wildfires, 2008
Wildfire Categories Interface or intermix fires fueled by both wildland vegetation and the built environment Firestorms Events of such extreme intensity that suppression is virtually impossible Prescribed fires Intentionally set or selected natural fires that are allowed for beneficial purposes Wildland fires Fueled by natural vegetation. Typically occur in national forests and parks
Uninc.. Grass and Crop Fires 2002-2006 2006 Source: Oklahoma State Fire Marshall Year Runs Acres burned Damages Reported 2004 22 150 $0 2005 2 4 $0 2006 8 214 $0 2007 Not reported - 2008 7 42 $1,050 Total 39 410 $1,050 Average/ year 9.8 103 $263
Wildland Fire Risk Assessment The Wildland Fire Risk Assessment System (WFRAS) is a well defined methodology for describing fuels, assessing current fire risk, and analyzing fire prevention and fuel treatment options for reducing future wildland fire risk Created by fire experts from the public and private sectors Utilizes GIS technology for risk calculation
Wildfires in Oklahoma Flat Rock Complex Fire FEMA 2587 Declaration November 2005 Oklahoma s s request for federal fire management assistance was approved after it was confirmed a fires had burned an estimated 10,000 acres & posed a threat to an estimated 500 homes. The community of Flat Rock was evacuated.
Wildfires in Oklahoma FEMA 1623 Declaration January 2006 Total Public Assistance Funding: $2.75 Million Total Individual Assistance Funding: $2.9 Million Includes assistance to 75 families who lost homes in this event.
Wildfires in Oklahoma Western Oklahoma & Texas April 2009 About 70 homes in & around the Oklahoma City suburbs of Midwest City & Choctaw were destroyed by fire. There and elsewhere across Oklahoma, more than 160 houses burned down 3 people died, & 62 were injured, according to Ok. Emergency Management.
Wildfires in Oklahoma FEMA 1846 Declaration June 2009 Total Housing Assistance: $1.486 Million Other disaster-related related assistance: $108,000 Total US SBA loans: $292,000
Wildland Fire Risk Model Level of Concern (WFSI x Effects Rating) Probability of Fire Occurrence by FOA by Percentile Weather Category Wildland Fire by Susceptibility Index Expected Acres Burned by Percentile Weather Category Fire Behavior (Rate of Spread) Fire Suppression Effectiveness (ROS vs. FFS) Values Impacted Rating Transportation & Infrastructure Urban Interface Fire Effects Index Suppression Rating Fuel Type Topography Plantations
Wildland Fire Susceptibility Index (WFSI)
Unincorp. County Wildfire Susceptibility Index (used to develop a Level of Concern
Unincorp. County WFSI and the Wildland Urban Interface
WFSI & Critical Facilities
OK-Fire Website Current Conditions Oklahoma Mesonet Fire Danger Model El Reno Mesonet Site El Reno Weather 11/2/09 9:00 am Temperature: 60 F Heat Index: - F Relative Humidity: 58% 10-m Wind: 10 mph Rainfall since 7 pm: 0 Dispersion Conditions: Fire Danger Burning Index: Mod. Poor 9:00 am 1 Spread Component: 1 Ignition Component: 0% 1-hr Fuel Moisture: 14% 10-hr Fuel Moisture: 14% KBDI: 14
OK-Fire Website Fire Forecast Burning Index Energy Release 1-hr. Fuel Moisture Drought Index
FireWise Community When adequately prepared, a house can withstand a wildland fire without the intervention of the fire service. In fact, a house and its surrounding community can be both Firewise and compatible with the area's ecosystem.
FireWise Community Driveways, non- flammable walkways and other pathways can halt the spread of a wildfire
FireWise Community A three-foot fire-free free area is created on all sides of homes
FireWise Community Careful spacing of trees and shrubs lowers wildfire potential
FireWise Community Green lawns and irrigated areas serve as fire breaks
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Implement red cedar eradication program (NRCS to assist). Consider County funds toward fire departments that provide fire protection to unincorporated areas of the county including installation of fire hydrants at each section corner where water exists.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Train and coordinate community fire, police, and public works on how to respond to a wildfire emergency. Develop a countywide fire response plan to facilitate the provisioning of water to fire departments during large fires. Develop a fire emergency plan that assures access by fire vehicles to all areas included in the rural/urban interface fire danger area.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Develop a contingency plan for evacuating population endangered by a wildfire. Provide public education on controlled burns and use of fire- retardant vegetation. Develop a warning plan based on drought conditions and moisture measurements to alert officials of increased risk of wildfire.
Measures 2004 Plan Where do we stand on them? Investigate and raise public awareness of fire-resistant resistant materials for buildings. Consider creating fire breaks along fence rows to thwart road jumping. Public awareness regarding red cedar danger..
Goals & Objectives OVERALL GOAL: To reduce injuries, loss of life, and damage to property, equipment and infrastructure caused by wildfires
Goals & Objectives 1. Public Information & Education. Improve public awareness of Wildfire hazards and measures by which people can protect themselves, their property and their community 2. Preventive Measures. Identify and protect populations, structures and critical infrastructure vulnerable to wildfires.
Goals & Objectives 3. Structural Projects. Include wildfire considerations in landscaping, public parks, and other properties that would fall into wildland-urban interfaces or other areas of wildfire risk. Include infrastructure improvements that support effective firefighting. 4. Property Protection. Implement building materials and techniques in retrofitting or in new construction to minimize the risk to public property caused by wildfires
Goals & Objectives (cont.) 5. Emergency Services. Establish or expand emergency services protocols that adequately address Wildfire response. 6. Natural Resource Protection. Ensure that wildfire mitigation policies have no negative impacts and, whenever possible, provide positive enhancements to the environment.
Potential Wildfire Public Information & Education Investigate and raise public awareness of using fire-resistant resistant materials in buildings Preventive Measures Assess fire response vehicle access to all areas with a high Level of Concern
Potential Wildfire Property Protection Review the Firewise program and consider seeking Firewise Community certification for a model neighborhood Structural Projects Replace/continue replacing inadequately sized water lines with lines of sufficient size to provide proper fire protection to annexed and existing areas. Consider more stringent building codes for fire resistant roofing and other construction materials
Potential Wildfire Emergency Services Develop protocols for support by non-profit agencies during wildfire situations where mobile vehicles and canteen operations could find themselves in harm's way during the incident Natural Resource Protection Control the unchecked spread of Eastern Red Cedar, which is not only providing an environment prone to wildfire spread, but severely impacting the diversity of native vegetation and negatively affecting groundwater recharge
Unincorporated Vulnerability Analysis
Analysis Results: Extreme Risk: Greater than 6.0 Medium Risk: 2.5-4.0 High Risk: 4.0 to 6.0 Low Risk: Less than 2.5 Instructions: Score each hazard based on a scale of 0 to 5 with 5 being highest. Historical Occurrence: Based on number of occurrence in last 20 yrs. Max is 5 ;; if a new hazard use 0. Probability: Score 0 if non-existent, 1 if <1%, 2 if <5%, 3 if <10%, 4 if <20%, & 5 if 20%. Probability is likelihood an event will occur. History & probability are similar, but hazards that are newly developing, hazards where e likelihood is greater or less based on new developments or activities, or hazards h that have lack of historical information need to be considered individually. dually. Impact: Based on worst-case scenario - greatest possible impact should worst- case event occur. Impact is in terms of human casualties, property loss, infrastructure damage & business interruption/lost revenue issues. s. Secondary events need to be factored in where necessary. Assume maximum population when appropriate (for example, industrial park during peak work hours).
Vulnerability Analysis Type of Dam / Levee Occurrence History Prob Drought 3 3 Earthquake 1 1 Expansive Soils 5 5 Hum. Impact Prop Infra Bus Mit n Activities Resources Int. Ext. Total Flooding 3 3 Hail HazMat, Fixed 5 4 5 4 1 3 1 2 1 4 4 3.9 Heat, Extreme 5 5 High Winds 5 5 Lightning 5 5 2 4 4 3 2 3 4 5.2 Tornadoes 5 5 Transportation 5 5 Urban Fires 5 5 Wildfires 5 5 Winter Storms 5 5
Questions or Comments? Plan can be reviewed at: www.rdflanagan.com/county.html