Nevada County Fire Prevention BOS Workshop January 25, 2018 Programs
Overview 2017 fire season overview Hazardous vegetation ordinance Fire prevention assistance program Fire Safe Council Contract Evacuation planning and response
Local County & Fire Collaboration Community Development Agency (CDA) Law Enforcement Office of Emergency Services (OES) Local Fire Districts CalFire County Airport Fire Safe Council/neighborhoods Numerous Non-profit & Faith orgs
2017 fire season overview Major wildland fire events Lobo & Mc Courtney Wind Complex Air Attack base activity Current state of the forest concerns 2018 fire season concerns
Lobo / Mc Courtney After Action Review Report Items More developed evacuation methodology needed. Legal issues throughout Response and Recovery Phase of disaster. 24/after hour contact information for partners/stakeholders. CodeRed Messaging format, public outreach, greater access to the community. Communications with FEMA are challenging Especially when working with Private Identifiable Information (PII) Increased interaction with Volunteer Groups Disaster Service Workers Long-term Housing Recovery What if we lost 500 homes? Declaring Public Health Emergency Do not need one for State resources, FEMA required Public Health Declaration for Federal resources. Personal Assistance Service (PAS) at shelters for Access and Functional Needs clients. Increased planning efforts for evacuations. Explore Zone Model and Traffic Plans for signals. EOC layout for large incidents Disasters are becoming more complicated to manage. Especially, when Federal Assistance arrives. Need more administrative support. Much more
Lobo / Mc Courtney Success Items Quick EOC Activation EOC Staff alerted about Red Flag Warning and possible EOC Activation over the weekend. Very motivated county staff to assist EOC, citizens and community. PIO Social Media, Information Management County Sheltering Team We have learned a lot since the Oroville Dam Evacuation! Public Health Response No doubt that we can provide basic medical assistance at shelters. Having Access and Functional Needs (AFN) included in every step of the emergency response. EOC AFN Coordinator in Management Section of EOC. Use of volunteers. Our community supports our efforts and appreciates our concern (We Care). To our elected and senior leadership for supporting All Hazard Disaster Response and for creating Disaster Resilient Communities. Community meetings after the fires. Whole Community approach to disaster Preparedness, Prevention, Mitigation, Response, and Recovery.
Hazardous vegetation ordinance Operative on June 12, 2014 Updated on April 26, 2016 the clearance of combustible vegetation along roadways addressing the requirements of a 50 foot wide fuel modification on certain parcels the authority for the Local Fire Official to mandate additional fuels management delineating the responsibilities of both the Local Fire Official and Code Compliance throughout the enforcement and abatement processes. Going forward Work Group created in 2018 with Fire Chiefs to provide more input for improvement modifications
County Fire prevention assistance program Prop. 172 funded program @ $28,000 Part time fire prevention assistants (1) Performed 607 (616 last year) defensible space inspections Inspection failure rate was 20% (30% last year) Not enough defensible space Good defensible space
Fire prevention assistance program Cal Fire Inspections: Compliant Totals Non Compliant Uninspected Totals 954 428 94 1,476 Not enough defensible space Good defensible space
Fire Safe Council contract Prop. 172 funded program @ $30,000 per year ($15K County + $15K Fire match) Defensible Space Advisory Visits (DSAV) 120 (112 last year) Defensible Space for Homeowner Insurance Renewals 39 (36) Chipping Program 256 (288) visits Special Needs Assistance Defensible Space Clearing 11 (19) Development and Publication of 2017-18 Prepare for Fire Season Guide, July 2017 20,000 copies Defensible Space Advisor Training 47 (19) trained $200,000 Grant from California Fire Safe Council $297,110 Grant from National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
Evacuation planning and response Executed by Sheriff's Office Process overview Fire Officials concerns OES support and Public Works Department participation Neighborhood emergency plans and outreach
Major 2018 Goals #1 to #5 GOAL 1: Provide fire departments and county staff an effective and efficient Hazardous Vegetation Abatement Ordinance No. 2411 that they can utilize to achieve countywide parcel compliance. GOAL 2: Increase parcel fire-safe compliance through increased inspections, follow-up, and property owner accountability. GOAL 3: Increase local community awareness, education, and support for hazardous vegetation abatement and the County s compliance efforts. GOAL 4: Work to provide the community more convenient and affordable green waste disposal. GOAL 5: Leverage the County s general plan fire protection elements.
Major 2018 Goals #6 to #8 GOAL 6: Seek hazardous vegetation reduction and fire safe community funding opportunities. GOAL 7: Increase the percentage of residents who are enrolled in the County s emergency alert system CodeRed. GOAL 8: Mature and fully develop the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) staffing capabilities and readiness.
Staff Recommendations: Actively pursue Goals #1-8 Leverage Prop 172 annual revenue growth to: Increase County OES Fire Prevention Inspection program allocation from $28K to $100K, a 360% increase. Pursue State/FEMA Mitigation grant opportunities Pursue NoRTEC workforce training opportunities Pursue RCRC and other funding opportunities Annual Fire Safe Council Contract Leverage Prop 172 annual revenue growth to: Back fill FSC discontinued Title III funding by $30K. Total County FSC contribution of $60K, a 400% increase.
Discussion - Questions