Purpose: Policy: Background: The purpose of this policy is to adopt a formal procedure for determining the alarm level for San Mateo County fire agencies responding to a wildland fire based on available weather data. It is the policy of the San Mateo County Fire Chiefs that the alarm plan described in this policy shall be followed for wildland fires. The severity of wildland fires is determined by several factors. Weather plays a critical role in forecasting anticipated fire behavior. This alarm plan relies on weather data to determine the number/type of units that will be dispatched to a reported wildland incident. Procedures: 1. The Mechanism for a Response A. Dispatch Level is determined by the Burn Index for the day, which includes: Humidity Wind Air Temperature Fuel Moisture 2. Remote Automatic Weather Sites (RAWS) A. A new weather zone has been established east of the Skyline Ridge from San Francisco to the Santa Clara County Line B. R.A.W.S. locations: Spring Valley is used for agencies in the North Zone, which includes: Daly City South San Francisco San Bruno Millbrae Burlingame San Mateo Foster City Brisbane Colma Page 1 of 6
Pulgas is used for agencies in the South Zone, which include: Hillsborough County Fire South County Redwood City Woodside Menlo Park North Coast (existing) is used for: Half Moon Bay/Pt Montara 3. Information gathering and notification A. CDF dispatch will access and calculate the data required during the declared State Fire Season, or if requested by the Area Fire and Rescue Coordinator. During the months that do fall within the fire season, this will be conducted at 1000, 1400 and 1800 hours each day. B. CDF dispatch will contact San Mateo County with the dispatch level information. C. San Mateo County dispatch will advise all on duty persons via pagers, (all call), as to the dispatch levels. 4. Wildland response plan will mirror the greater alarm plan format. A. Level one staging be implemented B. A CDF Battalion Chief and CDF Type III engine will respond to the incident on second alarm assignment. 5. Further training should be considered for those jurisdictions with SRA or LRA intermix, and Mutual Threat Zones (MTZ s). Page 2 of 6
Dispatch Levels Remote Automatic Weather Station Weather Information Management System Burn Index (BI) Zone Low Medium High 1 0-25 26-39 40+ 2 0-25 26-39 40+ Burn Index controls the dispatch level. Dispatch levels controls the amount and kind of resources dispatched. Page 3 of 6
FIRE DANGER San Mateo County Wildland Alarm Plan EXTREME / VERY HIGH HIGH LOW / MEDIUM Alarm 1 st 2 nd s Specialized Equipment CDF WOD Water Tender Chiefs CDF Cover-In/Notification Notify CDF Battalion Chief Centralize Notify Fire Buffs 3 rd Centralize Notify Fire Mutual Aid Coordinator Notify On-Call OES (Sheriff) to County Communications 5 th 6 th 7 th Page 4 of 6
8 th Page 5 of 6
CDF Wildland Response FIRE DANGER s Specialized Equipment/Personnel Chiefs LOW Bulldozer MEDIUM Air Attack (2) Air Tankers (1) Helicopter Bulldozer Fire Crew HIGH Air Attack (2) Air Tankers (1) Helicopter Bulldozer (2) Fire Crews EXTREME Air Attack (4) Air Tankers (2) Helicopters (2) Bulldozers (4) Fire Crews * These CDF resources will be available to local government agencies per the on scene CDF. ** Felton automatically dispatches these resources to a vegetation fire located in SRA lands. Page 6 of 6