201 S. Anaheim Blvd.
Suite #300
Anaheim, CA 92805
Tel: (714) 765-4000
Fax: (714) 765-4008
www.anaheim.net
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
City of Anaheim
FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT
DATE: SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
FROM: FIRE & RESCUE DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT: WILDFIRE PREPAREDNESS
ATTACHMENT (Y/N): NO ITEM # 18
REQUESTED ACTION:
That the City Council, by Motion, receive and file an update on wildfire preparedness and as necessary provide direction to staff with the possibility of allocating additional appropriations based on Council direction.
DISCUSSION:
At the August 23, 2022 City Council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem O’Neil requested an agenda item with recommendations to help the City be better prepared for the fire season, including additional equipment and/or staffing. Anaheim Fire & Rescue focuses on wildfire prevention throughout the year. Below is an overview of prevention, response and recovery efforts to decrease the threat of wildfire.
Prevention
Anaheim Fire & Rescue (AF&R) created a new position in the current fiscal year and recently promoted an incumbent to serve as the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
This new position will assist with wildfire hazard mitigation, specifically they will work with homeowners, homeowner associations and other stakeholders to conduct free wildfire assessments and make recommendations to reduce the chance of wildfire damage. The specialist will coordinate using the conservation corps to clear large brush that are fire hazards.
Anaheim Fire & Rescue has been utilizing goats for a number of years to help clear the brush from our hillsides. In conjunction with utilizing goats, we recently brought on a contractor that focuses on ecological concerns and long term benefits of removing nonnative vegetation to assist with the efforts.
Response
Anaheim Fire & Rescue has designated apparatus to help combat wildfires.
Additional precautions are taken during high fire weather conditions to ensure Anaheim Fire & Rescue is staffed, equipped, and ready to respond. Typically, Type 3 and Type 6 engines are part of wildfire response because they are 4-wheel drive fire engines that can drive through rough terrain. Through the California Fire & Wildfire Preparedness
September 13, 2022
Rescue Mutual Aid System, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) provides local government fire agencies with fire apparatus. Anaheim Fire & Rescue is partners with Cal OES and currently houses a Type 1, Type 3 and Type 6 apparatus.
There are three elements that influence wildland fires: topography, fuel and weather.
Southern California has the most challenging fuel type anywhere in the country. We have Coastal Sage, Chaparral, and Siamese, that fuel is meant to live for 20 years and then burn off and regrow, which is accelerated when we go through long drought periods. More fuel dies every year, so it's susceptible to fires. Lastly, our most significant wildfire factor is the weather and wind because they can change hour to hour.
To help mitigate and monitor the wind conditions, we have two volunteer programs in place: Fire Watch and Anaheim Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Services (RACES). The main goal of Fire Watch is to ensure early fire detection and monitor for hazards that could cause fires. RACES is an emergency management volunteer program that utilizes state of the art ham radio technology to provide vital communications support during emergency incidents and routine events and activities.
In addition, the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is vital and serves as a conduit for information during emergencies. They coordinate shelters, evacuations, and logistical support for field responders when activated. The EOC is a central location for staff to provide interagency coordination and executive decision-making in response to and recovery from planning and unplanned incidents. The EOC is staffed by representatives from all city departments, city leaders and elected officials, key external agency partners, and other jurisdictions.
Following the 2017 Canyon Fires, the City of Anaheim created the Know Your Way evacuation program. The program established 15 evacuation zones with evacuation routes specific to each zone. It paved the way for Anaheim to partner with neighboring cities, school districts and state partners to develop a strategy that included a broader look at how emergency evacuations in our region impact residents. As part of Know Your Way, the city has also installed evacuation route signs on main streets in east Anaheim. Anaheim residents are encouraged to visit Anaheim.net/KnowYourWay to learn their evacuation zone and route to be better prepared for the next emergency.
Anaheim Fire & Rescue has a number of other equipment that we have access to that assist with wildfire response. The Quick Reaction Force is a collaborative agreement with Coulson Aircraft, Southern California Edison, the Counties of Orange, Los Angeles, and Ventura that bolster heavy aircraft with a mobile retardant base on the initial response. We also have a mutual aid contract that provides us with a first alarm and second alarm vegetation response from Cal Fire Riverside and the National Forest Services and Strike Teams.
Wildfire Preparedness
September 13, 2022
Although our traditional fire season is in the fall due to the influence of the Santa Ana winds, winds threaten the east Anaheim community year-round due to our weather conditions.
Possible Additions
1. Restore three (3) of the nine (9) current firefighter vacancies to provide immediate coverage for station 8, which covers the wildland area. These are positions that have been unfunded since the recession of 2008. (approximately $242,000 annually per firefighter; total of $726,000 annually)
2. Three (3) additional pick-up truck vehicles to aide with effectively deploying firefighters during major fire events. A challenge we had during the complex fire and Canyon fire, was that our firefighters called back on an emergency recall to assist and did not have vehicles to dispatch to the fire. Duties may include being assigned to an engine, structure triage, and evacuations. We would need these vehicles ready to respond. (Estimated cost of each pick-up is $130,000; total of $390,000 for all three)
3. Accelerating apparatus replacement for up to three (3) apparatus. We have three Type 1 Engine apparatus with one as old as 22 years. It is becoming a challenge to find parts to fix them so their downtime can be 3-5 weeks out of service. The aging equipment replacement is imminent and the replacement time is 18-24 months lead time. (Estimated cost of $1.1 million dollars per apparatus; total of $3.3 million – due at delivery)
4. Expand use of the Conservation Corps or Cal Fire hand crew to assist in fire mitigation efforts ($150,000)
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
Anaheim Fire & Rescue Department's FY 2022/23 General Fund budget will be increased based on City Council direction.
Respectfully submitted,
Patrick Russell
Fire Chief