STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date: October 11, 2022
To: Honorable Mayor & City Council
From: Gregory W. Barton, Fire Chief
Subject: Fire Department’s Wildland Emergency Evacuation Boxes Attachments: None
INTRODUCTION
Wildfires have become bigger and more devastating. As a result, the City contracted with FlameMapper, LLC. to provide wildfire modeling and mitigation effective analysis.
This includes the creation of the Beverly Hills Fire Department’s Wildland Emergency Evacuation Boxes (or commonly termed as: Beacon Boxes).
DISCUSSION
Wildfires are unpredictable. Hence, first responders need critical access to information on how to approach a situation and save homes, including devising a mass evacuation plan. The beacon boxes fulfill this need. They serve as crucial components in fire agencies’ effectiveness when responding to wildfire events.
These fire-resistant, waterproof, and highly durable beacon boxes function as a one-stop source of accurate and localized information for mutual aid first responders who may not be familiar with the area. The content can only be accessed by first responders (and public safety personnel) and is comprised of the following: Battalion Resource Summary Sheets, pre-attack plans, and egress areas. The contents also contain a telephone directory, along with road networks, turnaround places, hydrant locations, and other water sources.
Information contained in the beacon box comes in both laminated copy and digital formats. They will also be strategically placed in the areas north of Sunset. Moreover, a solar-powered beacon is affixed to the outside in order for the boxes to remain visible in the dark or if light is obscured by smoke.
Illustrated below is the proposed design that is exclusively customized for the City:
Meeting Date: October 11, 2022
FISCAL IMPACT
The fiscal impact for the creation of approximately eight (8) beacon boxes with an estimated amount $32,000.00, which will be funded by the fire department’s current budget.
RECOMMENDATION
This report is for informational only.
Gregory W. Barton,
Fire Chief
Approved By