RESOLUTION NO. 2022-063
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CORONA, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CITY OF
CORONA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT 2022 WILDFIRE
MITIGATION PLAN
WHEREAS, the City of Corona (“City”), a municipal corporation, is authorized under various provisions of the California Constitution and the general laws of California (including, specifically, Article XI, section 9(a) of the California Constitution, Public Utilities Code Section 10004, and Government Code section 39732(a) to establish, purchase, and operate a public utility to furnish its inhabitants with, among other things, electricity; and WHEREAS, the City operates a municipal electric utility through its Utilities (“UD”); and
WHEREAS, as a municipal electric utility, UD is generally subject to the legislative and regulatory requirements applicable to local publicly owned electric utilities (POUs); and
WHEREAS, Senate Bill (“SB”) 1028 (stats. 2016), adding California Public Utilities Code, Section 8387, requires each POU to construct, maintain, and operate its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that will minimize the risk of wildfire posed by those electrical lines and equipment; and
WHEREAS, SB 901 (stats. 2018), amending California Public Utilities Code Section 8387, requires all POUs to prepare a wildfire mitigation plan before January 1, 2020, and annually thereafter; and
WHEREAS, California Public Utilities Code Section 8387(b)(2) specifies the content that must be included in each POU’s wildfire mitigation plan; and WHEREAS, California Public Utilities Code Section 8387(b)(3) requires each POU to present its wildfire mitigation plan at an appropriately noticed public meeting and to verify that its plan complies with all applicable rules, regulations, and standards, as appropriate; and WHEREAS, SB 111 (stats. 2019), adding California Public Utilities Code Section 326.1, established the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board; and WHEREAS, SB 1054 (stats. 2019), amending California Public Utilities Code Section 8387, requires each POU to submit its wildfire mitigation plan to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board by July 1 of each year, starting in the year 2020; and WHEREAS, pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 326.2, the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board will review each POU’s wildfire mitigation plan and will provide comments and advisory opinions on the content and sufficiency of each plan; and WHEREAS, UD submitted its prior wildfire mitigation plan to the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board by June 17, 2021; and
WHEREAS, Pursuant to the direction of the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board, UD staff completed the 2021 Informational Response Document, providing the additional information requested by the Wildfire Safety Advisory Board; and
WHEREAS, UD staff will submit its 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, adopted today by UD’s governing board to the California Wildfire Safety Advisory Board before July 1, 2022.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Corona, California, pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 8387, adopts UD’s 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, as follows:
SECTION 1. CEQA Findings. Based upon the facts and information contained in the administrative record, including all written and oral evidence presented to the City Council, the City Council finds this action exempt pursuant to Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the general rule that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action approves a plan for the implementation of preventive strategies and mitigation measures to minimize the risk of wildfires caused by electrical lines and equipment. This action does not approve or authorize any construction activity or any disturbance of an environmental resource. There is no possibility that adopting the Wildfire Mitigation Plan will have a significant effect on the environment. Therefore, the City Council finds that no further environmental review of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan is required pursuant to CEQA and the State CEQA Guidelines.
SECTION 2. Adoption of Plan. The City Council hereby adopts the City of Corona Utilities Department Electric Utility 2022 Wildfire Mitigation Plan, dated June 15, 2022, attached hereto as Exhibit “A” and incorporated herein by reference, pursuant to California Public Utilities Code Section 8387.
SECTION 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 15
th day of June 2022.
Mayor of the City of Corona, California
ATTEST:
City Clerk of the City of Corona, California
CERTIFICATION
I, Sylvia Edwards, City Clerk of the City of Corona, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution was regularly passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Corona, California, at an adjourned meeting thereof held on the 15 th day of June 2022, by the following
vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAINED:
ABSENT:
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of the City of Corona, California, this 15
th day of June 2022.
___________________________________
City Clerk of the City of Corona, California
(SEAL)
EXHIBIT "A"
CITY OF CORONA UTILITIES DEPARTMENT ELECTRIC UTILITY 2022
WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
[See attached 50 pages]
CITY OF CORONA
UTILITIES DEPARTMENT
2022 ELECTRIC UTILITY
WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
VERSION 3.0
June 15, 2022
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Overview.........................................................................................................................................4 A. Policy Statement............................................................................................................................4 B. Purpose of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan .......................................................................................4 C. Organization of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan...............................................................................4 D. Context Setting Information .........................................................................................................5 E. Statutory Cross Reference Table..................................................................................................7 II. Objectives of the Wildfire Mitigation Plan...................................................................................9 III. Roles and Responsibilities............................................................................................................10 A. Utility Governance Structure ......................................................................................................10 B. WILDFIRE PREVENTION .................................................................................................................11 C. WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY ........................................................................................11 D. Emergency Management System.............................................................................................12 IV. Wildfire Risks and Drivers associated with design, construction, operation, and maintenance ............................................................................................................................................15 A. Particular Risks and Risk Drivers Associated With Topographic and Climatological Risk Factors....................................................................................................................................................15 B. Enterprisewide Safety Risks .........................................................................................................15 V. Wildfire Preventative Strategies .................................................................................................16 A. High fire threat district .................................................................................................................16 B. design and Construction Standards..........................................................................................16 C. Vegetation Management..........................................................................................................16 D. Inspections....................................................................................................................................17 E. California public utility commission wildFIRE threat map........................................................18 F. Corona fire department threat map ........................................................................................19 G. Reclosing Policy ...........................................................................................................................25 H. Deenergization.............................................................................................................................25 VI. Restoration of Service..................................................................................................................25 VII. Evaluating of the Plan .................................................................................................................26 A. Metrics and Assumptions for Measuring Plan Performance...................................................26 Metric 1: Fire Ignitions........................................................................................................................27 Metric 2: Wires Down.........................................................................................................................27 B. Impact of Metrics on Plan...........................................................................................................27 C. Monitoring and Auditing the Plan .............................................................................................27 D. Identifying and correcting Deficiencies in the Plan ................................................................27 E. Monitoring the effectiveness of inspections.............................................................................27 VIII. Independent Auditor ..................................................................................................................28 IX. Exhibits...........................................................................................................................................28 Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 4
I. OVERVIEW
A. POLICY STATEMENT
The City of Corona Utilities Department ’s (UD) overarching goal is to provide safe, reliable, and economic electric service to its local community. In order to meet this goal, UD constructs, maintains, and operates its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that minimizes the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by its electrical lines and equipment.
B. PURPOSE OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
UD’s electric supply system is located nearly 100% underground in conduit and vaults.
Historically, undergrounded electric lines have not been associated with catastrophic wildfires.
The undergrounding of electric lines serves as an effective mitigation measure to reduce the potential of power-line ignited wildfires. Based on a review of local conditions and historical fires, UD has determined that its electrical lines and equipment do not pose a significant risk of catastrophic wildfire.
Despite this low risk, UD takes appropriate actions to help its region prevent and respond to the increasing risk of devastating wildfires. In its role as a public agency, UD closely coordinates with other local safety and emergency officials to help protect against fires and respond to emergencies. In its role as a utility, UD follows all applicable design, construction, operation, and maintenance requirements that reduce safety risks associated with its system. This Wildfire Mitigation Plan describes the safety-related measures that UD follows to reduce its risk of causing wildfires.
C. ORGANIZATION OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
This Wildfire Mitigation Plan included the following elements:
• Objectives of the plan;
• Roles and responsibilities for carrying out the plan; • Identification of key wildfire risks and risk drivers; • Description of wildfire prevention, mitigation, and response strategies and programs; • Metrics for evaluating the performance of the plan and identifying areas for improvement;
• Review and validation of the plan; and
• Timelines.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 5
D. CONTEXT SETTING INFORMATION
The City of Corona Utilities Department
Service Territory Size 1.5 square miles
Owned Assets ☐ Transmission X Distribution ☐ Generation Number of Customers
Served
1,850 customer accounts
Population Within Service
Territory
3,182 people
Customer Class Makeup
Number of Accounts Share of Total Load (MWh)
70% Residential;
2% Government;
0% Agricultural;
27% Commercial;
1% Industrial
51% Residential;
3% Government;
0% Agricultural;
28% Commercial;
18%Industrial
Service Territory
Location/Topography1
0% Agriculture 5% Coastal Scrubland **
0% Barren/Other 91% Urban
0% Conifer Forest 0% Water
0% Conifer Woodland 1% Wetlands **
3% Grassland*
0% Desert
0% Hardwood Forest
0% Hardwood Woodland
0% Herbaceous
*Maintained golf course with UG assets
**All UG electric assets
Service Territory
Wildland Urban Interface2
(based on total area)
X Includes maps (See Exhibits)
Percent of Service
Territory in CPUC High Fire
Threat Districts (based on
total area)
X Includes maps
Tier 2: 3%*
Tier 3: 0%
* All service territory in Tier 2 areas include all underground electric assets. No overhead exposure to public property.
Prevailing Wind Directions
& Speeds by Season
X Includes maps
UD has minimal overhead exposure, as the system is nearly 100% underground, with the exception of only 3 poles spanning approximately 78 1 This data is based on the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, California Multi-Source Vegetation Layer Map, depicting WHR13 Types (Wildlife Habitat Relationship classes grouped into 13 major land cover types) available at: https://www.arcgis.com/home/item.html?id=b7ec5d68d8114b1fb2bfbf4665989eb3. 2 This data is based on the definitions and maps maintained by the United States Department of Agriculture, as most recently assembled in The 2010 Wildland-Urban Interface of the Conterminous United States, available at https://www.fs.fed.us/nrs/pubs/rmap/rmap_nrs8.pdf.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 6
linear feet, with a total of roughly 105 linear feet of overhead cable, including the dive to underground cable on City-owned property. This location (Water Reclamation Facility #2) at 652 Harrison Street, Corona, CA 92879 has no vegetation and the property surface area and structures consist of concrete, asphalt and rock. Additionally, this location is not within a HFT area.
Miles of Owned Lines
Underground and/or
Overhead
Overhead Dist.: 105 Feet
Overhead Trans.: 0 miles
Underground Dist.: 31.1 miles
Underground Trans.: 0 miles
Explanatory Note 1 - Methodology for Measuring “Miles”: 164196 feet of underground cable verified in GIS and converted to underground (UG) miles Explanatory Note 2 – Description of Unique Ownership Circumstances: None Explanatory Note 3 – Additional Relevant Context: None
Percent of Owned Lines in
CPUC High Fire Threat
Districts
Overhead Distribution Lines as % of Total Distribution System (Inside and Outside Service Territory)
Tier 2: 0%
Tier 3: 0%
Overhead Transmission Lines as % of Total Transmission System (Inside and Outside Service Territory)
Tier 2: 0%
Tier 3: 0%
Explanatory Note 4 – Additional Relevant Context:
Customers have ever lost
service due to an IOU PSPS
event?
☐ Yes X No
Customers have ever been
notified of a potential loss
of service to due to a
forecasted IOU PSPS
event?
☐ Yes X No
Has developed protocols
to pre-emptively shut off
electricity in response to
elevated wildfire risks?
☐ Yes X No
Has previously preemptively shut off
electricity in response to
elevated wildfire risk?
☐ Yes X No
If yes, then provide the following data for calendar year 2020:
Number of shut-off events: __n/a__
Customer Accounts that lost service for >10 minutes: __n/a__ For prior response, average duration before service restored: __n/a__ Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 7
E. STATUTORY CROSSS REFERENCE TABLE
Requirement Statutory Language Location in
WMP
Persons
Responsible
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(A): An accounting of the responsibilities of persons responsible for executing the plan.
Section III
Objectives of
the Plan
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(B): The objectives of the wildfire mitigation plan.
Section II
Page: 9
Preventive
Strategies
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(C): A description of the preventive strategies and programs to be adopted by the local publicly owned
electric utility or electrical cooperative to minimize the risk of its electrical lines and equipment causing catastrophic wildfires, including consideration of dynamic climate change risks.
Section V
Evaluation
Metrics
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(D): A description of the metrics the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative plans to use to evaluate the wildfire mitigation plan’s performance and the assumptions that underlie the use of those metrics.
Section VII
Impact of
Metrics
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(E): A discussion of how the application of previously identified metrics to previous wildfire mitigation plan performances has informed the wildfire mitigation plan.
Section VII
Deenergization
Protocols
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(F): Protocols for disabling reclosers and deenergizing portions of the electrical distribution system that consider the associated impacts on public safety, as well as protocols related to mitigating the public safety impacts of those protocols, including impacts on critical first responders and on health and communication infrastructure.
Section V
Customer
Notification
Procedures
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(G): Appropriate and feasible procedures for notifying a customer who may be impacted by the
deenergizing of electrical lines. The procedures shall consider the need to notify, as a priority, critical first responders, health care facilities, and operators of telecommunications
infrastructure.
Section III,
Section VI
Vegetation
Management
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(H): Plans for vegetation management. Section V
Inspections
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(I): Plans for inspections of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s electrical infrastructure.
Section V
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 8
Prioritization of
Wildfire Risks
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(J): A list that identifies, describes, and prioritizes all wildfire risks, and drivers for those risks, throughout the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory. The list shall include, but not be limited to, both of the following:
(i) Risks and risk drivers associated with design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s equipment and facilities. (ii) Particular risks and risk drivers associated with topographic and climatological risk factors throughout the different parts of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory.
Section IV
CPUC Fire
Threat Map
Adjustments
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(K): Identification of any geographic area in the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s service territory that is a higher wildfire threat than is identified in a commission fire threat map, and identification of where the commission should expand a high fire threat district based on new information or changes to the environment.
Section IX
Enterprisewide
Risks
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(L): A methodology for identifying and
presenting enterprisewide safety risk and wildfire-related risk.
Section IV
Restoration of
Service
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(M): A statement of how the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative will restore service after a wildfire.
Section VI
Monitor and
Audit
PUC § 8387(b)(2)(N): A description of the processes and procedures the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall use to do all of the following
(i) Monitor and audit the implementation of the wildfire mitigation plan.
(ii) Identify any deficiencies in the wildfire mitigation plan or its implementation and correct those deficiencies.
(iii) Monitor and audit the effectiveness of electrical line and equipment inspections, including inspections
performed by contractors, that are carried out under the plan, other applicable statutes, or commission rules.
Section VII
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 9
Qualified
Independent
Evaluator
PUC § 8387(c): The local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative shall contract with a qualified
independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of its wildfire mitigation plan. The
independent evaluator shall issue a report that shall be made available on the Internet Web site of the local publicly owned electric utility or electrical cooperative and shall present the report at a public meeting of the local publicly owned electric utility’s or electrical cooperative’s governing board.
Section VIII
II. OBJECTIVES OF THE WILDFIRE MITIGATION PLAN
The primary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to describe UD’s existing programs, practices, and measures that effectively reduce the probability that UD electric supply system could be the origin or contributing source for the ignition of a wildfire. To support this goal, UD regularly evaluates the prudent and cost-effective improvements to its physical assets, operations, and training that can help reduce the risk of equipment-related fires.
The secondary goal of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan is to improve the resiliency of the electric grid.
As part of the development of this plan, UD assesses new industry practices and technologies that will reduce the likelihood of an interruption (frequency) in service and improve the restoration (duration of outage) of service.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 10
III. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
A. UTILITY GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The City of Corona is a general law city that operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The City is governed by a five-member City Council. The Five Council Members (3 Council Members, a Vice Mayor and the Mayor) are elected by district to four-year terms. The Mayor and/or Vice Mayor are not directly elected to the position rather, Council members are appointed the positions for a one-year term, the Vice Mayor progresses to the position of Mayor.
Volunteer Commissions and Boards, as well as Citizen Advisory Committees help guide the Council in its decisions. Commissioners are citizen volunteers, appointed by the City Council. The Council appoints the City Manager, who oversees the daily operations of the City. The General Manager manages the Electric Utilities under the general direction of the City Manager.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 11
B. WILDFIRE PREVENTION
UD staff, in partnership with its maintenance and operations provider (Contracted Services) and Engineering Provider (Contracted Services) is responsible for electric facility design, maintenance, and inspection, including vegetation management. The City facilities are nearly 100% underground with the exception of only 3 poles spanning approximately 78 linear feet, with a total of roughly 105 linear feet of overhead cable, including the dive to underground cable in the entire system (Exhibit A).
These poles are where the City transitions power from Southern California Edison (SCE) to one of City’s WDATs. This site is located in one of the City’s Treatment Plant facilities outside of any wildfire threat areas. Although UD’s electrical distribution system is nearly 100% underground, UD follows best practices to prevent ignition of wildfires from its equipment. These items include:
• Performs routine maintenance of all distribution facilities. • Conducts seasonal weed abatement to maintain standard clearances at at-risk sites. • Operate system in a manner that will minimize potential wildfire risks. • Take all reasonable and practicable actions to minimize the risk of a catastrophic wildfire caused by UD electric facilities.
• Coordinate with federal, state, and local fire management personnel as necessary or appropriate to implement UD’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan. • Coordinate with City Emergency Operations Center to disseminate safety warnings, emergency public information, and evacuation notices to local residents. • Immediately report fires, pursuant to existing UD practices and the requirements of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan.
• Take corrective action when the staff witnesses or is notified that fire protection measures have not been properly installed or maintained.
• Comply with relevant federal, state, and industry standard requirements, including the industry standards established by the California Public Utilities Commission.
C. WILDFIRE RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
UD’s distribution system is monitored remotely through a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system networked to all substations and circuits. UD field staff utilize hard line telephones, cellular telephones, and portable radios to communicate with internal and external stakeholders during an outage or emergency. UD’s SCADA system auto-generate notifications to field, office, and administrative staff. UD has On-Call contractual service as well City staff to respond in Emergency situations to facilities to expedited field response times and recovery from severe storms, natural disasters, or mass outages.
The City of Corona maintains a two-way (LF, HF, VHF, and UHF) mobile and base stations for communications enhanced by repeater system to extend the coverage area. This includes three Full Simulcast repeater sites and two receive only sites in the 700/800 MHz Public Safety band. The Fire Department uses the City owned VHF Conventional Simulcast radio system. The Police Department operates on the Riverside County wide PSEC system, 700/800 P-25 Phase II TDMA. The PSEC system has one site within the city limits with three other sites that contribute to Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 12
the City’s coverage. The Fire Battalion Chief vehicles are also equipped with PSEC radios on the PD talk groups. As a fail-over the PD can also revert to the City’s VHF system. The City VHF system has four simulcast channels, two dedicated for Fire’s use and two for the Police and other’s use.
The PSEC system is a trunked system and Corona PD has ten Talk Groups assigned to it.
The City of Corona owns one satellite phone kept in the EOC. Corona PD Does have an Amateur Radio user group they work with under Civil Emergency circumstances, which operates on ham radio frequencies in support of governmental emergency communications. The Frequencies can augment existing systems and establish communication links with otherwise inaccessible areas. They are also capable of sending live video and audio from an incident site to our City’s emergency operations center via the ham radio.
At the county level, a Riverside County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) talk group is programmed into the Omniquest radio and is used to communicate with EOCs within Riverside County during a disaster or emergency. The City of Corona is currently in the purchasing phase to regain the connectivity to access the Low Band Western Riverside County Disaster Net radios to communicate with all EOCs within Riverside County during a disaster or emergency. This system uses low frequency bands and access to several back up channels in case of an outage.
UD adheres to California Public Utility Commission GO 95, 165, and 174 for all system infrastructure inspection, maintenance, and reporting.
City of Corona Fire Department’s Emergency Management Division maintains a Local (Citywide) Hazard Mitigation Plan identifying potential wildland fire hazards and mitigation strategies and is in the beginning stages of developing a Community Wildfire Protection Plan that will also address fire hazards and potential mitigation strategies.
All City staff are trained to report to the appropriate City Department any code violations, hazards and/or safety concerns they come across within the City Limits.
D. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
As a local governmental agency,
3 UD adheres to the National Incident Management System (NIMS). UD has planning, communication, and coordination obligations pursuant to the California Office of Emergency Services’ Standardized Emergency Management System (“SEMS”) Regulations,4 adopted in accordance with Government Code section 8607. The SEMS Regulations specify roles, responsibilities, and structures of communications at five different levels: field response, local government, operational area, regional, and state.5 Pursuant to this 3 As defined in Cal. Gov. Code § 8680.2.
4 19 CCR § 2407.
5 Cal. Gov. Code § 2403(b):
(1) “Field response level” commands emergency response personnel and resources to carry out tactical decisions and activities in direct response to an incident or threat. (2) “Local government level” manages and coordinates the overall emergency response and recovery activities within their jurisdiction.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 13
structure, UD annually coordinates and communicates with the relevant safety agencies as well as other relevant local and state agencies. When activated, UD serves as the Infrastructure & Utilities Branch under the Operations Section Chief as part of the City of Corona’s Emergency Operations Center. In the event the incident centered on UD facilities, UD would serve as the Operations Section Chief
The Emergency Operation Center activation procedures, levels, section and position specific roles and responsibilities are outlined in the City of Corona’s Emergency Operation Plan. UD participates in training and exercising to the plan.
As a member of the Riverside County Operational Area a significant amount of preparation is done through advanced planning at the local county level, including the coordination of effort of public, private, and nonprofit organizations. Riverside serves as the Operational Area and is guided by the California Office of Emergency Services, Southern Region. The Operational Area includes local and regional organizations that bring relevant expertise to the wildfire prevention, active situation and recovery planning processes. These participants include:
Agency/ Dept. Mailing Address Contact Phone Fax
AMR American Medical Response 879 Marlborough Ave.
Riverside, CA. 92507 951.782.5234 951.782.5617
AMR American Medical Response 879 Marlborough Ave.
Riverside, CA. 92507 Dispatch 877.267.6622 951.782.5605 Communications Providers in Corona
Internet
AT&T- Managed Internet
Service
888.613.6330,
prompts 3 & 2
Impulse Advanced
Communications 800.456.5800
Land Lines AT&T 562.618.1221
Internet Phone Service Impulse Advanced
Communications 800.456.5800
Cable Service in Corona
17777 Center Court Dr,
Suite 800
Cerritos, CA 90703
Spectrum Cable Office: 562.677.0310
Cell: 714.715.3581
Cell Service
Verizon 951.473.7551
AT&T 562.618.1221
(3) “Operational area level” manages and/or coordinates information, resources, and priorities among local governments within the operational area and serves as the coordination and communication link between the local government level and the regional level. (4) “Regional level” manages and coordinates information and resources among operational areas within the mutual aid region designated pursuant to Government Code §8600 and between the operational areas and the state level. This level along with the state level coordinates overall state agency support for emergency response activities. (5) “State level” manages state resources in response to the emergency needs of the other levels, manages and coordinates mutual aid among the mutual aid regions and between the regional level and state level, and serves as the coordination and communication link with the federal disaster response system.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 14
City of Corona: Fire/Office of
Emergency Management
735 Public Safety Way,
Corona, CA 92880
Emergency Management
Program Manager 951.415.8071 951.736.2497
City of Corona: Utility 755 Public Safety Way,
Corona, CA 92880 Director of Utilities 951.736.2477 951.736.2455 City of Corona: Special Districts 400 S. Vicentia Ave., Corona, CA 92882
Division Manager- Public
Works 951.817.5765 951.279.3627
City of Corona: Fire Dept. 735 Public Safety Way,
Corona, CA 92880 Fire Chief 951.279.3536 951.736.2497
City of Corona: Police Dept. 730 Public Safety Way,
Corona, CA 92880 Police Chief 951.817.5787
City of Corona: Traffic &
Transportation
400 S. Vicentia Ave.,
Corona, CA 92882 Public Works 951.736.2266
City of Corona: Facilities
Management
755 Public Safety Way,
Corona, CA 92880 Maintenance Manager 951.736.2443
US Forest Service: Cleveland
National Forest Corona Fire Station
1148 E 6th St, Corona,
CA 92879 951.371.1004
Caltrans Corona Yard 842 El Sobrante Rd.,
Corona, CA 92879 Facility Supervisor Office: 951.272.0628 Cell: 951.314.3630 Corona Norco Unified School District 2820 Clark Avenue, Norco, CA 92860 Maintenance Supervisor 951.736.5000
Corona Regional Hospital 800 S. Main St., Corona,
CA 92882 Facilities 951.737.4343
Riverside County: Dept. of
Environmental Health
4065 County Circle
Riverside, CA. Deputy Director 951.358.5172 951.358.5017 Riverside County: Dept. of
Environmental Health
4065 County Circle
Riverside, CA.
Supervising Environmental
Health Specialist 951.358.5172 951.358.5017
Riverside County: Dept. of
Environmental Health
800 S. Sanderson Ave.
#200, Hemet, CA. 92545
Supervising Environmental
Health Specialist 951.766.2824
Riverside County: Emergency
Management Department
4210 Riverwalk Pkwy
Riverside, CA 92505
Duty Officer 951.312-5167
Riverside County: Fire Department 210 W. San Jacinto Ave.
Perris, CA 92570
Dispatch 951-940-6948
Pursuant to the SEMS structure, UD participates in training exercises. Training exercises include workshops, tabletop exercises, and field drills. A sample of topics covered include; earthquake safety, disaster response & management, active shooter, and NIMS/SEMS/ICS compliance.
The City of Corona has specific Mutual Aid Agreements with local cities and agencies such as Riverside County, Riverside City, Orange County, Chino and the US Forest Service. The City of Corona is a participant in the California Disaster and Civil Defense Mutual Aid Agreement which allocates state resources to cope with any type of disaster.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 15
IV. WILDFIRE RISKS AND DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH DESIGN,
CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MAINTENANCE
A. PARTICULAR RISKS AND RISK DRIVERS ASSOCIATED WITH
TOPOGRAPHIC AND CLIMATOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS
With all but 3 poles spanning approximately 78 linear feet, with a total of roughly 105 linear feet of overhead cable, including the dive to underground cable, and located outside of any identified high fire area maps (Exhibit B), UD’s service territory is located underground, the primary risk drivers for wildfire are the following:
• Water Inundation
• Earthquake Weather
• Electrical Storms
B. ENTERPRISEWIDE SAFETY RISKS
Water Inundation - There are three types Water Inundation can occur in the Corona Service area: watercourses, ponding and sheet flow. Inundation within defined watercourses occurs within drainage channels and natural Water shed areas. Ponding occurs when water flow is obstructed from following its natural or intended course. Sheet flow occurs when capacities of defined watercourses are exceeded, and water flows over broad areas.
Known flood-prone area as noted in the City’s maintenance files, include the Bedford Canyon Wash crossing at Temescal Canyon Road between Cajalco Road and Breezy Meadow Lane.
The Bedford Wash is an extensive combination of natural water course and manmade containment channels that extends from a point west in the Cleveland National Forest flowing in an easterly direction into the Temescal Wash. Debris flows resulting from excessive water inundation overwhelms the Channel at the Temescal Canyon Road Bridge crossing, resulting in the water and debris flows breaching the bridge and flooding the area, including a critical reach of the electrical system.
Earthquake profile - There are three major faults/fault zones that directly affect the City of Corona. They are the southern section of the San Andreas Fault, the Elsinore Fault Zone, and the San Jacinto Fault Zone. The Elsinore Fault Zone is the closest fault to City of Corona, as it runs adjacent to the City boundaries approx. 10 miles from the southernmost section to the Western most point of the City Boundaries. The San Jacinto Fault Zone which is the next closet located approximately 25 miles northeast of the City of Corona. The San Andreas Fault Zone is located approximately 35 miles northeast of the City and was the fault that had the largest earthquake to occur within 100 miles of Corona was the 7.3 magnitude Landers earthquake in 1992.
The City of Corona could be affected by large earthquakes occurring in many parts of Southern California. However, the degree to which the earthquakes are felt, and the damages associated with them may vary. At risk from earthquake damage are critical facilities, buildings, bridges, highways and roads; Electric Distribution Lines; sewer, water, and natural gas pipelines; earth dams; petroleum pipelines; and private property located in the city. The relative or secondary earthquake hazards, which are liquefaction, ground shaking, amplification, and earthquake-induced landslides, can be just as destructive as the earthquake.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 16
Electrical Storms – the City location has shown to be susceptible to Micro-Climate Storms consisting of high winds and frequent lighting activity, particularly in the Canyon area located in the vicinity of Temescal Canyon Road and Cajalco Road. The high winds in this area do not impact the City’s Service area as the UD system is 100% underground there but, it does impact the SCE Distribution Lines feeding the area. The lighting is always a concern with transformer and switchgear being housed in the steal enclosures.
V. WILDFIRE PREVENTATIVE STRATEGIES
A. HIGH FIRE THREAT DISTRICT
UD directly participated in the development of the CPUC’s Fire-Threat Map,6 which designates a High-Fire Threat District. In the map development process, UD coordinated with Southern California Edison Company (SCE) and determined that because UD’s system is nearly 100% undergrounded, that SCE would serve as territory lead for the region served by UD. UD has incorporated the High Fire Threat District into its construction, inspection, maintenance, repair, and clearance practices, where applicable.
B. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS
UD’s electric facilities are designed and constructed to meet or exceed the relevant federal, state, or industry standard. UD treats CPUC General Orders (GO) 95 and 128 as a key industry standard for design and construction standards for overhead and underground electrical facilities. UD meets or exceeds all standards in GO 95 and GO 128. Additionally, UD monitors and follows, as appropriate, the National Electric Safety Code. UD constructs, maintains, and operates its electrical lines and equipment in a manner that will minimize the risk of wildfire posed by those electrical lines and equipment.
C. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
UD meets or exceeds the minimum industry standard vegetation management practices. For distribution-level facilities, UD complies with NERC FAC-003-4, where applicable. For distribution level facilities, UD meets: (1) California Public Resources Code section - PRC §4292; (2) California Public Resources Code section - PRC §4293; (3) GO 95.
6 Adopted by CPUC Decision 17-12-024.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 17
D. INSPECTIONS
UD meets or exceeds the minimum inspection requirements provided in CPUC GO 165 and CPUC GO 95, Rule 18. Pursuant to these rules, utilities inspect electric facilities in the Hight Fire Threat District more frequently than the other areas of its service territory. As described above, UD currently does not have any overhead powerlines located within or near the High-Fire Threat District within the CPUC’s Fire Threat Map. However, UD staff uses their knowledge of the specific environmental and geographical conditions of UD’s service territory to determine if any particular areas require more frequent inspections.
If UD staff discovers a facility in need of repair that is owned by an entity other than UD, UD will issue a notice to repair to the facility owner and work to ensure that necessary repairs are completed promptly.
UD will address transformer-failure-related fire threats in future WMPs.
UD will continue to work with City’s Fire Department to reduce risk of fire at short overhead interconnection to SCE 115 KV circuit.
UD is exploring the possibility of Tesla Battery storage to supplement possible Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) issues caused by SCE at Water Reclamation Facility #1.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 18
E. CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITY COMMISSION WILDFIRE THREAT MAP Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 19
F. CORONA FIRE DEPARTMENT THREAT MAP
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 20
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 21
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 22
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 23
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 24
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 25
G. RECLOSING POLICY
UD has no Reclosers deployed in its electrical system as the system is nearly 100% underground.
H. DEENERGIZATION
UD has the authority to preemptively shut off power due to fire-threat conditions, however, this option will only be used in extraordinary circumstances. Due to the extreme minimal risk of UD’s electrical supply facilities causing a power-line ignited wildfire, UD is not adopting specific protocols for de-energizing and customer notification for any portions of its electric distribution system. UD will re-evaluate this determination in future updates to this Wildfire Mitigation Plan VI. RESTORATION OF SERVICE
As expressed previously, the UD’s electric distribution system is nearly 100% underground.
However, the City system is interconnected with SCE’s transmission and distribution systems, much of which is overhead and exposed to wind, rain and lightning. This is our primary source of vulnerability to potential electrical service interruptions during rain and wind storms such as the ones that can be triggered by El Nino and Micro Climate conditions. The City’s underground electric distribution systems have not been constructed with redundant sources of feeds. This makes the City system highly susceptible outages in these conditions and dependent upon SCE for restoration of those lines.
Preparation in advance of predicted storms: Since, as discussed in the introduction, our primary trouble source during storms is outages on SCE’s transmission and distribution lines, many of which are overhead, we will patrol, to the extent practical, SCE’s primary interconnect lines for any potential trouble spots including but, not limited to broken tree limbs or other vulnerabilities.
We will also double check the loading conditions of our underground lines to satisfy ourselves that System is capable of serving the electric load of our customers in an event.
Our underground system will be patrolled in advance of storms for any open trenches or excavations at construction sites to minimize water intrusion into the underground system.
Although the underground system is designed to operate under such conditions, small pinholes in splices or cable can cause problems, including possible electrical shorts/faults, that can interrupt service to customers. Likewise, after the storm, each underground vault, manhole or other structure will be inspected for water intrusion and pumped, when necessary, in accordance proper utility practice and environmental guidelines.
All vehicular equipment, man-lifts, tools and appurtenances will be thoroughly inspected for proper operation. All operating personnel are on standby to address any issue resulting from weather related events.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 26
The UD Operations and the Call Center will be appropriately staffed for handling of trouble calls from customers and dispatching to field personnel.
Outage support includes:
• City Out Map Management
• Field Dispatching
• Customer Callbacks
Response Prioritization:
• First Priority: Response to imminent threats to life and/or public property • Second Priority: Removals of immediate hazards (fallen trees, power poles, etc.) • Third Priority: Clearing of arterial roadways
• Fourth Priority: Maintenance of traffic control/closures to prevent potential accidents • Fifth Priority (Post Storm Activity): Follow-up work such as addressing storm-related potholes and residual clean-up of all streets that have remained in a "passable and drivable" state Referral Protocol:
• Flooding of structures on private propertyIF flows are from City owned facilities - Maintenance and Operations will be dispatched to address
If private property - Residents will be advised to call 911 for Fire Department assistance Facilities associated with other government agencies (RCFCD) or private utilities will be referred to appropriate agencies/company
• All storm related issues involving streets, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, residential trees in the right of way, catch basins, and miscellaneous drainage facilities will be referred to the City’s Maintenance and Operations Division.
During EOC activation period, all routine maintenance programs and requests will be suspended and deferred.
VII. EVALUATING OF THE PLAN
A. METRICS AND ASSUMPTIONS FOR MEASURING PLAN PERFORMANCE UD will track two metrics to measure the performance of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan: (1) number of fire ignitions; and (2) wires down within the service territory.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 27
METRIC 1: FIRE IGNITIONS
For purposes of this metric, a fire ignition is defined as follows:
• UD facility was associated with the fire;
• The fire was self-propagating and of a material other than electrical and/or communication facilities;
• The resulting fire traveled greater than one linear meter from the ignition point; and • UD as knowledge that the fire occurred.
In future Wildfire Mitigation Plans, UD will provide the number of fires that occurred that were less than 10 acres in size. Any fires greater than 10 acres will be individually described.
METRIC 2: WIRES DOWN
The second metric is the number of distribution and transmission wires downed within UD’s service territory. For purposes of this metric, a wire(s) down event includes any instance where an electric transmission or primary distribution conductor falls to the ground or on to a foreign object. UD will divide the wires down metric between wires down inside and outside of the High Fire Threat District.
UD will not normalize this metric by excluding unusual events, such as severe storms. Instead, UD will supplement this metric with a qualitative description of any such unusual events.
B. IMPACT OF METRICS ON PLAN
In the initial years, UD anticipates that there will be relatively limited data gathered through these metrics. However, as the data collection history becomes more robust, UD will be able to identify areas of its operations and service territory that are disproportionately impacted. UD will then evaluate potential improvements to the plan.
C. MONITORING AND AUDITING THE PLAN
The Wildfire Mitigation Plan and any updates will continue to be presented and adopted by UD’s City Council on an annual basis. The City of Corona City Council meeting agenda and meeting is accordance with Government Code Sections 54950 through 54963 where the public can comment on any agenda items.
D. IDENTIFYING AND CORRECTING DEFICIENCIES IN THE PLAN
Based on the recommendations of its City Council, UD will correct any identified deficiencies.
E. MONITORING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INSPECTIONS
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 28
UD reviews and evaluates its system reliability indices to monitor inspection and maintenance efforts. SAIDI, SAIFI, CAIDI, and MAIFI systems statistics are recorded, tracked and evaluated with respect to SCE transmission interruptions vs. City distribution interruptions to its customers for internal reliability.
UD’s utility maintenance management system (NexGen Asset Management System) is used to collect all data subject to GO165. All maintenance and inspection efforts are recorded and tracked in NexGen for the City electric distribution facilities. Maintenance history for each piece of equipment is being archived in NexGen. Additionally, UD’s substation inspections and maintenance program complies with GO174 guidelines as well as manufacturer specifications, standards, and recommendations. UD performs inspections of all substation and systems components including recording and analysis of all alarms, heat signatures, fluid levels, meters, fuses, contacts, cable connections, breaker settings, etc.
VIII. INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
Public Utilities Code section 8387(c) requires UD to contract with a qualified independent evaluator with experience in assessing the safe operation of electrical infrastructure to review and assess the comprehensiveness of this Wildfire Mitigation Plan. The independent evaluator must issue a report that is posted to UD website. This report must also be presented to UD’s City Council at a public meeting.
The City of Corona Fire Department conducted the qualified independent evaluator review and presented their findings to the City Council (in a public meeting setting where the agenda is published in advance) and Wildfire Safety Advisory Board as a separate action from the UD Wildfire Mitigation Plan in compliance with the 2020 submittal.
IX. EXHIBITS
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 29
Exhibit A
City of Corona UD Owned Overhead Electrical Lines and Equipment Locations The only Corona owned overhead lines and equipment in the system are located within the fence line of the Corona Utilities Department ’s Water Reclamation Facility #2 at 652 Harrison Street. The overhead lines and equipment consist of 3 poles spanning approximately 78 linear feet, with a total of roughly 105 linear feet of overhead cable, including the dive to underground cable.
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 30
Exhibit B
City of Corona UD Owned Overhead Electrical Lines and Equipment Locations to Fire Shape Maps
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 31
Located outside the Shape A (Green) and B (Blue) Map - Final – Corona Coverage Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 32
CPUC Statewide Fire Threat Map
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 33
Exhibit C
Service Territory
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 34
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 35
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 36
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 37
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 38
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 39
Exhibit D
Wildland Urban Interface
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 40
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 41
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 42
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 43
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 44
Exhibit E
CPUC Fire Threat Map
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 45
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 46
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 47
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 48
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 49
Exhibit F
Prevailing Wind Directions and Speeds by Season
Corona Utilities Department Wildfire Mitigation Plan
Version 3.0
June 15, 2022 50
*UD’s OH assets consist of 3 poles spanning 78 linear feet with roughly 105 linear feet of cable including the dig to UG. This minimal OH exposure is not located in HFT or wind risk areas.