City of Corona
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__________________________________________________________________________________ Wildland Operating Plan
Between
City of Corona
and
CAL FIRE
Riverside Unit
City of Corona
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OPERATING PLAN
Table of Contents
Page
1. Overview…………………………………………………………………… 12
2. Authority…………………………………………………………………… 12
3. Purpose…………………………………………………………………….. 12
4. Definitions & Restrictions…………………………………………………. 12
5. Procedures………………………………………………………………….. 12-14
6. Administration……………………………………………………………… 14
7. Fire Prevention……………………………………………………………… 14-16
8. Approval…………………………………………………………………….. 17
APPENDIX
Preplanned Initial Attack Response –Unit……………………. . B-1 Preplanned Initial Attack Response – Local Agency Fire Department………… B-2 City of Corona
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OPERATING PLAN
1. OVERVIEW
This Operating Plan, hereinafter referred to as PLAN, is between the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection, Riverside Unit, hereinafter referred to as CAL FIRE and the City of Corona, Corona Fire Department hereinafter referred to as CITY. It has been developed to specifically address the Agreement for Protection of Wildlands within a Local Agency, hereinafter referred to as AGREEMENT, between CAL FIRE and CITY for wildland fire protection within the city limits.
2. AUTHORITY
The PLAN is required of both CAL FIRE and CITY as part of the AGREEMENT dated July 1, 2025
3. PURPOSE
This PLAN will provide the Unit Chief of CAL FIRE and the Fire Chief of CITY a means for executing the AGREEMENT and is hereby attached as Exhibit B with appendices B-1 and B-2 to that AGREEMENT.
4. DEFINITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS
See AGREEMENT for definitions and descriptions of general terms. This PLAN does not allow either agency to operate outside the limitations in the AGREEMENT.
5. PROCEDURES
A. Fire Reporting/Reports-When CITY receives a report of a wildfire within the area of the AGREEMENT, it shall promptly notify the Riverside Unit Emergency Command Center (ECC). Each agency will process their appropriate reports and make the information available, upon request of the other agency, in no more than 60 days.
B. Incident Management-The Incident Command System (ICS) will be used to manage wildfires within the area of the AGREEMENT. Unified Command will be implemented with a CAL FIRE representative and a CITY representative.
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C. Fires within the area of the AGREEMENT-Each agency will maintain a preplanned initial attack response (PIAR) for fires within the area of the AGREEMENT. See Appendices B-1 and B-2. Immediate cooperation between agency dispatch centers will occur to ensure prompt response of appropriate resources into the area of the fire. CAL FIRE resources will be ordered according to the terms of the AGREEMENT through the ECC. Any augmentation of the preplanned CAL FIRE response, with CAL FIRE resources, shall be authorized by a CAL FIRE Incident Commander or Agency Representative. Augmentation of the preplanned response may require a post incident audit. The audit will seek to demonstrate that adjacent CAL FIRE Direct Protection Areas (DPA’s) were threatened, or that the augmentation was justified on a cost efficiency basis. Local government and private resources will be ordered through the CITY dispatch center (DISPATCH) to ensure proper utilization of the Master Mutual Aid Agreement.
D. Mutual Aid-All initial attack resources will be considered mutual aid for the purpose of this AGREEMENT.
E. Initial Attack-Initial attack resources will always be based on the closest resources concept identified in the PIAR. See Appendices B-1 and B-2.
F. Move-Up & Cover-Station coverage will be exchanged between both agencies when appropriate. To prevent long-term coverage problems to either agency, the covering agency’s engines will be replaced with the covered agency’s resources as soon as it is practical to do so.
G. Fire Information: Unified Command1. Both agencies will enter into a unified command structure to manage the incident by establishing a common set of incident objectives and strategies.
This will be accomplished without losing or abdicating agency authority, responsibility or accountability. A Unified Ordering Point will be identified and established.
2. Representatives of both agencies will meet as needed to discuss procedures governing and locations of potential Information Centers. Both agencies will strive to maintain a roster of certified Public Information Officers for use during emergencies.
3. The Unified Command will determine which agency will provide the Lead Information Officer. Normally, it will be the agency with the greatest commitment of resources on the incident.
H. Representatives of CAL FIRE and CITY, of the rank of Battalion Chief or higher, may order resources directly from the ECC or DISPATCH when an immediate need arises.
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These resources may include engines, fire crews and bulldozers in accordance with the AGREEMENT. Resources sent in response to these requests will conform to the closet resources concept.
6. ADMINISTRATION
The CAL FIRE Unit Chief and the CITY Fire Chief, or their designees, along with representatives from the CAL FIRE ECC and CITY DISPATCH will meet annually to discuss, review, and update the following items; procedures for reporting fires, procedures to dispatch resources to fires within the area of the AGREEMENT, procedures to dispatch resources to fires along the boundaries of the area of the AGREEMENT, and exchange general or specific information which would might affect the other agency.
7. FIRE PREVENTION
.
A. POLICY
All fire prevention activities conducted on lands within the area of the AGREEMENT will be consistent with both agencies guidelines. CAL FIRE and CITY will be expected to conduct a year-round, aggressive fire prevention program using guidelines within the CAL FIRE Handbook 9000 and CITY Fire Prevention Guidelines. This will include, but is not limited to, annual analysis and planning sessions to generate an active fire prevention plan.
1. Public Information Program-This will include all types of fire prevention news releases through the available media. Other methods will include public meetings, fairs, rodeos, parades, services clubs and a regular schedule of school programs for all grades.
2. Protection/Planning Issues-Although the responsibility for enforcing fire safe ordinances pertaining to improvements in wildland areas within the city limits is the responsibility of CITY, a CAL FIRE representative will be available upon request to comment on these issues and assist in the enforcement of related ordinances.
3. Hazard Reduction Inspections
a. Home Inspection – CAL FIRE will work directly with CITY to enforce Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 4291, 4446, 4442, 4442, 4123, or the Uniform Fire Code sections when applicable.
b. Power line Inspections – CAL FIRE will work directly with CITY inspecting power lines over 750 volts, using PRC 4292 and 4293 as a guide.
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B. RESPONSIBILITY
CAL FIRE and CITY personnel will, in the performance of their duties, Give full consideration to the prevention of fires and public education. Both agencies Will allow staff to establish attainable fire prevention goals.
C. EXISTING AND PROJECTED DEMAND
Fire Prevention and suppression are the primary roles for both agencies. If the Demand for services increases in the future, both agencies will develop more intensive programs. Fire protection and prevention will be influenced by the following factors:
1. Increased recreational use.
2. Increased residential and commercial development.
3. Increased utilization of vacation residences.
4. Industrial activity.
D. OBJECTIVES
The primary objective of the fire prevention plan is the reduction of fire suppression expenditures and damages from human-caused fires. The secondary objective is a current and comprehensive public education program for fire safety awareness and code enforcement.
E. RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
Both agencies will actively pursue public awareness programs through the following:
1. Public Education
a. School programs, ages K-12
b. Roadside sign program
c. Timely newspaper articles concerning fire awareness
d. Attendance at various local events which lend themselves to fire prevention displays.
2. Code Enforcement
a. Active PRC 4291 home inspection program in target areas. b. Enforcement of the Fire Safe Ordinances as they apply to construction City of Corona
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in Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ). CAL FIRE will take and advisory role with the CITY Fire Marshal within the areas of the AGREEMENT.
F. FUEL MODIFICATION
Both agencies will continue to encourage individual property owners and property Owner associations to establish and maintain a healthy fuel complex through the following:
1. Prescribed burning through available programs.
2. Forest practice inspections.
3. Fuel modification using mechanized systems, fire crews, and local resources
4. Biomass programs to control stems per acre, and remove dead and down materials.
G. BURNING PERMITS
Burning permits are to be required in the city limits and will be consistent with those guidelines established in adjacent areas. This will provide consistency in the burn hours and any controls needed for the overall program.
1. Burning Permit Issuance
The CITY has the responsibility of issuing burn permits within the city limits and the area of the AGREEMENT. Both agencies will agree to and establish burn permit guidelines by April 1 of each year. The guidelines will follow those established by CAL FIRE to ensure consistency in the burn programs in both the city and areas adjacent to
CAL FIRE.
2. Suspension of Permit Procedures
The suspension of burning permits in the area of the AGREEMENT will be directly related to the burning permit suspension procedures outside the area of the AGREEMENT to ensure area-wide consistency. Suspensions will be based on input from CAL FIRE and CITY.
H. MONITORING AND EVALUATION
Periodic monitoring and evaluation of the PLAN will provide the opportunity to make orderly and timely amendments and revisions of the PLAN. Monitoring will determine if the:
1. PLAN is being followed.
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2. PLAN objectives are being met.
3. PLAN is achieving desired results
8. APPROVAL:
This PLAN is approved and authorized as Exhibit B Attachment 3 of the AGREEMENT between CAL FIRE and CITY:
FOR CAL FIRE:
California Department of Forestry
& Fire Protection
FOR City of Corona:
City of Corona
400 S. Vicentia
Riverside Unit Corona CA 92882
210 W. San Jacinto Ave
Perris, CA 92570
_________________________
Bill Weiser, Unit Chief
__________________________
Jacob Ellis , City Manager
City of Corona
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CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY AND FIRE PROTECTION
CORONA WILDLAND FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT
Dozer Engines
Chief
Officer
Hand
Crews Copter
Air
Attack
Air
Tanker
Low 0 3 1 0 0 0 0
Med 2 4 2 2 1 1 2
High 2 7 2 4 1 1 2
Station Proximity1 Air Attack
1. RRU Hemet
2. BDF SBD
1. RRU Corona FFS
2. BDU Chino Valley FFS
3. RRU Elsinore FFS Bulldozers
Hand Crews
1. RRU HQ
2. BDU HQ
3. RRU 20
Copters
1. NCC
2. PRD
3. PMO
4. LPC
1. PRADO
2. HEMET
3. HEAPS PEAK
APPENDIX B-1
1Depends upon the actual location of the incident
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PREPLANNED INITIAL ATTACK RESPONSE
CORONA FIRE AND RESCUE
ENGINES
BRUSH ENGINES
WATER TENDERS OFFICER
Low 1 0 0
Med 3 1 1
High 3 2 1
CAL FIRE resources not included in wildland response resources.
Station Proximity
Corona Sta. 5
Corona Sta. 3
Corona Sta. 7
Corona Sta. 2
Corona Sta. 1
Corona Sta. 2
Corona Sta. 6
Corona Sta. 4
APPENDIX B-2