REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
To:Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From:Jason Simpson, City Manager
Prepared by:Ralph Mesa Jr., Emergency Services Manager
Date:October 22, 2024
Subject:Termination of the Proclamation of Local Emergency Due to the Airport Fire Recommendation
Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE,
CALIFORNIA, TERMINATING THE PROCLAMATION OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO THE
AIRPORT FIRE
Background
On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, the City Manager proclaimed a local emergency in response to the Airport Fire, which posed a threat to public health and safety. The fire resulted in significant property damage, forced evacuations, and the disruption of local services, necessitating immediate emergency response measures. In accordance with Lake Elsinore Municipal Code Section 2.20, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 2024-46 on Thursday, September 12, 2024 confirming this proclamation.
Since then, city personnel, in cooperation with state and regional agencies, have worked diligently to contain and extinguish the fire, protect public infrastructure, and provide support to affected residents and businesses. With the fire now fully contained and no immediate threats remaining, the conditions warranting the state of local emergency have been resolved.
Discussion
Following sustained efforts by firefighting teams, the Airport Fire has been 100% contained as of October 6, 2024. The threat to life, property, and infrastructure has significantly diminished, with no ongoing danger to public safety. Emergency measures, such as evacuations and sheltering operations, have been concluded, and residents and businesses have returned to their homes and normal operations.
Termination of Local Emergency
City departments have shifted from emergency response to recovery efforts, including the assessment of damage and the restoration of essential services. Public utilities have been restored, and rebuilding plans are in place for any damaged infrastructure. While recovery work continues, the situation no longer presents the conditions that justify an active state of emergency.
Furthermore, the termination of the local emergency will allow the City to return to standard operating procedures and refocus its resources on recovery and rebuilding efforts without the need for emergency provisions.
Since the declaration of the local emergency, the City has taken several actions to manage and mitigate the impacts of the Airport Fire, including:
•Fire containment and suppression efforts, in collaboration with state and regional fire agencies.
•Establishment of evacuation centers for displaced residents and businesses. •Restoration of critical public services, such as water, power, and communications. •Provision of ongoing public updates and resources through the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
•Assessment of fire damage and development of recovery and rebuilding plans for affected areas.
With these actions completed and the fire fully under control, the City is now prepared to terminate the state of emergency.
The Airport Fire caused significant disruption to the community, with residents evacuated and businesses affected by fire-related damage and closures. However, the timely and coordinated emergency response successfully minimized loss of life and reduced the long-term impact on the city. Now that the fire is fully contained and public safety has been restored, the community is transitioning to recovery.
Recovery efforts are ongoing, with city staff continuing to work with state and federal agencies to secure funding and resources for infrastructure repair, business assistance, and community recovery. The termination of the local emergency will allow the City to focus on rebuilding efforts and ensuring that the community continues to recover smoothly from the fire.
Upon termination of the local emergency, city staff will:
•Continue working on recovery efforts, including infrastructure repair and economic support for affected businesses.
•Coordinate with state and federal agencies to ensure long-term recovery assistance is provided where necessary.
•Monitor for any residual impacts of the fire and take appropriate actions to mitigate risks to public safety and infrastructure.
•Provide regular updates to the City Council and the public on recovery progress.
Termination of Local Emergency
The Airport Fire no longer presents an active threat to the community, and emergency response efforts have successfully transitioned to recovery. The termination of the local emergency is warranted at this time, allowing the City to return to normal operations and focus on long-term recovery efforts. It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached resolution terminating the proclamation of the local emergency.
Fiscal Impact
There is no immediate fiscal impact associated with terminating the local emergency. However, ongoing recovery efforts will continue to require funding, which is being addressed through existing city resources and external aid.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - Resolution
Emergency Services