2026
Wildfire Preparedness
& Super El Nino
Presentation
Fire Chief Brian Mitchell
All Hazard Fire Protection Agency
• 3 Type I Fire Engines
• 3 Type III Brush Engines
• Ladder Truck Company
• 2 ALS Fire Rescue Ambulances
• 1 Shift Battalion Chief
• 3,000 Gallon Water Tender
• Rescue UTV
Overview of Operational Resources
Regional Resources
Intelligence Resources
UCSD Alert California Cameras
• 1,200 cameras statewide
• AI smoke detection
Fire Integrated Real Time Intelligence
System (FIRIS)
• Two in California and funded by the State-$30M
• Located in Sacramento and Chino
• Provides real time intel for situational awareness
and planning
Increase in Extreme Fire Behavior
• Nationwide, 7.5 million acres have burned this year.
• 260,043 Acres burned in California this year
• Recent local fires in Sorrento Valley, Ramona, and East County.
• Each year thousands of wildfires start in California. • 90% are extinguished by first responder resources at 10 acres or less.
• Approximately 1% of wildfires grow to be more than
300 acres.
Fire History in Poway
• 1967 Fire - October 31, 1967
• Began in Ramona/16 Homes/300 Poway HS
Students used as firefighters
• Cedar Fire - October 25, 2003
• Destroyed 53 residential homes, one business
and burned 7,000 acres
• Witch Creek Fire - October 21, 2007
• Destroyed 90 homes, 7,247 acres burned
Text
California’s Largest Wildfires
California’s Most Destructive Wildfires
FIR E NAME (CAUSE) DATE COUNTY ACRES STR UCTURES
--1 CAMP (Powerlines) Novembe r 2018 Butte 153,336 18,8 04 85 EATON (Under Investigation) J anuary 2025 Los Angeles 14,02 1 9,413 19 3 PALISADES (Arson) J anuary 2025 Los Angeles 23,707 6,833 12 4 TUBBS (Electrical) October 20 17 Napa & Sono ma 36,807 5,636 22 5 TUNNEL - Oakl and Hill s (Reliind le) October 1991 Alameda 1,600 2,900 25 6 CEDAR (Human Related) October 2003 Sa n D ie o 273 ,246 2,820 15 7 NORTH COMPLEX (Lightning) August , 2020 Butte , Plumas , & Yuba 318,935 2,352 15 8 VALLEY (Electrical) Septembe r 20 15 Lake , Napa & Sonoma 76,06 7 1,955 4 9 WITCH (Powerlines) October 2007 Sa n Die o 197,990 1 650 2 WOOLSEY (Electrical) Nove mber 2018 Ventura 96 ,949 1,643 3 CARR (Hnman Related) Jul y 2018 Shasta Count y, Trinity 229 ,651 1,61 4 8 GLASS (Undetermined) Septembe r 2020 Napa & Sonoma 67 ,484 1,520 0 LNU LIGHTNING COMPLEX Aug ust 2020 Napa, Solano , Sonoma , Yolo, 363 ,220 1,491 6 (Lightning I Arson) Lake, & Colu sa CZU LIGHTNING COMPLEX (Lightning) Aug ust 2020 Santa Cru z, San Mateo 86,509 1,490 1 NUN S (Powerline) October 20 17 Sonoma 54,382 1,355 3
DIXIE (Powerline) Jul y 2021 Butte , Plumas , Lassen , & Tehama 963 ,309 1,311 1 THOMAS (Powerline) Decemb er 20 17 Ventura & Santa Barbara 28 1,893 1,063 2 CALDOR (Under Inv estigation ) September 2021 Alpine , Anrndor , & El Dorado 221 ,774 1,003 1 OLD (Human Related) October 2003 Sa n B ernar dino 91 ,281 1,003 6 2018 Camp Fire-Paradise, CA. 2025 Palisades Fire, Los Angles, CA. 2025 Eaton Fire- Altadena 2017 Tubbs Fire- Santa Rosa, CA.
Over 90% of Poway’s geography has been
identified by the State as having some level of
wildfire hazard.
9,913 parcels are in the Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zone.
• These properties received a courtesy notice explaining the hazard.
The Fire Hazard measures the likelihood that an
area will be impacted by fire without considering
home hardening or defensible space actions.
Fire Hazard
Screen attic and crawlspace vents with 1/8”
hardware cloth or install ember resistant vents.
You Can Reduce Your Risk
Keep leaves and branches off the roof and away
from the eaves of the home.
You Can Reduce Your Risk
1 –
5 ft
Prepare to evacuate.
Register for Reverse 911 at AlertSD.org/Register and download the Genasys Protect app.
You Can Reduce Your Risk
The California Board of Forestry has adopted new
requirements for the Very High Fire Hazard
Severity Zone.
• Existing homes have three years to meet the requirements (January 2030).
• Wooden decks, stairs, and pergolas are allowed but must meet vegetation clearance requirements.
• Some vegetation will be allowed within the 5ft zone.
Zone Zero Defensible Space Workshop
• September 8 6:30 PM or September 10 6:30 PM
• Learn more at Poway.org/Community Education
Zone Zero
Using a data driven approach to identify hazards and
reduce risk:
• Adoption of Safety Element
• Completion of Hazardous Tree Mitigation Grant Project • Aligning Vegetation Management Ordinances with State law • Updating Hazard Mitigation Plan (2027)
• Updating Community Wildfire Protection Plan (2027)
• Regional inter-agency collaboration
Empowering residents to turn information into action:
• Focusing on engaging residents with education
• Public safety Workshop series
• Free Home Ignition Zone Assessments
• FireWise Communities
Wildfire Adapted Community
Wildfire to El Nino Season Transition
El Nino La Nina
Climate Patterns Affect Weather
El Nino Strength Probabilities
Probability of a Very Strong El Nino
Probability of a Strong El Nino
Probability of a Moderate El Nino
Probability of a Weak El Nino
Probability of a Neutral ENSO
Storm Preparation
• Clean out gutters and
drains
• Inspect/Repair damaged
roofs
• Inspect trees and
landscaping for hazards
• Maintain emergency
supplies
• Download and register
Alert San Diego and
Genasys Protect
End of Presentation
Thank you!