Fire Hazard Severity Zones what is the plan to address the risk First thank you for scheduling this item so quickly. It is vitally important as we go into the fire season that the city understand the newly identified risks and have an active plan to address them. Presenting the details around the concept of a Fire Hazard Severity Zone is one step. The other is to discuss how this impacts the city and what the city is doing to mitigate the risks.
We are hoping to hear that there is a plan to remove the homeless fire risk during red flag warnings. We want to know that the city has an active plan to reduce the newly identified risks.
Is the wildland urban boundary on the east side of the city too close for comfort? If so, what is the plan to make that interface more fire resistant, first to allow time for residents to escape and then for equipment to get to the fire.
Questions for presenter:
1. What specifically has created the risks identified in the presentation. What is unique about each of the areas identified (East side, West Side & north (near occidental rd.?).
Do we have new or more fire prone undergrowth in these areas? Are there trees that are diseased or dead wood on the ground? What steps could be taken to reduce the risks that may exist?
2. We have fires in the Laguna pretty often. There was one reported in the May Departmental report. What is the risk if a fire breaks out during a red flag warning. How quickly do models predict it would spread toward the residential and commercial areas of the city?
3. Fire in the Laguana during a red flag event seems like the #1 risk as embers can cause house fires, and the wind direction would drive embers into the city residential and business areas.
4. What mitigation could the city do to reduce or eliminate the hazard. The area on the west side of the city is very narrow and buts up against the county park. Has the county been contacted about a coordinated program to reduce the risk
5. Has Cal Fire been contacted about using their Land Use Planning program to do an assessment of the areas along the laguna and south along 116 in terms of defensible space between the wildland and the urban boundary? Will that be scheduled soon?
6. Should there be a dozer line (fire road) in the Laguna area south of highway 12 and the Joe Rodata trail. The area looks pretty wild, overgrown and difficult to access.
Homeless people are living in that area. There will not be much time if fire breaks out to get equipment in and people out. What needs to be done, how much will it cost, how long will it take.
7. Has the city developed a policy and plan to limit the risk of campfires in the Laguna when red flag warnings are forecasted?
History would say the Laguna is pretty wet and fire spread should be limited. The problem is that climate change is making those assumptions dangerous. If the city is going to spend thousands on the Climate Action Committee, then is also needs to prioritize investment in preventing the effects of climate change on our city.