YREKA CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING AGENDA
July 19, 2022
Closed Session: 5:30PM
Regular Session: 6:30PM
Yreka City Council Chamber, 701 Fourth Street, Yreka, CA Regular Meetings of the Yreka City Council are held the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month, but for the cancellation of the meeting on September 6, 2022.
The full agenda packet can be found on the City’s website: www.ci.yreka.ca.us/AgendaCenter
1. CALL TO ORDER:
2. PUBLIC COMMENT ON CLOSED SESSION:
3. CLOSED SESSION:
The City Council will recess to Closed Session to discuss the following item(s). At the conclusion of the Closed Session, Open Session will reconvene and reportable action, if any, will be announced:
a. Conference with Labor Negotiator Government Code § 54957.6(a) Agency negotiators: City Manager, Assistant City Manager and Human Resources Director.
Employee Organization: Yreka Police Officers Association b. Conference with Real Property Negotiations Government Code § 54956.8 Property: Assessor Parcel Nos. 053-642-580 and 053-651-760 Third Party Negotiation: County of Siskiyou
City Negotiation: City Manager and City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: City of Yreka and County of Siskiyou Under Negotiation: Possible purchases including price, terms of payment, or both.
Join this meeting via Zoom:
Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6194957056
Meeting ID# 619-495-7056
Members of the public may also remotely listen to and participate in the meeting via teleconference. If you wish to listen or participate in this meeting through teleconference, simply dial into the conference number below, and enter the meeting ID#.
Conference call in Number: 669-900-6833 (Toll-Free 888 788 0099) “RAISE YOUR HAND” to provide public comment for your desired item. Speakers will be asked to identify themselves.
• Online: If you are online, click on “raise hand” on the bottom of your screen. • Mobile App: In the mobile app, you can raise your hand by tapping the "Raise Hand" option in the "More" tab.
• Telephone: If you are calling in via telephone, to raise your hand, dial *9 (star-nine). Speakers will be called on by the last four digits of their phone number. To unmute yourself dial *6 (star-six). 1
c. Conference with Real Property Negotiations Government Code § 54956.8 Property: Assessor Parcel Nos. 053-352-160
Third Party Negotiation: Siskiyou Economic Development Council (SCEDC) City Negotiation: City Manager and City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: City of Yreka and SCEDC
Under Negotiation: Possible sale Carnegie building including price, terms of payment, or both.
d. Conference with Real Property Negotiations Government Code § 54956.8 Property: Assessor Parcel Nos. 013-110-130 and 013-100-140 Third Party Negotiation: Adam Gardner, Origination Analyst, UGE (ugie.com) City Negotiation: City Manager and City Attorney
Negotiating Parties: City of Yreka and UGE
Under Negotiation: Possible Lease – Hi-Ridge Lumber Site for Installation of Solar Farm Equipment.
4. OPTIONAL RECESS IF DESIRED:
5. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION AT 6:30 PM:
Announcement of any action taken by the City Council in Closed Session required by the Ralph M. Brown Act. (Government Code Section 54950 et. seq.)
6. CALL TO ORDER REGULAR SESSION AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
7. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND/OR ANNOUNCEMENTS:
This time slot is for informational presentations, appointments, or awards to be presented by the City Council or to the City Council.
Cal Conklin, Special Presentation - Information on Homelessness
8. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Public participation is welcomed and invited at all City Council meetings. Time is reserved at each regular meeting for those in the audience who wish to address the City Council. The City requests that persons addressing the City Council refrain from making personal, slanderous, profane, or disruptive remarks.
Councilmembers, when recognized by the Mayor, may ask questions of presenter but no action may be taken by the City Council during the public comment section of the meeting. Under the Brown Act, the City Council is prohibited from discussing or taking action on any item not listed on the posted agenda. • Please speak into the microphone from the podium. The podium electronically adjusts up and down to accommodate speaker. (Should you need an additional special accommodation, e.g., remote microphone, please notice the City Clerk prior to the start of meeting for arrangements). • Please state your name for the record prior to providing your comments. • Please address the Council as a whole.
• If you have documents to present, please provide a minimum of seven (7) copies. • Please limit your remarks to five (5) minutes.
Public comments period is not intended to be a “Question and Answer” period or conversations with the Council or City staff.
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9. PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOW-UP:
This is the time for City Council or the City Manager to respond to public comments and may direct staff to prepare a report or place an item on a future agenda.
10. CONSENT AGENDA:
All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial and will be enacted by one motion unless any member of the Council wishes to remove an item for discussion, a. Approval of Minutes of the special meeting held June 16, 2022. b. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting held June 21, 2022. c. Resolution Approving the Destruction of Certain City Records Identified by the Finance Director
d. Approval of a One Year Extension of Contract Position – Assistant City Manager to July 12, 2023, and an appropriation for the position.
e. Continuation of Urgency Ordinance #864: Fireworks.
f. Continuation of Urgency Resolution #2021-51: Remote Public Meetings. g. Waive Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda. Ordinances shall be introduced and adopted by title only.
11. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing Protocol:
i. Mayor will describe the purpose of the Public Hearing. ii. City Staff will provide the Staff Report.
iii. City Staff will respond to questions from the City Council. iv. Mayor will open the Public Hearing.
v. Public wanting to comment will come to the podium, provide the City Clerk with their name and address, and provide their comments.
vi. Mayor will close the Public Hearing.
vii. City Council will deliberate and act on the item.
City Manager/City Attorney
a. Agenda Title: Imposing a One-Half Cent (1/2%) Transaction and Use (Sales Tax) for General Purposes to be considered in the November 8, 2022, Consolidated Election.
Noticed public hearing: Introduction of Ordinance establishing a General Sales Tax of onehalf cent (½ %) within the City, consideration of the Resolution calling for an Election on the Ordinance, and other actions necessary to place the Ordinance on the November 8, 2022, General Election Ballot. Tonight’s introduction is the first reading and the second reading and resolution to submit the ballot to the County Clerk in the consolidated election will be schedule for the regular City Council meeting on August 2, 2022.
The City’s voters would be asked the following question:
Sales Tax to Generally Fund Essential City Services
To maintain Yreka’s long-term financial stability through the adoption of a supplemental sales tax that would generally fund essential city ☐ YES 3
services such as necessary fire/paramedic facilities public safety response time; the operation and maintenance of the Yreka Aquatic Center; the Native Park project located on Foothill Drive; clean and safe city parks; and other essential city services, shall the City of Yreka ordinance be adopted establishing a ½¢ sales tax (transaction and use tax) for general governmental use, on an ongoing basis, until ended by the voters, providing about $1,000,000 annually, with independent audits and all funds locally controlled?
☐ NO
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Approve the Introduction of Ordinance (first reading), entitled “An Ordinance of the City of Yreka Imposing a Transactions and Use Tax (Sales Tax) to be Administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration” and Finding That the Measure Is Not Subject To CEQA, pass the ordinance and resolution to the August 2, 2022, Council meeting for the ordinance and resolution’s second reading and possible adoption
12. OLD BUSINESS:
City Manager/Police Chief
a. Agenda Title: Second Reading of Ordinance 872 and approving and adopting Yreka Police Departments Military Equipment Use (Lexipol Policy 706) and adding the Ordinance to Yreka Municipal Code Chapter Section 9.41 “Military Equipment Use” and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA.
Newly enacted Assembly Bill 481, codified at Government Code §7070 through §7075 requires a law enforcement agency (LEA) to obtain approval from the City Council, via adoption of a “military equipment” use policy (the Policy) by ordinance (the Ordinance), prior to the LEA funding, acquiring, or using military equipment. The Yreka Police Department (YPD) seeks City Council adoption of the attached Military Equipment Use Policy – Policy Number 706 (Exhibit A), to allow YPD to continue to use the vital equipment specified therein.
Recommended City Council Action: Adoption of Ordinance 872 – Military Equipment Use Creating: Chapter 9.41 “Military Equipment Use” by title only and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA.
b. Agenda Title: Yreka Police Department’s Military Equipment Use –Annual Military Roster Report Naming the Military Equipment in Use or Desired Pursuant to the “Military Equipment Use Policy” for Purposes of Chapter 9.41 of the Yreka Municipal Code.
Pursuant to California Government Code §7070(d)(6), and in accordance with California Government Code §7072, the Yreka Police Department will submit to the Yreka City Council an Annual Military Equipment Report and will make that report publicly available on its internet website. The report is for authorized military equipment is being adopted by resolution.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Adopt Resolution of the City Council of the City of Yreka - Annual Military Roster Report Naming the Military Equipment in Use or 4
Desired Pursuant to the “Military Equipment Use Policy” for Purposes of Chapter 9.41 of the Yreka Municipal Code.
City Manager/City Attorney
c. Agenda Title: Second Reading of Ordinance 873 - Critical Infrastructure adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas”.
The ordinance would ban camping, sitting, sleeping, and storing property on any street or sidewalk that blocks the public right of way by obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The ordinance has location-specific regulations. Camping is banned within ten feet of any bus stop, driveway, or fire hydrant. Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any youth-serving facility, which means schools, parks, libraries, and day-care facilities. Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any school route or 50 feet from critical infrastructure, both of which has been identified by Resolution 2022-26, adopted on June 21, 2022 (with Urgency Ordinance 871).
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Adopt Ordinance 873 – Critical Infrastructure Adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapters 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” by title only and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA.
13. NEW BUSINESS:
Finance
a. Agenda Title: Payments/disbursements issued from June 27, 2022, through July 10, 2022.
Recommended City Council Action: Approval/ratification of payments issued from June 27, 2022, through July 10, 2022.
Planning
b. Agenda Title: Award of City-Wide Noise Study and Noise Element Update.
The City of Yreka prepared and issued a Request for Proposals for a City-Wide Noise Study and Nosie Element Update from March to April. The city received four proposals. Two of the four were considered finalists by the selection committee and supplemental information was requested to assist in the evaluation of the finalists. The city selection committee evaluated the supplemental information and determined that MIG, Inc. satisfied the criteria for award Recommended City Council Action: Motion to award the contract for the City-Wide Study and Noise Element Update to MIG, Inc., approval of supplemental appropriation of $35,000 to be allocated in the fiscal year 2022-23 and authorize the City Manager to sign the final contract to complete the scope of work.
Fire
c. Agenda Title: California Fire Assistance Agreement Authorizing Overtimes and Portal to Portal Pay for Yreka Volunteer Fire Department Personnel. 5
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing Overtimes and Portal to Portal Pay for Yreka Volunteer Fire Department Personnel.
14. CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS:
City Manager and Staff may make brief announcements or reports at this time.
Updates on (1) Critical Infrastructure Ordinance Implementation and (2) Project Home Key multi-jurisdiction collaboration
15. COUNCILMEMBER STATEMENTS AND REQUESTS:
Members of the Council may make brief announcements, reports, or request staff to report to Council on any matter at a subsequent meeting.
16. ADJOURNMENT.
In compliance with the requirements of the Brown Act, notice of this meeting has been posted in a publicly accessible place, 72 hours in advance of the meeting.
All documents produced by the City which are related to an open session agenda item and distributed to the City Council are made available for public inspection in the City Clerk’s Office during normal business hours.
Public Hearings: If, in the future, you wish to challenge in court any of the matters on an agenda for which a public hearing is to be conducted, you may be limited to raising only those issues which you (or someone else) raised orally at the public hearing or in written correspondence received by the City at or before the hearing. Any person seeking to challenge a City Council decision made as a result of a proceeding in which by law a hearing is required to be given, evidence is required to be taken, and the discretion in the determination of facts is vested in the City Council, shall be required to commence that action 90 days following the date on which the decision becomes final as provided in Code of Civil Procedure Section 1094.6. Please refer to Code of Civil Procedure 1094.6 to determine how to calculate when a decision becomes “final.”
"CHALLENGING DECISIONS OF CITY ENTITIES The time limit within which to commence any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City of Yreka is governed by Section 1094.6 of the Code of Civil Procedure, unless a shorter limitation period is specified by any other provision, including without limitation Government Code section 65009 applicable to many land use and zoning decisions, Government Code section 66499.37 applicable to the Subdivision Map Act, and Public Resources Code section 21167 applicable to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Under Section 1094.6, any lawsuit or legal challenge to any quasi-adjudicative decision made by the City must be filed no later than the 90th day following the date on which such decision becomes final. Any lawsuit or legal challenge, which is not filed within that 90-day period, will be barred. Government Code section 65009 and 66499.37, and Public Resources Code section 21167, impose shorter limitations periods and requirements, including timely service in addition to filing. If a person wishes to challenge the above actions in court, they may be limited to raising only those issues they or someone else raised at the meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to the City of Yreka, at or prior to the meeting. In addition, judicial challenge may be limited or barred where the interested party has not sought and exhausted all available administrative remedies." The City of Yreka does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other legally protected classes in employment or provision of services. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, those requiring accommodations for this meeting should notify the City Clerk 48 hours prior to the meeting at (530) 841-2386 or by notifying the Clerk at [email protected].
AFFIDAVIT OF NOTIFICATION AND POSTING
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF SISKIYOU ) SS
CITY OF YREKA )
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I, Rhetta Hogan, Acting City Clerk of the City of Yreka, hereby declare under penalty of perjury that a copy of the above Agenda of the Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Yreka, California, was delivered and/or notice by email not less than 72 hours, before the hour of 5:30 p.m. on July 19, 2022 to the members of the governing agency, and caused the agenda to be posted on the City’s website at www.ci.yreka.ca.us and posted at Yreka City Hall, 701 Fourth St., Yreka, California. /s/: Rhetta Hogan
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MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YREKA HELD IN SAID CITY ON JUNE 16, 2022
On the 16th Day of June 2022 at 5:00PM, the City Council of the City of Yreka met and upon roll call, the following were present: Deborah Baird, Joan Smith Freeman, Duane Kegg, Corey R.
Middleton, and Paul McCoy.
1. CALL TO ORDER and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
There were no public comments.
3. PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOW-UP:
This is the time for City Council or the City Manager to respond to public comments and may direct staff to prepare a report or place an item on a future agenda.
4. OLD BUSINESS:
City Manager/Planning Director
Agenda Title: City of Yreka Project List – Review and discussion of City Capital and Operating Project list.
Recommended City Council Action: Receive input and possible direction on City Capital and Operating Project list to incorporate into City’s strategic planning process.
It was noted that tonight’s meeting is not for decision but for general staff direction. City Manager Ledbetter explained the timeline and why this process is important. Various Department Heads gave updates on the current Project list.
The matter of the Urban Campground was revisited. Council heard public comment from Jerry Stacher, Jodi Aceves, William Goodpasture, and Lorenzo Love.
5. CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS:
City Manager and Staff may make brief announcements or reports at this time.
6. COUNCILMEMBER STATEMENTS AND REQUESTS:
Members of the Council may make brief announcements, reports, or request staff to report to Council on any matter at a subsequent meeting.
7. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business before the Council the meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
_________________________
Duane Kegg, Mayor
___________________________ Minutes approved by Council, Rhetta Hogan, City Clerk Motion July 19, 2022
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YREKA CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
June 21, 2022 – 6:30 P.M.
On the 21st day of June 2022 at 6:30 p.m. the City Council of the City of Yreka met and upon roll call the following Councilmember were present: Deborah Baird, Joan Smith Freeman, Duane Kegg, Corey Middleton, and Paul McCoy.
1. CALL TO ORDER and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE:
Mayor Kegg said that, with Council consensus, agenda item “8.i.” is to be removed from the Agenda. The Mayor suggested that Agenda item “8.h.” be moved to the beginning of the meeting (after public comment) in consideration of speakers present. Council consensus was to accept such reordering.
2. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS AND/OR ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Siskiyou County Economic Development Council (SCEDC) Presentation on Economic Benefits during and after Highway Construction – Tonya Dowse and Korey Hayden co-presented the report.
3. PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Donna Bacigalopi, Jen Osborne, Korey Hayden provided public comment.
4. PUBLIC COMMENT FOLLOW-UP:
This is the time for City Council or the City Manager to respond to public comments and may direct staff to prepare a report or place an item on a future agenda.
5. CONSENT AGENDA:
All matters listed under the consent agenda are considered routine and non-controversial and will be enacted by one motion unless any member of the Council wishes to remove an item for discussion:
a. Approval/ratification of payments issued from May 27, 2022, through June 12, 2022. b. Approval of Minutes of the regular meeting held June 7, 2022. c. Approval of the Cash and Fiscal Reports:
i. Cash Balances Report – May 2022
ii. Budget of Revenue and Expenditures with Year-to-Date Actuals through May 31, 2022 iii. Fiscal Performance Report as of May 31, 2022
d. Continuation of Urgency Ordinance #864: Fireworks.
e. Continuation of Urgency Resolution #2021-51: Remote Public Meetings. 9
f. Waive Full Text Reading of All Ordinances on the Agenda. Ordinances shall be introduced and adopted by title only.
MOTIONED: McCoy
SECONDED: Baird
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
6. PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Note Item B was addressed before item A
Planning Director – Public Hearing
a. General Plan Minor Amendments – GP-2021-02 and GP-2021- 03 Agenda Title: The City of Yreka and ECORP have prepared minor amendments to the 2002 General Plan Circulation and Public Health and Safety Elements to address changes in state general plan law and regulations. The proposed amendment to the Circulation Element introduces the new state metric for circulation impacts: vehicle miles traveled (VMT). The proposed changes would include metrics to evaluate traffic impacts of future proposed projects under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The proposed changes to the Public Health and Safety Elements will ensure compliance with recent state legislation and guidelines (including Assembly Bill 2140, Senate Bill 1241, Assembly Bill 747, Senate Bill 99, Senate Bill 1035, Senate Bill 379 and Senate Bill 1000).
The proposed amendments address flooding and wildfire hazards, as well as address vulnerability to climate change, and incorporate policies and programs regarding environmental justice.
The proposed action has been determined to meet the guidelines for a “General Rule” or “common sense” exemption pursuant to Section 15062(b)(3) of the State California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines. The proposed project would not result in any foreseeable direct or indirect impacts to the environment.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to approve City Council Resolution No. 2022- 22 of the City Council of the City of Yreka Approving General Plan Amendment 2022-01 and Adoption of this Resolution to be Exempt from CEQA
Public Comment: Lorenzo Love made comments.
MOTIONED: Smith Freeman
SECONDED: Baird
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
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Municipal Projects/SCEDC – Public Hearing
Note Item B was addressed before item A
b. Agenda Title: Grant Applications Community Development Block (CDBG) Grants Fiscal Year 2022 Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) dated April 19, 2022 Hold a Public Hearing for the CDBG FY 2022 NOFA dated April 19, 2022, Adopt Resolution No. 2022-23 Approving Grant Applications and Authorizing the City Manager to Execute Grant Agreements and Other Related Documents
Consideration of the Following Projects:
1. Business Assistance & Lending “Highway 3 Construction Mitigation Project” - Economic Development: Business Assistance and Lending
Siskiyou Economic Development Council (SEDC) submitted an idea for an Economic Development grant application. The project would create and implement a business loan program for businesses expecting to experience revenue loss as a result of the upcoming Caltrans Highway 3 Rehabilitation Project, a three-year street construction project on Main Street. The program would be created and implemented by SEDC with the City as primary agency.
2. Code Enforcement Project - Public Services: Code Enforcement Code Enforcement’s focus is to help improving blighted properties. Combined with the tools of housing rehabilitation and abatement of nuisances, the City can help stabilize and maintain affordable quality housing and neighborhoods. For CDBG program purposes, code enforcement is defined as a process whereby local governments gain compliance with ordinances and regulations regarding health and housing codes, land use and zoning ordinances, sign standards, and uniform building and fire codes, and it should be noted that the CDBG program expects the focus of code enforcement to be on health and safety issues in buildings and structures.
Recommended City Council Action: Motion to adopt a Resolution No. 2022-23 approving grant applications and Authorizing the City Manager to execute grant agreements and other related documents, for the selected projects.
Public Comment: Tonya Dowse and Lorenzo Love provided comments.
Assistant City Manager/City Clerk provided clarifying details on the issue.
MOTIONED: Smith Freeman
SECONDED: Middleton
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
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Police – Public Hearing
c. Agenda Title: Introduction of Ordinance 872 and approving and adopting Yreka Police Departments Military Equipment Use (Lexipol Policy 706) and adding the Ordinance to Yreka Municipal Code Chapter Section 9.41 “Military Equipment Use” Hold a public hearing to receive public comment and introduction a City of Yreka Municipal Ordinance 872, Chapter 9.41 “Military Equipment Use” Policy, in accordance with California Assembly Bill 481. The proposed policy was published on the Yreka Police Department’s website on May 2, 2022, at least 30 days prior to this public hearing concerning the military equipment at issue, thereby meeting the requirements of Government Code Section 7071.
Recommended City Council Action: City Council consider public comment and, upon motion, introduce the Ordinance 872, approving and adopting Yreka Police Department’s, Military Equipment Use (Lexipol Policy 706) and adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapter Section 9.41 “Military Equipment Use” Attachment A to the proposed ordinance. Following motion, pass the ordinance to a subsequent meeting for the consideration of the ordinance’s adoption.
Public Comment: Lorenzo Love made comments on the matter.
City Attorney Henion provided details on various questions posed.
MOTIONED: Smith Freeman
SECONDED: McCoy
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
7. OLD BUSINESS:
City Manager/City Attorney
a. Agenda Title: Call of an election for the electorate to determine whether the Office of City Treasurer should be filled through the appointment of the City Treasurer by the City Council rather than filling it by an election.
Recommended City Council Action: Discussion/Possible Action – Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 2022-24 of the City Council of the City of Yreka, on Its Own Motion, Calling and Giving Notice of the Submission to the Electors of the City of Yreka at the Consolidated General Election to be Held on November 8, 2022, of a Ballot Measure Seeking Approval for the Proposition That the Manner of Filling the Office of City Treasurer of the City of Yreka be Converted to that of Appointment by the City Council Rather Than Through an Election and That the Adoption of this Resolution is Exempt From CEQA.
Public Comment: None.
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MOTIONED: Kegg
SECONDED: Smith Freeman
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
Human Resources
b. Agenda Title: Consideration of an Industrial Disability Retirement for Employee Christopher Betts.
Recommended City Council Action: That the City Council Approve Resolution No. 2022- 25 of the Yreka City Council of the City of Yreka Under Government Code Section 21156 Regarding the Disability Retirement Application Filed by Employee Christopher Betts Public Comment: None.
MOTIONED: Baird
SECONDED: Middleton
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
8. NEW BUSINESS:
City Manager/City Attorney
a. Urgency ordinance – Critical Infrastructure
Agenda Title: Urgency Ordinance to add to the Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA The urgency ordinance would ban camping, sitting, sleeping, and storing property on any street or sidewalk that blocks the public right of way by obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic. The ordinance has location-specific regulations. Camping is banned within ten feet of any bus stop, driveway, or fire hydrant. Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any youthserving facility, which means schools, parks, libraries, and day-care facilities. Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any school route or 50 feet from critical infrastructure, both of which will be identified by Resolution. This urgency ordinance requires a 4/5 vote and is being both introduced and for its adoption without a second reading.
Recommended City Council Action: Consider/discuss and move to adopt, as an Urgency Ordinance No. 871, the ordinance entitled: “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” and finding that the ordinance is exempt from CEQA.
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Public Comment: Lorenzo Love, Dawn Marie Autrey, County Supervisor Nancy Ogren (spoke twice), Mark Atwood, Donna Bacigalopi, and Cal Conklin spoke on the topic.
City Attorney Henion provided details on the fine guidelines and spoke to Officers’ discretion on the matter.
MOTIONED: Baird
SECONDED: McCoy
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
b. Agenda Title: Critical Infrastructure – Resolution No. 2022 – 26 designating locations of Critical Infrastructure as required by Urgency Ordinance No. 871, “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas”
The City faces significant wildfire risk to critical infrastructure due to its climate, topography, and other relevant factors, which necessitates that the City be able to efficiently and timely respond to emergency situations. City desires to reduce wildfire risk to critical infrastructure and the community by both eliminating a significant potential source of fire risk on or within various specified distances from critical infrastructure and youth related activities, ensuring that such facilities are accessible and able to operate at all times by preventing persons from camping, sleeping or blocking the public right-of-way at particular times and locations at or near youth-serving facilities, bus stops, critical infrastructure and wildfire risk areas for the protection and preservation of health, safety, and welfare of the inhabitants of the City and the continuing productive operation of the City’s operations and its economy. As the danger of fire is a significant danger to the public’s health and safety it is requested that the ordinance be adopted as an urgency ordinance which will require a 4/5 affirmative vote by the Council.
Recommended City Council Action: Consider/discuss and move to adopt Resolution No. 2022-26 of the City Council of the City of Yreka, California, Designating Specified Locations as Critical Infrastructure for Purposes of Chapter 9.45 of the Municipal Code and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA as an Urgency Ordinance.
MOTIONED: Baird
SECONDED: Middleton
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
c. Introduction of Ordinance – Critical Infrastructure
Agenda Title: Ordinance to add to the Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA 14
As a matter of legal process, the City Council is also being requested to adopt the ordinance adding Chapter 9.45 as a non-urgency ordinance. Accordingly, this ordinance is being introduced for first reading and for passing it to the next council meeting for a second reading and for its adoption.
Recommended City Council Action: Consider/discuss and move to introduce Ordinance No. 873 entitled: “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA” and pass the ordinance to the next Council meeting for a second reading and its possible adoption.
Public Comment: None.
MOTIONED: Kegg
SECONDED: Smith Freeman
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
Finance
d. Agenda Title: Authorize the City Manager to contract with Smith & Newell for Financial Audit Services
Pursuant to a request for proposal issued in April, the Finance Committee met on June 2, 2022, to evaluate the qualified proposals that were received. The Finance Committee is recommending the selection of Smith and Newell for professional Auditing Services.
Recommended City Council Action: Authorize the City Manager to enter into an agreement with Smith & Newell for $33,400, commencing with the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and execute related documents for financial audit services.
Public Comment: None
MOTIONED: Smith Freeman
SECONDED: McCoy
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
Finance and Fire
e. Agenda Title: Authorization to engage bond counsel for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Planning Fire Station Development Project pursuant to the City’s request for proposal response.
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Recommended City Council Action: That the Council Adopt Resolution No. 2022-27 approving a Consultant Agreement with the Law Firm for Bond Counsel services for the Community Development CDBG - Planning Fire Station Development Project Application.
Public Comment: None.
MOTIONED: McCoy
SECONDED: Smith Freeman
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
Fire
f. Agenda Title: California Fire Assistance Agreement - Strike Team Compensation Rates for 2022.
Recommended City Council Action: Resolution No. 2022-28 Approving the Compensation Rates for Members of the Yreka Volunteer Fire Department while on Strike Teams with the State of California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Public Comment: None.
MOTIONED: Middleton
SECONDED: McCoy
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
g. Agenda Title: Establish payments relating to the Yreka Volunteer Fire Departments Pursuant to Ordinance 804
Recommended City Council Action: Adopt Resolution No. 2022-29 of the City Council of the City of Yreka to Establish Payments Relating to Yreka Volunteer Fire Department for Annual Uniform Allowance, Extended Fire Incident Standby Compensation and Recognition of Portal to Portal Pay for CalOES Dispatched Incidents Pursuant to Ordinance 804 Public Comment: None.
MOTIONED: Middleton
SECONDED: Smith Freeman
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
16
This item was addressed first on the Agenda (deliberated on at 6:52 p.m.) in consideration of the speakers present.
Public Works
h. Agenda Title: Discussion of Greenhorn Park Disc Golf Proposal Recommended City Council Action: That City Council approve the City Manager to enter into the Memorandum of Understanding with Mr. Alford, to include a one-year time frame (extension available by City Manager approval) conditional upon their good faith effort in organizing as recognized non-profit organization. Upon receiving their non-profit designation, an updated Memorandum of Understanding with Greenhorn Disc Golf Club shall be submitted, and any alterations required by the City will to be made at the time of submittal.
Public Works Director Bray provided the report.
Public Comment: Brian Baker, Mr. Alford and one other unidentified person addressed the City Council.
MOTIONED: Smith Freeman
SECONDED: Middleton
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
City Manager
Note the agenda items regarding voting delegates matters for the League of Cities was inadvertently not numbered in the agenda’s placement after item “8.c.” and moved and relabeled item “8.i.”.
i. Agenda Title: Discussion/Possible Action – Appoint Joan Smith Freeman as voting delegate, and Corey Middleton as alternate voting delegate to the 2022 Annual League of California Cities Conference and Expo to be held September 7-9, 2022, in Long Beach, CA.
Recommended City Council Action: That the Council appoint Freeman as a voting delegate, and Middleton as alternate voting delegate to the 2022 Annual League of California Cities Conference and Expo.
Public Comment: Dawn Marie Autrey made comments on the item.
MOTIONED: Baird
SECONDED: Kegg
AYES: Councilmembers: Baird, Smith Freeman, Kegg, McCoy, Middleton NAYS: None.
ABSTAIN: None.
ABSENT: None.
17
Mayor Kegg with Council consensus removed the agenda item “Amend the City Council meeting Calendar” from consideration, originally numbered as agenda item “8.i.” City Manager
i. Agenda Title: Proposal to Amend the 2022 City Council Meeting Calendar to Reinstate on the meeting calendar the July 5th, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting.
Recommended City Council Action: That the City Council Adopt a Resolution 2022-30 to Amend the 2022 City Council Meeting Calendar to Reinstate the previously cancelled Regular City Council Meeting of July 5, 2022. (Removed from the City Council agenda).
9. CITY MANAGER/STAFF REPORTS:
City Manager Ledbetter reported out on Council’s recent Strategic Planning meeting and other items related to the Planning Department as well as updates on the HVAC replacement project at the Community Theater. He announced that 2023 health rates will increase significantly. Mr.
Ledbetter gave recognition to the City Clerk for her work this evening’s comprehensive agenda.
He also mentioned attending a meeting with the County regarding unhoused individuals and County and Community collaboration.
10. COUNCILMEMBER STATEMENTS AND REQUESTS:
Members of the Council made brief announcements, reports, on various meetings/events like Gold Rush Days and others.
11. ADJOURNMENT.
There being no further business before the Council the meeting was adjourned.
Attest:
_________________________
Duane Kegg, Mayor
___________________________ Minutes approved by Council, Rhetta Hogan, City Clerk Motion July 19, 2022
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CITY OF YREKA
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
To:
Prepared By:
Agenda Title:
Meeting date:
Yreka City Council
City Clerk
Discussion/Possible Action: Continuation of Urgency Ordinance 864.
July 19, 2022
Discussion:
The drought, prevailing climatic temperatures, and the allocation of Yreka Fire Resources to mutual aid to suppress wildfires was found to constitute an immediate threat to the public safety.
Ordinance 864 delays the sale of fireworks and the use of fireworks and public displays of pyrotechnics until the threat to public safety is abated.
Recommendation:
That the Council continue Urgency Ordinance 864.
34 SUMMARY OF ADOPTED URGENCY ORDINANCE No. 864
Please take notice that the Yreka City Council adopted, at an emergency meeting held on July 29, 2021, a temporary urgency ordinance, number 864, entitled: “AN UNCODIFIED URGENCY
ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF YREKA DECLARING A LOCAL EMERGENCY, AND AUTHORIZING THE
DELAY OF THE SALE AND USE OF FIREWORKS WHICH MAY CREATE A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY
DEEMED TO BE ARISING FROM THE INCIDENCE OF THE LAVA FIRE AND SETTING FORTH THE FACTS CONSTITUTING SUCH URGENCY AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE EXEMPT FROM CEQA REVIEW” This urgency ordinance generally provides:
1. The factual background of the Lava Fire, the drought, the prevailing climatic temperatures and the fact that Yreka’s Fire Resources are engaged in mutual aid to suppress the Lava Fire as well as the allocation of law enforcement resources in traffic control and the fact that without Yreka’s normally available police and fire resources, the use of fireworks and pyrotechnics fire may not be able to be suppressed which was found to constitute the basis for the urgency nature of the ordinance and the City Council determined that there existed an immediate threat to the public health, safety and/or welfare and a need for immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety that warrants the adopted urgency measures.
2. The ordinance delays the sale of fireworks and the use of fireworks and public displays of pyrotechnics until the threat to public safety is abated and the urgency ordinance is terminated.
3. The city council determined that a local emergency now exists and shall continue to exist until its termination is ordained by the City Council. The need for continuance of the urgency measures will be regularly reviewed by City Council until it is terminated. The ordinance will be terminated at the earliest possible time.
4. The ordinance vests in the City Manager, Chief of Police and the Fire Chief with the discretion to take such acts as may be necessary to effectuate the intent of the ordinance.
5. The Council determined that the ordinance complies with a categorical exemption from CEQA review.
By roll call vote the following councilmembers voted in favor of the ordinance: Duane Kegg, Deborah Baird, Paul McCoy and Corey Middleton.
This summary is not intended to be a comprehensive statement of all of the provisions of the Ordinance, but constitutes only a fair summary of the Ordinance. The complete text of the Ordinance and the minutes of the emergency session is available for review online in Yreka’s City Council Agenda section or through a public records request as an in-person review of it is not available because City Hall is not currently open to the public.
Yreka City Clerk
35 BUSINESS OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YREKA
AGENDA REPORT
For meeting of: July 19, 2022
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dohn Henion, Yreka City Attorney
TITLE: RESOLUTION TO CONTINUE HOLDING PUBLIC MEETINGS REMOTELY (AB 361) RECOMMENDATION:
In accordance with Assembly Bill 361, adopt a resolution to continue conducting the City’s Council, Commission, and Committee meetings remotely due to health and safety concerns to the public due to COVID-19.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with this item.
BACKGROUND:
On March 4, 2020, Governor Newsom declared a State of Emergency to make additional resources available, formalize emergency actions already underway across multiple state agencies and departments, and help the state prepare for a broader spread of COVID-19.
Thereafter, on March 17, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-2920, which suspended certain provisions of the Ralph M. Brown Act to allow local legislative bodies to conduct meetings telephonically or by other means. Additionally, the State implemented a shelter-in-place order, requiring all non-essential personnel to work from home.
Staff quickly worked to set up remote meetings via Zoom for all City Council and Planning Commission meetings. The Zoom meetings have allowed the Council, Commissions, and Committees to continue to conduct City business from the safety of members’ homes. The City has been utilizing Zoom for the past 18 months to conduct nearly all public meetings. The usage of Zoom for public meetings has allowed the City to ensure the public’s continued access to government meetings while also ensuring the public’s safety.
On June 11, 2021, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order N-08-21, which extended the ability of agencies to hold remote meetings through September 30, 2021, after which agencies anticipated transitioning back to public meetings held in full compliance with the Brown Act. In preparation for the return to in-person meetings, staff has been working on acquiring audio and visual upgrades for City facilities to conduct hybrid meetings. Although hybrid meetings would help to keep the public safe by allowing them to continue accessing the meetings from their own home, Councilmembers, Commissioners, Committee members, and staff would need to meet in person.
36 Since the Governor issued Executive Order N-08-21, the Delta variant has emerged, causing a spike in cases throughout the state.
On September 16, 2021, Governor Newson signed Assembly Bill 361 (AB 361), which allows cities to continue to meet remotely during proclaimed states of emergency under modified Brown Act requirements that are similar but not identical to the rules and procedures established by the previous Executive Orders.
AB 361 authorizes local agencies to use teleconferencing without complying with the teleconferencing requirements imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act during a declared state of emergency, when state or local health officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing during the proclaimed state of emergency, or when there is an imminent risk to the health or safety of attendees.
DISCUSSION:
AB 361 will allow local legislative bodies to continue to meet remotely after the September 30, 2021 expiration of the Governor’s executive orders. A local agency will be allowed to continue to meet remotely when:
• The local agency holds a meeting during a declared state of emergency • State or local health officials have imposed or recommended measures to promote social distancing
• Legislative bodies declare the need to meet remotely due to present imminent risks to the health or safety of attendees
The City meets the requirements to continue holding meetings remotely to ensure the health and safety of the public due to the following:
• The City is still under a local state of emergency;
• County health orders require that all individuals in public spaces maintain social distancing and wear masks;
• The City can’t maintain social distancing requirements for the public, staff, Councilmembers, Commissioners, and Committee Members in their meeting spaces; The City cannot ensure social distancing requirements are met inside City facilities where the City Council, Planning Commission, Parks and Recreation Commission, Redistricting Advisory Committee, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, and Main Street Bridge Advisory Committee meet.
Moreover, the indoor mask order is still in effect, making it difficult to hear what Councilmembers, Commissioners, Committee Members, staff, and public speakers are saying.
Furthermore, while speaking through masks may be understandable in person, picking up speech on microphones for those attending remotely and those watching any livestreams would be difficult.
37 Per AB 361, the City Council would need to declare every 30 days that the City’s legislative bodies must continue to meet remotely to ensure the health and safety of the public. Staff recommends that the City Council declare these findings are true so these bodies can continue to meet remotely. Staff will return with this resolution for re-ratification at the Council’s 1st Tuesday meeting each month, at which time the Council can reassess as various health orders and COVID-19 parameters change.
38 RESOLUTION NO. 2021- 51
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8 A RESOLUTION OF THE YREKA CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
YREKA PROCLAIMING A LOCAL EMERGENCY, RATIFYING THE
PROCLAMATION OF A STATE OF EMERGENCY BY GOVERNOR
NEWSOM ON MARCH 4, 2020, AND AUTHORIZING REMOTE
TELECONFERENCE MEETINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE BODIES OF
CITY OF YREKA FOR THE PERIOD SUCCESSIVE 30-DAY PERIODS
PURSUANT TO ASSEMBLY BILL 361
9 WHEREAS, the City of Yreka is committed to preserving and nurturing IO public access and participation in meetings of the Yreka City Council; and 11 WHEREAS, all meetings of City of Yreka's legislative bodies are open and 12 public, as required by t.he Ralph M. Brown Act (Cal. Gov. Code§ 54950 13 54963), so that any member of the public may attend, participate, and watch the 14 City's legislative bodies conduct their business; and 15 16 WHEREAS, the Brown Act, Government Code section 54953(e), makes 17 provisions for remote teleconferencing paiiicipation in meetings by members of 18 a legislative body, without compliance with the requirements of Government 19 Code section 54953(b )(3), subject to the existence of certain conditions; and 20 WHEREAS, a required condition is that a state of emergency is declared by the 21 Governor pursuant to Government Code section 8625, proclaiming the existence 22 of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property 23 within the state caused by conditions as described in Government Code section 24 8558;and
25 WHEREAS, a proclamation is made when there is an actual incident, threat of 26 disaster, or extreme peril to the safety of persons and prope1iy within the 27 jurisdictions that are within the City's boundaries, caused by natural, 28 technological, or human-caused disasters; and
29 WHEREAS, it is further required that state or local officials have imposed or 30 recommended measures to promote social distancing, or, the legislative body 39 31 meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health and safety of 32 attendees; and
33 WHEREAS, such conditions now exist in the City, specifically, in Executive Order 34 N-29-20 the Governor of the State of California declared a state of emergency to 35 exist as a result of the threat of COVID-19; and
36 WHEREAS, said order suspended provisions of celiain provisions of the Brown 37 Act relating to teleconference meetings and creating the ability for viliual meetings 38 to keep the public and our public officials safer from exposure to the pandemic; and 39 WHEREAS, that suspension of the Brown Act requires expired on September 30, 40 2021; and
41 WHEREAS, On September 16,2021 Assembly Bill 361 was passed into law 42 permitting the extension of virtual meetings so long as the state of emergency 43 exists and is reviewed every thirty days by the Yreka City Council; and 44 WHEREAS, the delta variant of COVID-19 has resulted in Siskiyou County 45 having experienced 4,382 confirmed COVID-19 amongst the local population 46 cases, 54 deaths, 56 new cases reported in the last 24 hours with 271 active cases 47 and 23 persons presently hospitalized and, accordingly, social distancing and 48 masking is required for attendees' health and safety to mitigate the imminent risk 49 of COVID-19 being transmissible during public, in-person meetings of the City of 50 Yreka; and
51 WHEREAS, virtual meetings further mitigate the public's health and safety while 52 still providing the opportunity for public input on the people's business; and 53 WHEREAS, the City Council has reconsidered the circumstances of the state of 54 emergency; and
55 WHEREAS, the state of local emergency continues to directly impact the ability of 56 the City Council, Commissions, and Committees, as well as staff and members of 57 the public, from meeting safely in person; and
58 WHEREAS, the Yreka City Council does hereby find that prevalence of COVID-19 59 amongst the local population and, accordingly, social distancing and masking is 2 40
60 required for attendees health and safety to mitigate the imminent risk of COVID-19 61 being transmissible during public, in-person meetings of the City of Yreka, its 62 commissions and committees may cause, and may continue to cause, conditions of 63 peril to the safety of persons within the City that are likely to be beyond the control of 64 services, persOlmel, equipment, and facilities of the City, healthcare providers and 65 local hospitals, and desires to proclaim a local emergency and ratify the 66 proclamation of state of emergency by the Governor of the State of California; and 67 68 WHEREAS, as a consequence of the local emergency, the Yreka City Council 69 does hereby find that the City of Yreka's governing body, its commissions and 70 committees shall conduct their meetings without compliance with paragraph (3) of 71 subdivision (b) of Government Code section 54953, as authorized by subdivision 72 (e) of section 54953, and that such legislative bodies shall comply with the 73 requirements to provide the public with access to the meetings as prescribed in 74 paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of section 54953; and 75 WHEREAS, meetings are posted on the City's website providing the necessary 76 information for the public to virtually provide input to the governing body on the 77 people's business.
78 NOW, THEREFORE, THE YREKA CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF 79 YREKA DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
80 Section 1. Recitals. The Recitals set forth above are true and correct and are 81 incorporated into this Resolution by this reference. 82 Section 2. Proclamation of Local Emergency. The City Council hereby proclaims 83 that a local emergency now exists throughout the City, and prevalence of COVID84 19 amongst the local population and, accordingly, social distancing and masking is 85 required for attendees health and safety to mitigate the imminent risk of COVID-19 86 being transmissible during public, in-person meetings of the City of Yreka has 87 caused, and will continue to cause, conditions of peril to the safety of persons within 88 the City that are likely to be beyond the control of services, personnel, equipment, and 89 facilities of the City, healthcare providers and local hospitals. 3 41
90 Section 3. Ratification of Governor's Proclamation ofa State of Emergency. The 91 City Council hereby ratifies the Governor of the State of California's Proclamation 92 of State of Emergency, effective as of its issuance date of March 4, 2021. 93 Section 4. Remote Teleconference Meetings. The staff and legislative bodies of 94 City of Yreka are hereby authorized and directed to take all actions necessary to 95 cany out the intent and purpose of this Resolution including, conducting open and 96 public meetings in accordance with Government Code section 54953(e) and other 97 applicable provisions of the Brown Act.
98 Section 5. Effective Date of Resolution. This Resolution shall take effect 99 immediately upon its adoption and shall be effective until the earlier of (i) 30 days 100 from adoption of resolution, and 30 days from each successive affirmation that the 101 state of emergency continues to exist or such time the Yreka City Council adopts a 102 subsequent resolution in accordance with Government Code section 54953( e)(3) to 103 extend the time during which the governing body of the City of Yreka may continue 104 to teleconference without compliance with paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of 105 section 54953.
106 PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Yreka City Council of the City of Yreka, this 5th 107 day of October, 2021, by the following vote:
108 AYES: FREEMAN, MIDDLETON, BAIRD, KEGG
109 NOES:
110 ABSENT: MCCOY
111 ABSTAIN:
112
113 DuaneK
114 Attest:
115
116
4 42
S:\City Council\Council Agenda packet\2022 - Council Agenda Packets\07 - July\07-19-22\Sales Tax Ordinance\Staff Report Sales Tax Ordinance Introduction.docx
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
TO: Yreka City Council
FROM:
PREPARED BY:
Jason Ledbetter, City Manager, Dohn Henion, City Attorney Dohn Henion, City Attorney
AGENDA TITLE: (1) Introduction of an Ordinance Establishing a General Sales Tax of One-half Cent (1/2%) within the City
(2) Consideration of a Resolution Calling for an Election on the Ordinance, and Other Actions Necessary to Place the Ordinance on the November 8, 2022, General Election
Ballot
MEETING DATE: July 19, 2022
Overview:
Before the Council for a first reading is a resolution and ordinance which would place on the November 8, 2022, general election ballot, a measure, asking the voters to approve adding Chapter 3.50 as an ordinance to the Yreka Municipal Code. The City’s voters would be asked the following question:
Sales Tax to Generally Fund Essential City Services
To maintain Yreka’s long-term financial stability through the adoption of a supplemental sales tax that would generally fund essential city services such as necessary fire/paramedic facilities public safety response time; the operation and maintenance of the Yreka Aquatic Center; the Native Park project located on Foothill Drive; clean and safe city parks; and other essential city services, shall the City of Yreka ordinance be adopted establishing a ½¢ sales tax (transaction and use tax) for general governmental use, on an ongoing basis, until ended by the voters, providing about $1,000,000 annually, with independent audits and all funds locally controlled?
☐ YES
☐ NO
Fiscal accountability of the tax revenue will be ensured by the city’s regular annual financial audits. Staff has proposed a draft resolution calling the election and including the draft ballot question for the Council’s consideration and input.
Today’s recommendation is for the Council to:
1) Conduct a public hearing;
43 S:\City Council\Council Agenda packet\2022 - Council Agenda Packets\07 - July\07-19-22\Sales Tax Ordinance\Staff Report Sales Tax Ordinance Introduction.docx 2) Provide input on the draft resolution and make election-related decisions, including whether to authorize Council members or others to write arguments in support of the measure on behalf of the Council;
3) Move to approve the introduction of the Ordinance (first reading), entitled “An Ordinance of the City of Yreka Imposing a Transactions and Use Tax to be Administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration” and pass the ordinance and resolution to the August 2, 2022, Council meeting for the ordinance and resolution’s second reading and possible adoption.
If, on July 19, 2022, the Council takes the action recommended above, then, on August 2, 2022:
1) Consider and move to adopt the Ordinance (second reading) entitled (4 VOTES) entitled “An Ordinance of the City of Yreka Imposing a Transactions and Use Tax to be Administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration” 2) Move to adopt a Resolution (as may be amended based on Council direction from July 19, 2022) entitled “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Yreka, California, on its Own Motion, Calling and Giving Notice of the Submission to the Electors of the City of Yreka at the Consolidated General Election to be Held on November 8, 2022, of a Ballot Measure for the Purpose of Submitting a Measure Imposing a Transactions And Use (Sales) Tax to a Vote of the Qualified Electors of the City; Directing the City Attorney to Prepare an Impartial Analysis of the Measure; and Providing for the Filing of Primary and Rebuttal Arguments and Setting Rules for the Filing of Written Arguments Regarding a Proposed Measure to be Submitted at the Election and Finding That the Adoption of this Resolution is Exempt From CEQA.” 3) If the Council approves the Ordinance, consider, and select one of the following options relating to filing written arguments supporting the measure:
a. Authorize one or more members of the Council, or a person designated by it, to file with the Registrar of Voters a written argument for the measure on behalf of the Council, and a written rebuttal to any arguments against the measure, to be printed in the voter information guide, and further authorize those members to determine any other person(s) to prepare, submit, or sign a written rebuttal argument to any argument against the measure.
OR
b. Decline to authorize any members of the Council to file such arguments on behalf of the Council.
4) Direct the City Manager to return to the City Council to establish the actual tax rates to be implemented in 2023, should the tax be approved by the voters. 44 1
1 2 RESOLUTION NO. 2022-
3 4 A Resolution Of The City Council Of The City Of Yreka, California, on Its Own Motion, 5 Calling and Giving Notice of the Submission to the Electors of the City of Yreka at the 6 Consolidated General Election to be Held on November 8, 2022, of a Ballot Measure 7 Seeking Approval of a Measure Enacting a Supplemental Transactions And Use (Sales) 8 Tax to A Vote Of The Qualified Electors Of The City; Directing the City Attorney to 9 Prepare an Impartial Analysis of the Measure; and Finding That the Adoption of This 10 Resolution is Exempt From CEQA.
11 12 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF YREKA, CALIFORNIA, 13 DOES RESOLVE, DECLARE, DETERMINE AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
14 Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are hereby adopted by the City 15 Council.
16 RECITALS
17 18 WHEREAS, the health, safety and quality of life of all residents in the City of 19 Yreka ("the City") remains our utmost concern and residents can rest assured, the City is 20 taking all necessary action to maintain essential City services and provide resources to our 21 most vulnerable residents; and
22 WHEREAS, the City is committed to safe neighborhoods, healthy children and seniors 23 and quality services to support all residents; and
24 WHEREAS, with thousands of tourists coming to Yreka each year to shop, this 25 measure ensures that out-of-towners pay their fair share for the strain they place on local 26 services when they visit our city such as streets, sidewalks, parks and police protection, and is 45 2
27 not a property tax; and
28 WHEREAS, this measure will not be applied to food purchased as groceries or 29 prescription medication, including prescription medications delivered through the mail, 30 limiting its impact on Yreka residents; and
31 WHEREAS, for the last decade Sacramento has balanced its budget on the back of 32 cities like Yreka. These continual money grabs takes funds away from local priorities for 33 Sacramento’s priorities. Losing revenue impacts our quality of life. This measure helps to 34 ensure that Yreka has a guaranteed source of local funding which cannot be taken by 35 Sacramento. This sales tax revenue will be locally controlled for Yreka’s residents; and 36 WHEREAS, Yreka is preparing to build a new fire station to better protect the 37 community from the fire dangers that surrounding communities have experienced; and 38 WHEREAS, Yreka previously operated a municipal pool but did not have adequate 39 funding to maintain it and it fell into disrepair, has been abandoned and is beyond repair or 40 reconstruction; and
41 WHEREAS, the City Council and numerous community-based groups believe that 42 having and operating a municipal swimming pool is essential to the community’s quality of life 43 in that it provides a place for our community’s children to learn to swim, promotes youth 44 swimming competitions and rehabilitation for our senior citizens; and 45 WHEREAS, Public Safety costs of the City’s Fire Department and Police Department 46 are some 58% of the total budget expenses, leaving 42% to address the remaining needs of the 47 community; and
48 WHEREAS, Yreka has been awarded an Eight-Million Five-Hundred Thousand Dollar 49 grant to design and construct a municipal swimming pool. However, without the passage of this 50 measure, Yreka lacks the revenue to maintain and operate the pool it if it is built thus this 51 opportunity will be lost. To illustrate this lack of revenue, the adopted budget for last fiscal year 52 showed expenses exceeded revenue by more than one-half million dollars. By prudently cutting 53 where possible the city has been able to reduce that deficit to $287,190. The adopted budget for 46 3
54 this year shows a $380,448 deficit. Accordingly, the city is proceeding with the initial stages of 55 the pool project, but, as the City Council must handle its already challenging financial situation 56 by building projects it can actually afford to maintain and operate, the City Council has adopted 57 a motion that the Eight Million Dollar grant will be terminated and the pool will not be built 58 unless this sales tax measure is passed by a majority the City’s voters voting at the election. 59 WHEREAS, the inadequacy of the City's existing revenues creates a potential threat to 60 the public health, safety and general welfare of the community; and 61 WHEREAS, to maintain Yreka’s long-term financial stability through the adoption of a 62 sales tax, Yreka residents have identified priorities that increased revenue would generally fund 63 such as necessary fire facilities and volunteer Firefighter response time; the operation and 64 maintenance of the Yreka Aquatic Center; the Native Park project located on Foothill Drive; 65 other city parks; and other essential city services; and 66 WHEREAS, funds from this measure are subject to strict fiscal accountability and 67 transparency provisions, including annual independent audits and publishing of expenditure 68 reports to ensure funds are spent efficiently and effectively; and 69 WHEREAS, Section 2(b) of Article XIII C of the California Constitution, added by 70 Proposition 218 effective November 1996, requires that the measure proposing a general tax be 71 submitted to the voters at an election consolidated with a regularly scheduled general election for 72 members of the governing body of the local government and approved by a majority vote of the 73 voters before the measure can be effective; and
74 WHEREAS, Government Code section 53724 additionally provides that no tax 75 subject to the vote requirement prescribed by Government Code section 53723 (general 76 taxes) and pursuant to Revenue & Taxation Code Section 7285.9 approved the sales tax 77 Ordinance, subject to the City voters’ approval; and 78 WHEREAS, pursuant to California Constitution Article XIII C, section 2 and Elections 79 Code section 10201, the City has determined to submit a proposition to enact an ordinance 80 establishing a transactions and use tax to the voters at the City’s next regular election; and 47 4
81 WHEREAS, on June 7, 2022, the City Council has adopted Resolution Number 2022- 82 20 calling for the consolidation of the City of Yreka General Municipal Election with the 83 Statewide General Election; and
84 WHEREAS, the City Council also desires to submit to the voters at the election a 85 question relating to the enactment of a supplemental transactions and use tax. 86 WHEREAS, it is desirable that the election be consolidated with the statewide election 87 to be held on the same date and that within the City, the precincts, polling places, and election 88 officers of the two elections to be the same; and
89 WHEREAS, The City Council finds the approval of this ordinance is not subject to 90 the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 91 15060(c)(2) (the activity will not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical 92 change in the environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 93 15378) of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because 94 it has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or indirectly. 95 Alternatively, the City Council finds the approval of this ordinance is not a project under 96 CEQA Regulation Section 15061(b)(3) because it has no potential for causing a significant 97 effect on the environment.
98 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF YREKA as follows:
99 SECTION I. The foregoing Recitals are true and correct and are hereby adopted by the 100 City Council.
101 SECTION II. The City Council, on its own motion, Pursuant to California Constitution 102 Article XIIIC, Section 2; Government Code Section 53724; Revenue & Taxation Code Section 103 7285.9 and Elections Code Section 9222, calls and orders an election on Tuesday, November 8, 104 2022, together with the consolidated statewide general election, for the purpose of submitting to 105 Yreka’s registered voters, a measure, which if approved, would authorize the City Council to 106 adopt an ordinance, adding Chapter 3.51 to Title 3 of the Yreka Municipal Code, attached as 107 Exhibit “A”, which would authorize the creation of a general-purpose tax imposed on retail sales 48 5
108 of goods and merchandise and on the “use” applicable to the storage, use, or other consumption 109 in California of goods purchased from retailers in transactions not subject to the sales tax (legally 110 called a “Transactions and Use Tax” but commonly known as a Sales Tax). The tax rate would 111 be one-half of one percent (.50%) of the retail sales price of the property on an ongoing basis 112 until the electorate discontinues it. The tax revenue would be collected by the California 113 Department of Tax and Fee Administration and, after its collection, remitted to the City. The 114 ordinance imposing the tax will be deemed approved if the measure receives at least a 50% +1 115 affirmative votes.
116 SECTION III. Pursuant to Elections Code Section 10002, the governing body of any city 117 may by resolution request the Board of Supervisors of the county to permit the county elections 118 official to render specified services to the city relating to the conduct of an election; and 119 SECTION IV. On June 7, 2022 the Yreka City Council passed Resolution No. 2022-20 120 calling the General Election and requesting such services of Siskiyou County. 121 SECTION V. The Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the Registrar 122 of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated election. 123 SECTION VI. The City Council hereby requests the Board of Supervisors of the County 124 of Siskiyou to permit the Siskiyou County Registrar of Voters to consolidate the election called 125 for in this resolution with the general election to be conducted on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, 126 as provided in Elections Code §§ 10400 et seq., including Section 10418. 127 SECTION VII. The Board of Supervisors is requested to issue instructions to the 128 Registrar of Voters to take any and all steps necessary for the holding of the consolidated 129 election.
130 SECTION VII. The Registrar of Voters may, subject to the requirements of this section 131 and subject to such terms and conditions as the Registrar may prescribe, render specified services 132 relating to the conduct of an election to any city or district the governing body of which has by 133 resolution requested the Board of Supervisors for the County of Siskiyou to permit the Registrar 134 of Voters of the County of Siskiyou to render such services. 49 6
135 SECTION VIII. The ballots to be used at the election shall be in form and content as 136 required by law.
137 SECTION VIX. County Registrar of Voters is hereby authorized, instructed and directed 138 to provide and furnish any and all official ballots, notices, printed matter, and all supplies, 139 equipment, and paraphernalia that may be necessary in order to properly and lawfully conduct 140 this election; and the Registrar of Voters is further directed to take the necessary and appropriate 141 action to provide the election officers, vote centers, and voting precincts. Notice of the time and 142 place of holding this election together with any other notices required by law shall be given by 143 the Registrar of Voters Office.
144 SECTION X. The notice of the time and place of holding the election is hereby given and 145 the City Clerk is authorized, instructed and directed to give further or additional notice of the 146 election, in time, form and manner as required by law and to provide the Registrar with such 147 additional information and materials as the Registrar may require. 148 SECTION XI, Elections Code Sections 9219 and 9282 set forth the procedures for 149 arguments in favor of or in opposition of any City measure; and 150 SECTION XII. Elections Code Sections 9220 and 9285 set forth the procedures for 151 rebuttal arguments; and
152 SECTION XIII. The Mayor or City Manager, or with the consent of the Registrar of 153 Voters, designate a sponsor or voter to provide the arguments in favor of the proposed 154 proposition.
155 SECTION XIV. The Registrar of Voters is authorized to canvass the returns of the 156 General Municipal Election. The election shall be held in all respects as if there were only one 157 election, and only one form of ballot shall be used. 158 1. The Yreka City Council shall file with the Registrar of Voters a certified copy of the 159 resolution of its governing body requesting the Board of Supervisors to permit the 160 Registrar of Voters to render the specified services relating to the conduct of an election 50 7
161 and agrees that Yreka will be bound by the requirements of this section and such terms 162 and conditions as the Registrar of Voters may prescribe, and agrees that Yreka will 163 reimburse the Siskiyou County in full for its costs and expenses in rendering such 164 services.
165 2. The Yreka City Council agrees:
166 (a) In its resolution to specify the services requested. 167 (b) To pay any deposit in advance of the election for the Registrar of Voter’s 168 estimate of the city’s share of the election’s cost. 169 (c) The City Manager is hereby authorized to reimburse the County in full for the 170 services performed by the Registrar of Voters upon presentation of a final invoice 171 to the city with funds already appropriated for election purposes. 172 3. If the Registrar of Voters decides that requested election services should not be 173 rendered, the Registrar shall refer the matter to the Board of Supervisors for 174 determination.
175 SECTION XV. The City Council hereby approves the form of the ordinance adding 176 Chapter 3.51, entitled “An Ordinance of the City of Yreka Imposing a Supplemental 177 Transactions and Use Tax to be administered by the California Department of Tax and Fee 178 Administration” and the Siskiyou County Elections Official is hereby requested to submit to the 179 electorate at the November 8, 2022 election, as required by Revenue and Taxation Code section 180 7285.9, subject to the approval of at least a majority of the qualified Yreka city voters voting on 181 the measure at the election called by the adoption of this resolution. The entire text of the 182 ordinance, attached hereto as Exhibit “A,” shall be made available to the public upon request. 183 The ordinance specifies that the rate of the transactions tax shall be one-half percent of one 184 percent (.50%) of the gross receipts of any retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property 185 sold at retail in the City; it specifies that the rate of the use tax shall be one-half percent of one 186 percent (.50%) of the sales price of tangible personal property stored, used or otherwise 187 consumed in the City. The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration shall collect the 188 tax from retailers subject to the tax and remit the funds to the City. 51 8
189 SECTION XVI. The below question, seeking whether or not to add Chapter 3.51 as an 190 ordinance to the Yreka Municipal Code, would become effective, if approved by a majority of 191 the qualified electors voting at the election, to be held on November 8, 2022, authorize the 192 establishment of a general tax in following form:
193
Sales Tax to Generally Fund Essential City Services
To maintain Yreka’s long-term financial stability through the adoption of a supplemental sales tax that would generally fund essential city services such as necessary fire/paramedic facilities public safety response time; the operation and maintenance of the Yreka Aquatic Center; the Native Park project located on Foothill Drive; clean and safe city parks; and other essential city services, shall the City of Yreka ordinance be adopted establishing a ½¢ sales tax (transaction and use tax) for general governmental use, on an ongoing basis, until ended by the voters, providing about $1,000,000 annually, with independent audits and all funds locally controlled?
☐ YES
☐ NO
194 SECTION XVII. That the proposed complete text of the measure submitted to the 195 voters is attached as Exhibit “A.” The full text of the Ordinance will not be printed in its 196 entirety in the Sample Ballot. Relevant information will be provided within the 197 Impartial Analysis.
198 SECTION XVIII. The official ballot to be used at said election shall conform to the 199 laws of the State of California with relation thereto. 200 SECTION XIX. The City Attorney shall prepare an Impartial Analysis of the ballot 201 measures not to exceed five hundred words in length showing the effect of the measures on 202 the existing law and the operation of the measure.
203 SECTION XX. The City Clerk may request the assistance of the County of Siskiyou 204 Election Department in regard to said General Municipal Election, as the City Clerk deems 205 necessary, and the City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to reimburse the County of 52 9
206 Siskiyou in full for any of the above-referenced services which may be performed by the 207 Registrar of Voters, upon presentation of an invoice to the City, with funds already 208 appropriated to the City Clerk for election purposes. 209 SECTION XXI. The City Council hereby directs the City Clerk to coordinate with 210 the County elections Official to take all actions necessary in order to facilitate the election in 211 the time frame herein specified and comply with the provisions of the Elections Code of the 212 State of California, City Ordinances, Resolutions and Policies with regard to the conduct of 213 the Municipal Election, including but not limited to publication, in accordance with Section 214 12111 of the Elections Code and Section 6061 of the Government Code, of the notice of the 215 measure, including, but not limited to, returning to Council at the appropriate time for 216 decisions related to ballot arguments and similar matters. The City Clerk may request that 217 the Siskiyou County Clerk/Registrar of Voters prepare and publish the required notice. 218 SECTION XXII. The election on the measure of this resolution shall be held and 219 conducted, the votes canvassed and the returns made, and the results ascertained and 220 determined as provided for herein. In all particulars not prescribed in this resolution, the 221 election shall be held as prescribed in the Elections Code of the State of California. The City 222 Council hereby authorizes the Board of Supervisors of Siskiyou County, California to 223 canvass the returns of the vote on this measure with respect to the votes cast in the City of 224 Yreka and certify the results to the City Council. At the next regular meeting of the City 225 Council occurring after the returns of the election have been canvassed and the certification 226 of the results to the City Council, the City Council shall cause to be entered in its minutes a 227 statement of the results of the election.
228 SECTION XXIII. The City Manager is hereby authorized and directed to expend the 229 necessary funds to pay for the City’s cost of placing the measure on the election ballot. 230 SECTION XXIV. This Resolution shall be forthwith entered upon the minutes of this 231 Council and kept and maintained by the City Clerk of Yreka. 232 SECTION XXV. The City Clerk is hereby authorized and directed to certify to the 53 10
233 due adoption of this Resolution and to transmit a copy hereof so certified to the Board of 234 Supervisors and the Registrar of Voters of Siskiyou County. 235 SECTION XXVI. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or provision of 236 this Resolution or the application thereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid or 237 unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity or unconstitutionality 238 shall not affect the validity of any other provision or applications, and to this end the 239 provisions of this Resolution are declared to be severable. The City Council hereby declares 240 that it would have passed this Resolution and each section, subsection, sentence, clause, 241 phrase or provision thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, 242 sentences, clauses, phrases or provisions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional. 243 SECTION XXVII. Pursuant to California Elections Code section 9295, this 244 Resolution, the attached Ordinance will be available for public examination for no fewer than 245 ten (10) calendar days prior to being submitted for printing in the sample ballot. The City 246 Clerk shall post notice in the Clerk’s office of the specific dates that the examination period 247 will run. The City Clerk shall mail a complete copy of this resolution and the ordinance at no 248 cost to any person who may request it.
249 SECTION XXVIII. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by 250 two-thirds vote of all the members of the City Council. 251 SECTION XXVIV. Exemption from CEQA. The City Council determines that the 252 following findings and conclusions reflect the independent judgment of the City Council. The 253 City Council finds that the adoption of the foregoing proposed text amendment is exempt from 254 review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) under California Code of 255 Regulations, and is categorically exempt from review because this ballot measure does not 256 commit the City to any action that may have a significant effect on the environment. As a result, 257 pursuant to Title 14 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 15061(b)(3) such approval 258 does not constitute a project subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality 259 Act. The City Council directs City staff to file a Notice of Exemption within five (5) days 260 following adoption of this Ordinance with the Siskiyou County Clerk. 54 11
261
262 SECTION XXVIX. The City Manager and the City Clerk are further authorized and 263 directed to take such further actions and execute such documents as are necessary to cause 264 the election to be conducted on behalf of the City of Yreka. 265 SECTION XXX. The Mayor and City Clerk are authorized to subscribe this resolution 266 where indicated below to evidence its approval.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 2nd 267 day of August 2022, by the following vote:
268
269 AYES:
270 NOES:
271 ABSENT:
272
273
274 Duane Kegg, Mayor
275 Attest:___________________
276 Shella Rhetta Hogan,
277 City Clerk
278
55 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 12
279 Exhibit “A”
280
281
282 ORDINANCE NO. _ _ _ _ _ _
283
284 AN ORDINANCE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF YREKA,
285 CALIFORNIA, ADDING CHAPTER 3.51 TO TITLE 3 OF THE YREKA 286 MUNICIPAL CODE IMPOSING A GENERAL TRANSACTIONS AND
287 USE TAX (SALES TAX) TO BE ADMINISTERED BY THE
288 CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF TAX AND FEE ADMINISTRATION 289 AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE EXEMPT FROM CEQA
290
291
292 WHEREAS, pursuant to California Revenue and Taxation Code section 293 7285.9 the City of Yreka (“City”) is authorized to levy a Transactions and Use 294 Tax (sales tax) for general purposes, subject to majority voter approval; and 295
296 WHEREAS, the People of the City desire to levy a Transactions and Use Tax 297 for general purposes until repealed to fund essential general City services, at a rate 298 of one-half percent (0.5%), which is equivalent to ½ ¢ for every $1.00 spent; and 299
300 WHEREAS, if approved by the City’s voters, the Supplemental Transactions 301 and Use Tax Ordinance will be added as Chapter 3.51 of Title 3 of the Yreka 302 Municipal Code.
303
304 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL AND THE PEOPLE OF
305 THE CITY OF YREKA DO HEREBY ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
306
307 Section 1. Title and Text. This Ordinance shall be known as the City of Yreka 308 Supplemental Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance, the full text of which is set 309 forth in “Attachment 1,” attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. 310
311 Section 2. Approval by the City Council. Pursuant to California Government 312 Code section 53724 and Revenue and Taxation Code section 7285.9, this 313 Ordinance was duly approved for placement on the ballot by a minimum two56 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 13
314 thirds (2/3) vote of all members of the City Council on August 2, 2022. 315
316 Section 3. Approval by the Voters. Pursuant to California Elections Code 317 section 9217, this Ordinance shall be deemed adopted and take effect only if 318 approved by a majority of the eligible voters of the City of Yreka voting at the 319 Consolidated General Statewide Election of November 8, 2022. It shall be deemed 320 adopted when the City Council has certified the results of that election by 321 resolution and shall take effect ten (10) days thereafter. 322
323 Section 4. Operative Date. “Operative Date” for the Transactions and Use Tax 324 means the first day of the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days 325 after the date this Ordinance is effective, as set forth in Section 3 above. 326
327 Section 5. Annual Audits. The revenues generated by through this ordinance 328 are subject to strict fiscal accountability and transparency provisions, such as 329 public disclosure of all City general fund spending through an annual independent 330 financial audit that ensures funds are used effectively and only to benefit the Yreka 331 community.
332
333 Section 6. Severability. If any section, subsection, part, clause, sentence or 334 phrase of this Ordinance or the application thereof is for any reason held to be 335 invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, the 336 validity of the remaining portions of this Ordinance, the application thereof, shall 337 not be effected thereby but shall remain in full force and effect, it being the 338 intention of the City Council to adopt each and every section, subsection, part, 339 clause, sentence phrase regardless of whether any other section, subsection, part, 340 clause, sentence or phrase or the application thereof is held to be invalid or 341 unconstitutional.
342
343 Section 6. Certification/Summary. Following the City Clerk’s certification that 344 the citizens of Yreka have approved this Ordinance, the Mayor shall sign this 345 Ordinance and the City Clerk shall cause the same to be entered in the book or 346 original ordinance of said City; and shall cause the same, or a summary thereof, to 347 be published as required by law.
348
349 Section 7. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption 350 of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be published or posted according to 351 law.
57 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 14
352 Section 8. Inconsistency. Any provisions of the Yreka Municipal Code, or 353 appendices thereto, or any other ordinances of the City inconsistent herewith, to the 354 extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed. 355 Section 9. Implementation. The City Council hereby authorizes and directs the 356 City Manager to take any action and sign any documents necessary to implement 357 this Ordinance.
358 Section 10. Codification. The City Clerk is directed and authorized to instruct 359 the publisher of the City of Yreka Municipal Code that codification of this 360 Ordinance is limited to Attachment 1.
361 Section 11. CEQA Exemption. The City Council hereby finds and determines 362 that the action taken in this Ordinance does not commit the City to any action that 363 may have a significant effect on the environment. The approval of this resolution 364 is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) as it is not 365 a qualifying project pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4). The City 366 Council directs the City Clerk to file a Notice of Exemption with the Siskiyou 367 County Clerk within five (5) days following adoption of the resolution placing 368 this Ordinance on the ballot.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Yreka on the 2nd 369 370 day of August 2022, for placement on the November 8, 2022 general election ballot 371 and subject to voter approval, by the following vote of at least two-thirds of the City 372 Council:
373
374 AYES:
375 NOES:
376 ABSENT:
377 ABSTAIN:
378
379 Duane Kegg, Mayor
380 ATTEST:
381
382
383
384 Shella Rhetta Hogan, City Clerk
385
386
58 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 15
387 APPROVED AS TO FORM:
388
389
390
391 Dohn R. Henion
392 Yreka City Attorney
393
394 I hereby certify that the City of Yreka Supplemental Transactions and Use 395 Tax Ordinance was PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the People of the City of Yreka on the 8th 396 day of November, 2022. 397
398
399
400
401 Duane Kegg, Mayor
402
403 ATTEST:
404
405
406
407 Shella Rhetta Hogan, City Clerk
59 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 16
408 Attachment 1
409 Chapter 3.51 – Supplemental Transactions and Use Tax 410
411 Sections:
412 3.51.010 - Title.
413 3.51.020 - Purpose.
414 3.51.030 - Contract with State.
415 3.51.040 - Transactions Tax Rate.
416 3.51.050 - Place of Sale.
417 3.51.060 - Use Tax Rate.
418 3.51.070 - Adoption of Provisions of State Law.
419 3.51.080 - Limitations on Adoption of State Law and Collection of Use Taxes. 420 3.51.090 - Permit Not Required.
421 3.51.100 - Exemptions and Exclusions.
422 3.51.110 - Amendments.
423 3.51.120 - Enjoining Collection Forbidden.
424 3.51.130 – Termination Date.
425 3.51.140 – Operative Date.
426
427 3.51.010. TITLE. This ordinance shall be known as the City of Yreka 428 Supplemental Transactions and Use Tax Ordinance. The City of Yreka hereinafter 429 shall be called "City." This ordinance shall be applicable in the incorporated 430 territory of the City. This chapter shall complement, and not replace or supersede, 431 the city’s existing transaction and use tax, as such tax is established in Chapters 432 3.50 of Article 3 of the Yreka Municipal Code.
433
434 3.51.020 PURPOSE. This ordinance is adopted to achieve the following, among 435 other purposes, and directs that the provisions hereof be interpreted in order to 436 accomplish those purposes:
437
438 A. To impose a retail transactions and use tax in accordance with the 439 provisions of Part 1.6 (commencing with Section 7251) of Division 2 of the 440 Revenue and Taxation Code and Section 7285.9 of Part 1.7 of Division 2 which 441 authorizes the City to adopt this tax ordinance which shall be operative if a majority 442 of the electors voting on the measure vote to approve the imposition of the tax at 443 an election called for that purpose.
444
445 B. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that incorporates 446 provisions identical to those of the Sales and Use Tax Law of the State of California 60 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 17
447 insofar as those provisions are not inconsistent with the requirements and 448 limitations contained in Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. 449
450 C. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that imposes a 451 tax and provides a measure therefore that can be administered and collected by the 452 California Department of Tax and Fee Administration in a manner that adapts itself 453 as fully as practicable to, and requires the least possible deviation from, the 454 existing statutory and administrative procedures followed by the California 455 Department of Tax and Fee Administration in administering and collecting the 456 California State Sales and Use Taxes.
457
458 D. To adopt a retail transactions and use tax ordinance that can be 459 administered in a manner that will be, to the greatest degree possible, consistent with 460 the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, minimize 461 the cost of collecting the transactions and use taxes, and at the same time, minimize 462 the burden of record keeping upon persons subject to taxation under the provisions 463 of this ordinance.
464 3.51.030. CONTRACT WITH STATE. Prior to the operative date, the City 465 shall contract with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration to 466 perform all functions incident to the administration and operation of this 467 transactions and use tax ordinance; provided, that if the City shall not have 468 contracted with the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration prior to 469 the operative date, it shall nevertheless so contract and in such a case the operative 470 date shall be the first day of the first calendar quarter following the execution of 471 such a contract.
472
473 3.51.040. TRANSACTIONS TAX RATE. For the privilege of selling tangible 474 personal property at retail, a tax is hereby imposed upon all retailers in the 475 incorporated territory of the City at the rate of 0.5% of the gross receipts of any 476 retailer from the sale of all tangible personal property sold at retail in said territory 477 on and after the operative date of this ordinance.
478
479 3.51.050. PLACE OF SALE. For the purposes of this ordinance, all retail 480 sales are consummated at the place of business of the retailer unless the tangible 481 personal property sold is delivered by the retailer or his agent to an out-of-state 482 destination or to a common carrier for delivery to an out-of-state destination. The 483 gross receipts from such sales shall include delivery charges, when such charges 484 are subject to the state sales and use tax, regardless of the place to which delivery 61 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 18
485 is made. In the event a retailer has no permanent place of business in the State or 486 has more than one place of business, the place or places at which the retail sales are 487 consummated shall be determined under rules and regulations to be prescribed and 488 adopted by the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. 489
490 3.51.060. USE TAX RATE. An excise tax is hereby imposed on the storage, 491 use or other consumption in the City of tangible personal property purchased 492 from any retailer on and after the operative date of this ordinance for storage, use 493 or other consumption in said territory at the rate of 0.5% of the sales price of the 494 property. The sales price shall include delivery charges when such charges are 495 subject to state sales or use tax regardless of the place to which delivery is made. 496
497 3.51.070. ADOPTION OF PROVISIONS OF STATE LAW. Except as 498 otherwise provided in this ordinance and except insofar as they are inconsistent 499 with the provisions of Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, all 500 of the provisions of Part 1 (commencing with Section 6001) of Division 2 of the 501 Revenue and Taxation Code are hereby adopted and made a part of this ordinance 502 as though fully set forth herein.
503
504 3.51.080. LIMITATIONS ON ADOPTION OF STATE LAW AND
505 COLLECTION OF USE TAXES. In adopting the provisions of Part 1 of Division 506 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code:
507
508 A. Wherever the State of California is named or referred to as the 509 taxing agency, the name of this City shall be substituted therefor. However, the 510 substitution shall not be made when:
511
512 1. The word “State” is used as a part of the title of the State 513 Controller, State Treasurer, State Treasury, or the Constitution of the 514 State of California;
515
516 2. The result of that substitution would require action to be taken 517 by or against this City or any agency, officer, or employee thereof 518 rather than by or against the California Department of Tax and Fee 519 Administration, in performing the functions incident to the 520 administration or operation of this Ordinance.
521
522 3. In those sections, including, but not necessarily limited to 523 sections referring to the exterior boundaries of the State of California, 62 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 19
524 where the result of the substitution would be to:
525 a. Provide an exemption from this tax with respect to certain 526 sales, storage, use or other consumption of tangible personal 527 property which would not otherwise be exempt from this tax 528 while such sales, storage, use or other consumption remain 529 subject to tax by the State under the provisions of Part 1 of 530 Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, or;
531
532 b. Impose this tax with respect to certain sales, storage, use or 533 other consumption of tangible personal property which 534 would not be subject to tax by the state under the said 535 provision of that code.
536
537 4. In Sections 6701, 6702 (except in the last sentence thereof), 538 6711, 6715, 6737, 6797 or 6828 of the Revenue and Taxation Code. 539
540 B. The word “City” shall be substituted for the word “State” in the 541 phrase “retailer engaged in business in this State” in Section 6203 and in the 542 definition of that phrase in Section 6203.
543
544 1. “A retailer engaged in business in the District” shall also 545 include any retailer that, in the preceding calendar year or the current 546 calendar year, has total combined sales of tangible personal property in 547 this state or for delivery in the State by the retailer and all persons 548 related to the retailer that exceeds five hundred thousand dollars 549 ($500,000). For purposes of this section, a person is related to another 550 person if both persons are related to each other pursuant to Section 551 267(b) of Title 26 of the United States Code and the regulations 552 thereunder.
553
554 3.51.090. PERMIT NOT REQUIRED. If a seller's permit has been issued to a 555 retailer under Section 6067 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, an additional 556 transactor's permit shall not be required by this ordinance. 557
558 3.11.100. EXEMPTIONS AND EXCLUSIONS.
559
560 A. There shall be excluded from the measure of the transactions tax and 561 the use tax the amount of any sales tax or use tax imposed by the State 63 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 20
562 of California or by any city, city and county, or county pursuant to the 563 Bradley-Burns Uniform Local Sales and Use Tax Law or the amount of 564 any state-administered transactions or use tax.
565
566 B. There are exempted from the computation of the amount of transactions 567 tax the gross receipts from:
568
569 1. Sales of tangible personal property, other than fuel or 570 petroleum products, to operators of aircraft to be used or consumed 571 principally outside the county in which the sale is made and directly 572 and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common carriers of 573 persons or property under the authority of the laws of this State, the 574 United States, or any foreign government.
575
576 2. Sales of property to be used outside the City which is 577 shipped to a point outside the City, pursuant to the contract of sale, by 578 delivery to such point by the retailer or his agent, or by delivery by the 579 retailer to a carrier for shipment to a consignee at such point. For the 580 purposes of this paragraph, delivery to a point outside the City shall 581 be satisfied:
582
583 a. With respect to vehicles (other than commercial vehicles) 584 subject to registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing 585 with Section 4000) of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft 586 licensed in compliance with Section 21411 of the Public 587 Utilities Code, and undocumented vessels registered under 588 Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 9840) of the Vehicle 589 Code by registration to an out-of- City address and by a 590 declaration under penalty of perjury, signed by the buyer, 591 stating that such address is, in fact, his or her principal place 592 of residence; and
593
594 b. With respect to commercial vehicles, by registration to a 595 place of business out-of-City and declaration under penalty of 596 perjury, signed by the buyer, that the vehicle will be operated 597 from that address.
598
599 3. The sale of tangible personal property if the seller is 600 obligated to furnish the property for a fixed price pursuant to a 64 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 21
601 contract entered into prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 602
603 4. A lease of tangible personal property which is a continuing 604 sale of such property, for any period of time for which the lessor is 605 obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed by the lease prior 606 to the operative date of this ordinance.
607
608 5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this section, 609 the sale or lease of tangible personal property shall be deemed not to 610 be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any period of time for 611 which any party to the contract or lease hasthe unconditional right to 612 terminate the contract or lease upon notice, whether or not such right 613 is exercised.
614
615 C. There are exempted from the use tax imposed by this ordinance, the 616 storage, use or other consumption in this City of tangible personal 617 property:
618
619 1. The gross receipts from the sale of which have been subject 620 to a transactions tax under any state-administered transactions and 621 use tax ordinance.
622
623 2. Other than fuel or petroleum products purchased by 624 operators of aircraft and used or consumed by such operators 625 directly and exclusively in the use of such aircraft as common 626 carriers of persons or property for hire or compensation under a 627 certificate of public convenience and necessity issued pursuant to the 628 laws of this State, the United States, or any foreign government. This 629 exemption is in addition to the exemptions provided in Sections 630 6366 and 6366.1 of the Revenue and Taxation Code of the State of 631 California.
632
633 3. If the purchaser is obligated to purchase the property for a 634 fixed price pursuant to a contract entered into prior to the operative 635 date of this ordinance.
636
637 4. If the possession of, or the exercise of any right or power 638 over, the tangible personal property arises under a lease which is a 639 continuing purchase of such property for any period of time for 65 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 22
640 which the lessee is obligated to lease the property for an amount fixed 641 by a lease prior to the operative date of this ordinance. 642
643 5. For the purposes of subparagraphs (3) and (4) of this 644 section, storage, use, or other consumption, or possession of, or 645 exercise of any right or power over, tangible personal property shall 646 be deemed not to be obligated pursuant to a contract or lease for any 647 period of time for which any party to the contract or lease has the 648 unconditional right to terminate the contract or lease upon notice, 649 whether or not such right is exercised.
650
651 6. Except as provided in subparagraph (7), a retailer engaged in 652 business in the City shall not be required to collect use tax from the 653 purchaser of tangible personal property, unless the retailer ships or 654 delivers the property into the City or participates within the City in 655 making the sale of the property, including, but not limited to, 656 soliciting or receiving the order, either directly or indirectly, at a place 657 of business of the retailer in the City or through any representative, 658 agent, canvasser, solicitor, subsidiary, or person in the City under the 659 authority of the retailer.
660
661 7. “A retailer engaged in business in the City” shall also 662 include any retailer of any of the following: vehicles subject to 663 registration pursuant to Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 4000) 664 of Division 3 of the Vehicle Code, aircraft licensed in compliance 665 with Section 21411 of the Public Utilities Code, or undocumented 666 vessels registered under Division 3.5 (commencing with Section 667 9840) of the Vehicle Code. That retailer shall be required to collect 668 use tax from any purchaser who registers or licenses the vehicle, 669 vessel, or aircraft at an address in the City.
670
671 D. Any person subject to use tax under this ordinance may credit against 672 that tax any transactions tax or reimbursement for transactions tax paid 673 to a district imposing, or retailer liable for a transactions tax pursuant 674 to Part 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code with 675 respect to the sale to the person of the property the storage, use or other 676 consumption of which is subject to the use tax.
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66 Supplemental Sales Tax Ordinance 23
679 3.51.110. AMENDMENTS. All amendments subsequent to the effective 680 date of this ordinance to Part 1 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code 681 relating to sales and use taxes and which are not inconsistent with Part 1.6 and Part 682 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and all amendments to Part 683 1.6 and Part 1.7 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, shall 684 automatically become a part of this ordinance, provided however, that no such 685 amendment shall operate so as to affect the rate of tax imposed by this ordinance. 686
687 3.51.120. ENJOINING COLLECTION FORBIDDEN. No injunction or 688 writ of mandate or other legal or equitable process shall issue in any suit, action or 689 proceeding in any court against the State or the City, or against any officer of the 690 State or the City, to prevent or enjoin the collection under this ordinance, or Part 691 1.6 of Division 2 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, of any tax or any amount of 692 tax required to be collected.
693
694 3.51.130. TERMINATION DATE. The authority to levy the tax imposed by 695 this ordinance on an ongoing basis unless such authority is ended earlier by the 696 voters of the city in the manner provided by law.
697
698 3.51.140. OPERATIVE DATE. “Operative Date” means the first day of 699 the first calendar quarter commencing more than 110 days after the adoption of 700 this ordinance. This chapter shall complement, and not replace or supersede, the 701 city’s existing transaction and use tax, as such tax is established in Chapter 3.50 of 702 Article 3 of the Yreka Municipal Code.
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91 CITY OF YREKA
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
To: Yreka City Council
From: Rhetta Hogan, Assistant City Manager
Agenda title: Second Reading of Ordinance 873 - Critical Infrastructure adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA Meeting date: July 19, 2022
Discussion:
On June 21, 2022, the Critical Infrastructure Ordinance #873 was introduced, and public comment heard. This is the second reading of the ordinance, by title only, for adoption at this evenings regular City Council meeting of July 19, 2022.
Also on June 21, 2022, Urgency Ordinance #871 – Critical Infrastructure was approved as well as Resolution 2022-26. Resolution 2022-26 designates specific locations as critical infrastructure in both the Urgency Ordinance #871 and Ordinance #873.
Recommended Action:
Adopt Ordinance 873 – Critical Infrastructure Adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapters 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” by title only and Finding the Ordinance Exempt from CEQA.
92 1
2 ORDINANCE NO. 873
3 4 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
5 YREKA, CALIFORNIA ADDING YREKA MUNICIPAL CODE
6 CHAPTER 9.45 “USE OF THE PUBLIC RIGHTS OF WAY
7 AND PROTECTION OF SCHOOL CHILDREN, BUS STOPS,
8 CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, AND WILDFIRE RISK
9 AREAS” AND FINDING THE ORDINANCE EXEMPT FROM
10 CEQA
11 12 WHEREAS, it is the obligation of the City to keep its public rights 13 of way clean and available for public use, and to protect the public health, 14 safety and welfare and access by City constituents and personnel; and 15 16 WHEREAS, a principal threat to the public health, safety, and 17 welfare is the potential destruction of, damage to, or interference with the 18 public right-of-way that is critical to the provision of public services such 19 as law enforcement, fire prevention, educational services, transportation 20 and utilities; and
21 22 WHEREAS, increased obstruction of public property obscures 23 adverse and illegal activity from public view, contributes substantially to 24 the accumulation of litter, clutter and visual blight, can interfere with 25 pedestrian circulation, can obstruct or interfere with the lawful use of 26 public spaces by the general public for their intended recreational uses, and 27 inhibit the effective regulation and enforcement against illegal activities; 28 and
29 30 WHEREAS, the City desires to establish its ability to prevent 31 individuals from camping or blocking the public right-of-way at particular 32 times and locations in order to reduce the risk of interference with the 33 provision of servicesand to comply with the Americans with Disabilities 34 Act of 1990; and
35 93
2 36 WHEREAS, youth are particularly endangered by persons camping 37 or blocking the public right-of-way, which can interfere with youth’s 38 ability to use the public right-of-way and increases the risk of vehicular 39 accident by forcing youths onto the street/highway; and 40 41 WHEREAS, the City desires to protect minor children from these 42 potentially deleterious effects and allow for the safe passage of youths to 43 and from school; and
44 45 WHEREAS, the City has invested significant public resources in the 46 development and maintenance of bus stops,including benches, and the City 47 desires to deter the misuse of bus stops, which discourages and impedes 48 others from using public transit; and
49 50 WHEREAS, the U.S Department of Homeland Security has issued 51 guidance finding that local officials, in working to protect their 52 community’s public health and safety, economic and national security 53 should identify and protect its critical infrastructure from destruction, 54 damage, and interference, thereby serving to ensure the continuity of 55 functions of its critical infrastructure. Damage to critical infrastructure is 56 often caused by persons whose activities are not permitted or authorized in, 57 on, or near critical infrastructure; and
58 59 WHEREAS, wildfires are often caused by persons whose activities 60 are not permitted or authorized in, on, or near wildfire risk areas; and 61 62 WHEREAS, the City must appropriately consider competing 63 interests and formulate policy to best protect public health, safety, welfare, 64 property, and the environment, with limited resources; and 65 66 WHEREAS, it isthe purpose and intent of the City Council to provide 67 standards for outdoor living which are intended to be as compatible as 68 possible with the protection and preservation of health, safety, and welfare 69 of the inhabitants of the City; and
70 71 WHEREAS, the City desires to continue to work toward the 72 offering of specialized services, and outreach programs to those who 73 appear in need, or to those request service assistance; and 94 3
74 75 WHEREAS, the City desires to adopt an ordinance to establish its 76 ability to prevent individuals from camping, sleeping or blocking the 77 public right-of-way at particular times and locations at or near youth78 serving facilities, bus stops, critical infrastructure, and wildfire risk areas; 79 and
80 81 WHEREAS, the elimination of human waste from the body is an 82 unavoidable consequence of being human. However, its deposit within the 83 city’s watershed and watercourses can impair certain of the city’s water 84 sources and is not consistent with the public’s human right to have clean 85 and drinkable water supplies and uncontaminated raw water storage; and 86 87 NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
88 YREKA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
89 90 SECTION 1. The City Council finds that all the facts, findings, 91 and conclusions set forth above in this Ordinance are true and correct. 92 93 SECTION 2. The City Council hereby adds Chapter 9.45 to Title 9 94 of the Yreka Municipal Code as follows:
95 96 “9.45 – Protection of Schoolchildren, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure 97 and Wildfire Risk Areas
98 99 9.45.010 – Definition of Specialized Terms and Phrases. 100
101 “Bus stop” means any place where the City, County, other 102 governmental entity or transit operator, has directed the placement of 103 a sign designating a location where shuttle, trolley, bus service, or 104 other form of public transit stop to service and transport passengers. 105
106 “Bus stop area” means the area at a bus stop occupying the entire 107 width of the sidewalks that extends 20 feet before a bus stop sign or 108 bus stop route sign, or, for bus stops furnished with shelter or 109 shelters, the footprint of the shelters, and the entire width of the 110 sidewalk that extends 10 feet before and 10 feet after the footprint of 111 the shelter. The footprint of a shelter is defined by vertical plans, 95 4
112 perpendicular to the ground, extending down from the outermost 113 edges of the shelter overhang or roof.
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115 “Camping” means to pitch or occupy camp facilities, to live 116 temporarily or occupy a portion of property for living 117 accommodation purposes, as exemplified by remaining for 118 prolonged or repetitious periods of time with one’s personal 119 possessions (including, but not limited to, clothing, sleeping bags, 120 bed rolls, blankets, sheets, luggage, backpacks, kitchen utensils, 121 cookware, and similar materials) sleeping or making preparations to 122 sleep, storing personal belongings as above defined, or regularly 123 igniting fires for food or beverage preparation or for warming. 124
125 “Critical Infrastructure” means any real property or facility, whether 126 privately or publicly owned, as designated by the City Council from 127 time to time by resolution, that the City Council determines, in its 128 discretion, is so vital and integral to the operation or functioning of 129 the city that its damage, incapacity, disruption, or destruction would 130 have a debilitating impact on the public health, safety, or welfare. 131 Critical infrastructure may include, but is not limited to, government 132 buildings, such as schools, fire stations, police stations, jails, or 133 courthouses; hospitals; structures, such as antennas, bridges, roads, 134 train tracks, drainage systems, or levees; or systems, such as 135 computer networks, public utilities, electrical wires, natural gas 136 pipes, telecommunication centers, or water sources. 137
138 “School Route” shall mean any public road that is significantly used 139 for transportation to and from any public or private school. The City 140 shall adopt a resolution and make publicly available a map of all 141 designated school routes.
142 “Store” means to put aside or accumulate for use when needed, to 143 put for safekeeping, to place or leave in a location. 144
145 “Wildfire risk area” hasthe same meaning asin California Code of 146 Regulations, title 24, part 9, section 202.
147
148 “Youth-serving facility” means child day care facilities, preschools, 96 5
149 public or private primary or secondary schools, Public Libraries, and 150 City playgrounds and parks.
151
152 9.45.020 – Prohibition on Camping in Public Right-of-way. 153
154 A. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep or store their belongings in or 155 upon any public street/highway, green belt, median island, alley, 156 sidewalk, crosswalk or other public place or way open for pedestrian 157 or vehicular travel or appurtenant thereto:
158
159 (1) in such a manner that impedes passage, as provided by the 160 Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L, No. 101-336, 104 161 Stat. 328 (1990), as amended from time to time; or
162
163 (2) in a manner that obstructs or unreasonably interferes with 164 the use of the right-of-way; or
165
166 (3) in a manner that obstructs any portion of any street or other 167 public right-of-way open to use by motor vehicles, or any portion of 168 a bike lane, bike path, or other public right-of-way open to use by 169 bicycles or pedestrians, by sitting, lying, or sleeping, or by storing, 170 using, maintaining, or placing personal property, anywhere within 171 the street, bike lane, bike path, or other public right-of-way; or 172
173 (4) in a manner that blocks or impedes access to City-owned or 174 leased equipment or buildings, or impedes City staff from 175 performance of inspection, maintenance, or repairs of City-owned 176 property; or those portions of a right-of-way that are required by 177 local, state, or federal law to be free of obstruction for first 178 responders, including but not limited to members of law 179 enforcement, fire agencies, or emergency-medical-services agencies. 180
181 B. The provisions of this section do not prohibit a person from sitting 182 upon a public street/highway, green belt, median island, alley, 183 sidewalk, crosswalk, or other public place if:
184 1. Temporarily necessitated by any disability of such person; 185 2. Such person is viewing a legally conducted parade or 97 6
186 similar permitted temporary event; or
187 3. Such person is seated for less than one hour on a bench 188 lawfully installed for such purpose; or
189 4. Such person is engaged in expressive activity.
190
191 C. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as to prohibit camping 192 in public campgrounds under a permit authorized by other provisions 193 of law or ordinance.
194
195 9.45.030 – Location-Specific Regulations. The following provisions 196 apply separately from the requirements of Section 9.45.020 of this 197 Code.
198
199 A. No person shall camp, lie, sleep, or store their belongings 200 within ten feet near or in or upon any bus stop or bus stop 201 area during the posted hours of bus service for more than a 202 total of one hour during any given twelve-hour period. 203
204 B. Subsection 9.45.030(A) does not apply to any person:
205 1. Unable to comply with the direction of a law
206 enforcement officer due to a medical condition or
207 emergency;
208 2. Engaged in expressive activity;
209 3. Engaged in maintenance, repair, or construction
210 activity on behalf of a governmental entity or a public 211 utility; or
212 4. Under the age of six years old who is lying down in a 213 baby carriage, stroller, or carrier, or is lying down while 214 being held or carried by a person who is not lying down. 215
216 C. To limit traffic congestion and protect the safety of children 217 traveling to and from and in and around youth-serving 218 facilities from potential adverse safety impacts due, in part, 219 to sidewalk congestion, no person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, 220 or store their belongings in or upon any public
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221 street/highway, bike path, pedestrian path, green belt, 222 median island, alley, sidewalk, crosswalk, or other public 223 place or way open for pedestrian or vehicular travel that is 224 in or within two- hundred-fifty (250) feet of a school route 225 during the period extending one hour before the start of 226 classes and ending one hour after the end of classes. 227
228 D. To protect the health and safety of schoolchildren, no 229 person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their belongings in 230 or upon any public street/highway, bike path, pedestrian 231 path, green belt, median island, alley, sidewalk, crosswalk 232 or other public place or way open for pedestrian or 233 vehiculartravel in or within two-hundred-fifty (250) feet 234 of a youth-serving facility at any time.
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236 E. To prevent wildfires, no person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or 237 store their belongings in or upon a wildfire risk area. 238
239 F. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 240 belongings in or upon fifty (50) feet of critical
241 infrastructure as defined from time to time by resolution of 242 the City Council.
243
244 G.To protect the health and safety of users of public transits, no 245 person shall camp, lie, sleep, or store their belongings in or 246 upon any method of public transportation that runs in the 247 City. Violations of this ordinance may be remedied under 248 Section 9.45.040 and may result in removal from public 249 transportation.
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251 H. Nothing in this chapter is intended to prohibit or make 252 unlawful the activities of an owner of private property or 253 other lawful user of private property that are normally 254 associated with and incidental to the lawful and authorized 255 use of private property for residential or other purposes; and 256 nothing is intended to prohibit or make unlawful the 257 activities of a property owner or other lawful user if such 258 activities are expressly authorized by the Code or other 99 8
259 laws, ordinances, and regulations.
260
261 I. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 262 belongings in or upon any public street/highway, bike path, 263 pedestrian path, green belt, median island, alley, sidewalk, 264 crosswalk, or other public place or way open for pedestrian 265 or vehicular travel in any location in the City, if at the time 266 of enforcement, there is available alternative public space in 267 which to perform those activities.
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269 J. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 270 belongings within ten feet of any operation or utilizable 271 driveway or loading dock.
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273 K. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 274 belongings within ten feet of any fire hydrant, fire hydrant, 275 or other fire department connection.
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277 L. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 278 belongings within fifty (50) feet outside a designated 279 facility that provides shelter, safe sleeping, or safe parking 280 to homeless persons or that serves as a homeless services 281 navigation center.
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283 M. No person shall camp, sit, lie, sleep, or store their 284 belongings in or upon any public street/highway, bike path, 285 pedestrian path, green belt, median island, alley, sidewalk, 286 crosswalk, or other public place or way open for pedestrian 287 or vehicular travel that has signage prohibiting such 288 activities. The City Council may designate a section of the 289 public right-of-way as prohibiting such activities under this 290 section if a section of the right-of-way poses a particular 291 and ongoing threat to public health or safety. Such 292 circumstances may include, but are not limited to: (i) the 293 death or serious bodily injury of any person at the location 294 due to a hazardous condition; (ii) repeated serious or violent 295 crimes at the location; or (iii) the occurrence of fires that 296 resulted in a fire department response to the location. For 100
9 297 each such location, a prohibition pursuant to this 298 subdivision shall be effective for a period of time specified 299 in the resolution, but not to exceed one year.
300
301 9.45.040 – Summary Abatement
302
303 A. In addition to any other lawful authority, any violation of 304 section 9.45.020 or section 9.45.030 may be abated by the City 305 or any law enforcement officer upon 24 hours of prior notice. 306 Any violation of section 9.45.030 may be abated immediately 307 by the City or any law enforcement officer without prior 308 notice if the violation poses an imminent threat to public 309 health or safety.
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311 B. Abatement pursuant to subsection 9.45.040(A) of this 312 section may include,but is not limited to, removal of camp 313 facilities, camp paraphernalia, personal property, garbage, 314 hazardous waste, infectious waste, junk or debris; and 315 securing the perimeter of the property with fencing, gates, 316 or barricades to prevent further occurrences of the nuisance 317 activity. Any lawful medication and valuable personal 318 property shall be inventoried and maintained at an
319 appropriate alternative location in the judgment of the 320 enforcement officer, for at least seventy-two hours before 321 other disposition, with notification provided to the apparent 322 owner(s) as to retrieval procedures.
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324 C. Regardless of the City’s authority to conduct abatement 325 pursuant to this section, every owner, occupant, or lessee of 326 real property, and every holder of any interest in real 327 property, is required to maintain the property in compliance 328 with local, state, and federal law; and is liable for violations 329 thereof.
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331 D. The abatement authority provided in this chapter shall be 332 cumulative and in addition to any other procedures
333 provided by the laws of the City or the State for the 334 abatement of any of the conditions described in this chapter, 101
10 335 and abatement pursuant to the provisions of this chapter 336 shall not prejudice or affect any other action, civil or 337 criminal, for the abatement of any such condition.
338
339 9.38.50 – Violation — Penalty.
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341 A. Every person violating any provision of this chapter is 342 subject to the imposition of an administrative fine not 343 exceeding five hundred dollars ($500.00).
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345 B. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to prevent a 346 person from being prosecuted, convicted, or sentenced for a 347 violation of any lesser or related city, state, or federal 348 statutes which might impose different penalties.
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350 9.38.60 – Ability-to-Pay Determination.
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352 A. Any fine issued under Section 9.45.050 will be
353 accompanied with a notice of and instruction regarding the 354 right to request an ability-to-pay determination.
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356 B. If the requestor is receiving public benefits under 357 Government Code section 68632, subdivision (a), or has a 358 monthly income which is 125 percent or less than the 359 current poverty guidelines updated periodically in the 360 Federal Register by the United States Department of Health 361 and Human Services, the requestor’s administrative fine 362 shall be waived and the violator shall instead be subject to:
363 1. Completing community service in lieu of paying the 364 total administrative fine; or
365 2. Offered an alternative disposition.
366 Fine waiver and alternative disposition shall not be applicable to 367 violators who have access to adequate temporary shelter but 368 choose not to use it.
369 SECTION 3. CEQA Exemption:
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11 370 The City Council hereby finds and determines that the action taken 371 in this Ordinance does not commit the City to any action that may have a 372 significant effect on the environment. Accordingly, under the provisions of 373 § 15061(b)(3) and § 15378(b)(5) of Division 6 of Title 14 of the California 374 Code of Regulations, the CEQA Guidelines, the adoption of this ordinance 375 is not subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality 376 Act. The City Council directs City staff to file a Notice of Exemption 377 within five (5) days following adoption of this Ordinance with the Siskiyou 378 County Clerk.
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380 SECTION 4. Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect 381 thirty days after its passage and adoption pursuant to California 382 Government Code Section 36937 and shall supersede any conflicting 383 provision of any City of Yreka ordinance.
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385 SECTION 5. Certification. The City Clerk shall certify to the 386 passage and adoption of this ordinance and shall cause the same to be 387 published or posted according to law.
388 SECTION 6. Any provisions of the Yreka Municipal Code, or 389 appendices thereto, or any other ordinances of the City inconsistent herewith, 390 to the extent of such inconsistencies and no further, are hereby repealed. 391 SECTION 7. Severability. If any section, subsection, part, clause, 392 sentence or phrase of this Ordinance or the application thereof is for any 393 reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional by a decision of any court of 394 competent jurisdiction, the validity of the remaining portions of this 395 Ordinance, the application thereof, shall not be effected thereby but shall 396 remain in full force and effect, it being the intention of the City Council to 397 adopt each and every section, subsection, part, clause, sentence phrase 398 regardless of whether any other section, subsection, part, clause, sentence or 399 phrase or the application thereof is held to be invalid or unconstitutional. 400 SECTION 8. Implementation. The City Council hereby authorizes 401 and directs the City Manager to take any action and sign any documents 402 necessary to implement this Ordinance.
403 SECTION 9. Publication. The City Clerk is directed to prepare, post 404 and publish a summary of this ordinance as provided in Government Code 405 Section 36933(c)(1).
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12 406 SECTION 10. Codification. The City Clerk is directed and 407 authorized to instruct the publisher of the City of Yreka Municipal Code that 408 codification of this Ordinance is limited to Section 2. 409 SECTION 11. Execution. The Mayor and City Clerk are authorized 410 to subscribe this ordinance where indicated below to evidence its approval. 411 Introduced, passed, approved and adopted as an urgency ordinance at a 412 regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Yreka held on July 19, 413 2022, by the following vote:
414 AYES:
415 NOES:
416 ABSENT:
417 ABSTAIN: Duane Kegg, Mayor
418
419 Approved as to Form: Attest:
420
421
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423 Dohn Henion, City Attorney Rhetta Hogan, City Clerk 104
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FROM PREVIOUS MEETING JUNE 21 2022
CITY COUNCIL AGENDA MEMORANDUM
To: Yreka City Council
From: Jason Ledbetter, City Manager
Agenda Title: Discussion/Direction: Critical Infrastructure Ordinance Meeting Date: June 21, 2022
Discussion:
The City Attorney has drafted an ordinance which would add Chapter 9.45 “Use of the Public Rights of Way and Protection of Schoolchildren, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas” to Title 9 of the Yreka Municipal Code.
As drafted, the ordinance bans camping, sitting, sleeping, and storing property on any street or sidewalk that blocks the public right of way by obstructing pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
The ordinance has location-specific regulations. Camping is banned within ten feet of any bus stop, driveway, or fire hydrant. Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any youth-serving facility, which means schools, parks, libraries, and day-care facilities.
Camping is also banned within 250 feet of any school route or 50 feet from critical infrastructure, both of which will be identified by Resolution.
Camping is banned within 50 feet of any homeless shelter or safe parking/sleeping site. Camping near or by where the City’s critical infrastructure is located is also banned in an attempt to protect the City. Lastly the ordinance prohibits camping in areas that have a high risk of wildfires which result from human activities.
A principal threat to the public health, safety, and welfare for the City of Yreka is the potential destruction of and damage to, or interference with, infrastructure that is critical to the provision of public services such as law enforcement, fire prevention, transportation, and utilities including communication, water, watersheds, raw water reservoirs and wastewater. Destruction of, damage to, or interference with, critical infrastructure is often caused by persons whose activities are not permitted or authorized in, on, or near critical infrastructure. One of the purposes of the ordinance is to mitigate the threat of fire and other potential causes of destruction and damage to and interference with, critical infrastructure, wildfire risk areas, and similarly sensitive areas, in order to protect health, safety, and welfare of the public, by authorizing the removal of persons camping with their personal property in, on, or near those areas.
This city understands its duty to the public to protect critical infrastructure that ensures the orderly operation of the city and the health and safety of its residents. U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued guidance finding that local officials, in working to protect their community’s public health and safety, economic and national security should identify and protect its critical infrastructure from destruction, damage, and interference, thereby serving to ensure the continuity 111
FROM PREVIOUS MEETING JUNE 21 2022
of functions of its critical infrastructure. Damage to critical infrastructure is often caused by persons whose activities are not permitted or authorized in, on, or near critical infrastructure.
The City also recognizes it proactive duty to mitigate the dangerous conditions that influence Fire protection in the City of Yreka. California Governor, Gavin Newsom proclaimed states of emergency on April 12, 2021, May 10, 2021, July 8, 2021, and October 19, 2021, due to extreme and expanding drought conditions that exist across all counties in California. On March 28, 2022, Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-7-22 to protect public health and safety and mitigate the effects of drought conditions. (Attachment 1-Executive Order N-7-22) The City of Yreka is a wildland-urban interface surrounded by grasslands and forest. The City of Yreka has a greenway and several watersheds running through the city. There are four primary watersheds of Juniper Creek, Upper Yreka Creek, Greenhorn Creek and Humbug Gulch produce tributaries to the northerly flowing Yreka Creek to the Shasta and Klamath Rivers. There is also Mill Creek and the North Fork of Greenhorn Creek to Greenhorn Creek; Juniper Creek and Upper Yreka Creek to the confluence of Greenhorn and Yreka Creek; Humbug Gulch and Little Humbug Gulch to Yreka Creek. These riparian corridors naturally provide fuel for a possible high danger wind driven fire, similar to the Almeda Fire, that burned from Ashland Oregon to Medford Oregon on September 8, 2020. The Almeda Fire started approximately 38 miles North of the City of Yreka in a location with similar terrain and wildland-urban interface. In just a matter of hours the Almeda Fire destroyed 3,000 acres containing 2600 homes and 600 businesses in Talent, Phoenix, Ashland and Medford which, according to Talent’s City Manager, made the city look like “a bomb blast that has just leveled everything”. The Fire destroyed more than 11 miles of riparian vegetation of the Bear Creek Greenway and several tributaries. For weeks after the fire, the murky creek weaved through a dark expanse of deep gray ash. It was designated the worst fire in Oregon history. That afternoon, the South Obenchain Fire, near Eagle Point and Butte also in Jackson County, burned another 33 homes and dozens of other buildings. Last year a wildfire called the Lava Fire burned more than 13,300 acres near the Siskiyou County cities of Mt. Shasta and Weed to the south of Yreka. In Yreka on June 9, 2022 Incident 2022-887 occurred whereby a homeless camper started an illegal campfire which became uncontrolled. The fire was adjacent Siskiyou County Behavioral Health. CalFire both extinguished the fire and arrested the perpetrator. The dangers posed by the Almeda Fire extended beyond the Fire risk posed by the initial fire itself. The long-term risk also includes water quality concerns, toxic materials and debris from burned homes and businesses, land erosion, and impacts on aquatic health. (Attachment 2-Almeda Fire Monitoring)
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection states most of the large fires in the Siskiyou Unit over the past 50 years have been wind driven fires. The Siskiyou Unit identifies citizen and firefighter safety, residential and commercial structures, watershed and water, timber, rangeland, wildlife and associated habitat, infrastructure, air quality, unique areas, recreation, soil erosion, and hydroelectric power at risk to wildfires for the City of Yreka and surrounding area in the Siskiyou Unit region. (Attachment 3-Unit Strategic Fire Plan SISKIYOU UNIT) The primary purpose of the Yreka Community Wildfire Protection Plan for Yreka is to provide guidance that enhances protection of human life and helps Yreka area communities become more resilient to wildfire. The Yreka Community Wildfire Protection Plan assesses that the values at 112
FROM PREVIOUS MEETING JUNE 21 2022
risk for Yreka include structures, critical infrastructure, businesses, and other tangible elements.
Values also include intangible elements such as natural resources, sensitive species, cultural and historical resources, visual resources, and residents’ perspectives about these intangible elements around them. Human life safety was identified as the top priority for the Yreka area. Recent wildfires that have threatened the area include the 2018 Klamathon Fire and the 2020 Badger Fire, resulting in public evacuations, fire fighter and civilian injuries, and one civilian death. (Attachment 4-Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yreka Area July 2021) The Fire Chief for the City of Yreka, Jerry Lemos, has identified fire concerns near critical infrastructure in the City of Yreka. These concerns include Greenhorn Park, Yreka Creek, Butcher Hill, and the Bridges within city limits. These areas pose threats for high potential and quickly spreading fires, destroying communications towers, and wind driven fire that can destroy a large portion of the City of Yreka. (Attachment 5-Yreka Fire Department Fire Concerns) There is an urgency for this ordinances adoption due to the wildfire danger caused by the multiple year drought and as exacerbated by the wet spring resulting in very high grasses and underbrush.
Accordingly, this ordinance is being presented to you in two forms for legal reasons – an urgency ordinance which will take effect immediately upon a 4/5 affirmative vote and the standard ordinance which will be introduced and passed to following meeting for its adoption.
Attachments:
1-Executive Order N-7-22
2-Almeda Fire Monitoring
3-Unit Strategic Fire Plan SISKIYOU UNIT
4-Community Wildfire Protection Plan Yreka Area July 2021 5-Yreka Fire Department Fire Concerns
6-Map of Yreka
7-Fire Data
Fiscal Impact:
None
Recommendation and Requested Action:
(1) Move to adopt by reading by title only, Urgency Ordinance #871; An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Yreka, California Adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 entitled Use of The Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas and Finding the Ordinance Exempt From CEQA. This motion must be passed by a 4/5 majority.
(2) Adopt Resolution No. 2022- ____ designating critical infrastructure. (3) Introduce Ordinance #873; “An Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Yreka, California Adding Yreka Municipal Code Chapter 9.45 entitled Use of The Public Rights of Way and Protection of School Children, Bus Stops, Critical Infrastructure, and Wildfire Risk Areas and Finding the Ordinance Exempt From CEQA” and move to pass it to the next agenda for adoption. 113
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
EXECUTIVE ORDER N-7-22
WHEREAS on April 12, 202 l, May l 0, 2021, July 8, 202 l, and October 19, 2021, I proclaimed states of emergency that continue today and exist across all the counties of California, due to extreme and expanding drought conditions; and
WHEREAS climate change continues to intensify the impacts of droughts on our communities, environment, and economy, and California is in a third consecutive year of dry conditions, resulting in continuing drought in all parts of the State; and
WHEREAS the 21st century to date has been characterized by record warmth and predominantly dry conditions, and the 2021 meteorological summer in California and the rest of the western United States was the hottest on record; and
WHEREAS since my October 19, 2021 Proclamation, early rains in October and December 2021 gave way to the driest January and February in recorded history for the watersheds that provide much of California's water supply; and WHEREAS the ongoing drought will have significant, immediate impacts on communities with vulnerable water supplies, farms that rely on irrigation to grow food and fiber, and fish and wildlife that rely on stream flows and cool water; and
WHEREAS the two largest reservoirs of the Central Valley Project, which supplies water to farms and communities in the Central Valley and the Santa Clara Valley and provides critical cold-water habitat for salmon and other anadromous fish, have water storage levels that are approximately l .1 million acre-feet below last year's low levels on this date; and WHEREAS the record-breaking dry period in January and February and the absence of significant rains in March have required the Department of Water Resources to reduce anticipated deliveries from the State Water Project to 5 percent of requested supplies; and
WHEREAS delivery of water by bottle or truck is necessary to protect human safety and public health in those places where water supplies are disrupted; and
WHEREAS groundwater use accounts for 41 percent of the State's total water supply on an average annual basis but as much as 58 percent in a critically dry year, and approximately 85 percent of public water systems rely on groundwater as their primary supply; and
WHEREAS coordination between local entities that approve permits for new groundwater wells and local groundwater sustainability agencies is important to achieving sustainable levels of groundwater in critically overdrafted basins; and
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WHEREAS the duration of the drought, especially following a multiyear drought that abated only five years ago, underscores the need for California to redouble near-, medium-, and long-term efforts to adapt its water management and delivery systems to a changing climate, shifting precipitation patterns, and water scarcity; and
WHEREAS the most consequential, immediate action Californians can take to extend available supplies is to voluntarily reduce their water use by 15 percent from their 2020 levels by implementing the commonsense measures identified in operative paragraph 1 of Executive Order N-10-21 (July 8, 2021 ); and
WHEREAS to protect public health and safety, it is critical the State take certain immediate actions without undue delay to prepare for and mitigate the effects of the drought conditions, and under Government Code section 8571, I find that strict compliance with various statutes and regulations specified in this Proclamation would prevent, hinder, or delay the mitigation of the effects of the drought conditions.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GAVIN NEWSOM, Governor of the State of California, in accordance with the authority vested in me by the State Constitution and statutes, including the California Emergency Services Act, and in particular, Government Code sections 8567, 8571, and 8627, do hereby issue the following Order to become effective immediately:
IT IS HEREBY ORDERED THAT:
1. The orders and provisions contained in my April 21, 2021, May 10, 2021, July 8, 2021, and October 19, 2021 Proclamations remain in fu ll force and effect, except as modified by those Proclamations and herein.
State agencies shall continue to implement all directions from those Proclamations and accelerate implementation where feasible.
2. To help the State achieve its conservation goals and ensure sufficient water for essential indoor and outdoor use, I call on all Californians to strive to limit summertime water use and to use water more efficiently indoors and out. The statewide Save Our Water conservation campaign at SaveOurWater.com provides simple ways for Californians to reduce water use in their everyday lives. Furthermore, I encourage Californians to understand and track the amount of water they use and measure their progress toward their conservation goals.
3. By May 25, .2022, the State Water Resources Control Board (Water Board) shall consider adopting emergency regulations that include all of the following:
a. A requirement that each urban water supplier, as defined in section 10617 of the Water Code, shall submit to the Department of Water Resources a preliminary annual water supply and demand assessment consistent with section 10632.1 of the Water Code no later than June 1, 2022, and submit a final annual water 115
supply and demand assessment to the Department of Water Resources no later than the deadline set by section 10632.1 of the Water Code;
b. A requirement that each urban water supplier that has submitted a water shortage contingency plan to the
Department of Water Resources implement, at a minimum, the shortage response actions adopted under section 10632 of the Water Code for a shortage level of up to twenty percent (Level 2), by a date to be set by the Water Board; and
c. A requirement that each urban water supplier that has not submitted a water shortage contingency plan to the
Department of Water Resources implement, at a minimum,
shortage response actions established by the Water Board, which shall take into consideration model actions that the Department of Water Resources shall develop for urban water supplier water shortage contingency planning for Level 2, by a date to be set by the Water Board.
To further conserve water and improve drought resiliency if the drought lasts beyond this year, I encourage urban water suppliers to conserve more than required by the emergency regulations described in this paragraph and to voluntarily activate more stringent local requirements based on a shortage level of up to thirty percent (Level 3).
4. To promote water conservation, the Department of Water Resources shall consult with leaders in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors to develop strategies for improving water conservation, including direct technical assistance, financial assistance, and other approaches. By May 25, 2022, the Water Board shall consider adopting emergency regulations defining "non-functional turf" (that is, a definition of turf that is ornamental and not otherwise used for human recreation purposes such as school fields, sports fields, and parks) and banning irrigation of non-functional turf in the commercial, industrial, and institutional sectors except as it may be required to ensure the health of trees and other perennial non-turf plantings.
5. In order to maximize the efficient use of water and to preserve water supplies critical to human health and safety and the environment, Public Resources Code, Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division are hereby suspended, with respect to the directives in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Order and any other projects and activities for the purpose of water conservation to the extent necessary to address the impacts of the drought, and any permits necessary to carry out such projects or activities. Entities that desire to conduct activities under this suspension, other than the directives in paragraphs 3 and 4 of this Order, shall first request that the Secretary of the Natural Resources Agency make a determination that the proposed activities are eligible to be conducted under this suspension. The Secretary shall use sound discretion in applying this Executive Order to ensure that the suspension serves the purpose of accelerating conservation projects that are necessary to address impacts of the drought, while at the same time 116
protecting public health and the environment. The entities implementing these directives or conducting activities under this suspension shall maintain on their websites a list of all activities or approvals for which these provisions are suspended.
6. To support voluntary approaches to improve fish habitat that would require change petitions under Water Code section 1707 and either Water Code sections 1425 through 1432 or Water Code sections 1725 through 1732, and where the primary purpose is to improve conditions for fish, the Water Board shall expeditiously consider petitions that add a fish and wildlife beneficial use or point of diversion and place of storage to improve conditions for anadromous fish. California Code of Regulations, title 23, section 1064, subdivisions ( a) ( 1) (A) (i)-(ii) are suspended with respect to any petition that is subject to this paragraph.
7. To facilitate the hauling of water for domestic use by local communities and domestic water users threatened with the loss of water supply or degraded water quality resulting from drought, any ordinance, regulation, prohibition, policy, or requirement of any kind adopted by a public agency that prohibits the hauling of water out of the water's basin of origin or a public agency's jurisdiction is hereby suspended. The suspension authorized pursuant to this paragraph shall be limited to the hauling of water by truck or bottle to be used for human consumption, cooking, or sanitation in communities or residences threatened with the loss of affordable safe drinking water.
Nothing in this paragraph limits any public health or safety requirement to ensure the safety of hauled water.
8. The Water Board shall expand inspections to determine whether illegal diversions or wasteful or unreasonable use of water are occurring and bring enforcement actions against illegal diverters and those engaging in the wasteful and unreasonable use of water. When access is not granted by a property owner, the Water Board may obtain an inspection warrant pursuant to the procedures set forth in Title 13 (commencing with section 1822.50) of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure for the purposes of conducting an inspection pursuant to this directive.
9. To protect health, safety, and the environment during this drought emergency, a county, city, or other public agency shall not:
a. Approve a permit for a new groundwater well or for alteration of an existing well in a basin subject to the Sustainable
Groundwater Management Act and classified as medium- or high-priority without first obtaining written verification from a Groundwater Sustainability Agency managing the basin or area of the basin where the well is proposed to be located that groundwater extraction by the proposed well would not be inconsistent with any sustainable groundwater management program established in any applicable Groundwater
Sustainability Plan adopted by that Groundwater Sustainability 117
Agency and would not decrease the likelihood of achieving a sustainability goal for the basin covered by such a plan; or b. Issue a permit for a new groundwater well or for alteration of an existing well without first determining that extraction of groundwater from the proposed well is (1) not likely to interfere with the production and functioning of existing nearby wells, and (2) not likely to cause subsidence that would adversely impact or damage nearby infrastructure.
This paragraph shall not apply to permits for wells that will provide less than two acre-feet per year of groundwater for individual domestic users, or that will exclusively provide groundwater to public water supply systems as defined in section 116275 of the Health and Safety Code.
10. To address household or small community drinking water shortages dependent upon groundwater wells that have failed due to drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources shall work with other state agencies to investigate expedited regulatory pathways to modify, repair, or reconstruct failed household or small community or public supply wells, while recognizing the need to ensure the sustainability of such wells as provided for in paragraph 9.
11. State agencies shall collaborate with tribes and federal, regional, and local agencies on actions related to promoting groundwater recharge and increasing storage.
12. To help advance groundwater recharge projects, and to demonstrate the feasibility of projects that can use available high water flows to recharge local groundwater while minimizing flood risks, the Water Board and Regional Water Quality Control Boards shall prioritize water right permits, water quality certifications, waste discharge requirements, and conditional waivers of waste discharge requirements to accelerate approvals for projects that enhance the ability of a local or state agency to capture high precipitation events for local storage or recharge, consistent with water right priorities and protections for fish and wildlife. For the purposes of carrying out this paragraph, Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) of the Public Resources Code and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division, and Chapter 3 ( commencing with section 85225) of Part 3 of Division 35 of the Water Code and regulations adopted pursuant thereto are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to address the impacts of the drought. This suspension applies to (a) any actions taken by state agencies, (b) any actions taken by local agencies where the state agency with primary responsibility for the implementation of the directives concurs that local action is required, and (c) permits necessary to carry out actions under (a) or (b). The entities implementing these directives shall maintain on their websites a list of all activities or approvals for which these provisions are suspended.
13. With respect to recharge projects under either Flood-Managed Aquifer Recharge or the Department of Water Resources Sustainable 118
Groundwater Management Grant Program occurring on open and working lands to replenish and store water in groundwater basins that will help mitigate groundwater conditions impacted by drought, for any (a) actions taken by state agencies, (b) actions taken by a local agency where the Department of Water Resources concurs that local action is required, and (c) permits necessary to carry out actions under (a) or (b), Public Resources Code, Division 13 (commencing with section 21000) and regulations adopted pursuant to that Division are hereby suspended to the extent necessary to address the impacts of the drought. The entities implementing these directives shall maintain on their websites a list of all activities or approvals for which these provisions are suspended.
14. To increase resilience of.state water supplies during prolonged drought conditions, the Department of Water Resources shall prepare for the potential creation and implementation of a multi-year transfer program pilot project for the purpose of acquiring water from willing partners and storing and conveying water to areas of need.
15. By April 15, 2022, state agencies shall submit to the Department of Finance for my consideration proposals to mitigate the worsening effects of severe drought, including emergency assistance to communities and households and others facing water shortages as a result of the drought, facilitation of groundwater recharge and wastewater recycling, improvements in water use efficiency, protection of fish and wildlife, mitigation of drought-related economic or water-supply disruption, and other potential investments to support short- and long-term drought response.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that as soon as hereafter possible, this Order be filed in the Office of the Secretary of State and that widespread publicity and notice be given of this Order.
This Order is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity, against the State of California, its agencies, departments, entities, officers, employees, or any other person.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set
my hand and caused the Great Seal of the
State of California to be affixed this 28th
day of March 2022.
I I
,:, .
l · I'
t (.1 I
l~~-~-- GAVIN NEWSOM
Governor of California
ATTEST:
SHIRLEY N. WEBER, PH.D.
Secretary of State
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Unit Strategic Fire Plan
SISKIYOU UNIT
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
AMENDMENTS..........................................................................................................................4 SIGNATURE PAGE ......................................................................................................................5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................6 SECTION I: UNIT OVERVIEW ..................................................................................................7 UNIT DESCRIPTION............................................................................................................7 UNIT PREPAREDNESS AND FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES............................................9 LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS................................................................................................. 11 SECTION II: COLLABORATION..............................................................................................12 SECTION III: VALUES ..............................................................................................................12 A: VALUES.........................................................................................................................13 B: COMMUNITIES.............................................................................................................. 14 FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES.......................................................................................... 15 SECTION IV: PRE-FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES......................................................... 16 A: FIRE PREVENTION...................................................................................................... 16 ENGINEERING & STRUCTURE IGNITABILITY....................................................................... 17 INFORMATION AND EDUCATION ..........................................................................................20 B. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT.....................................................................................21 SECTION V: PRE- FIRE MANAGEMENT TACTICS ...............................................................24 DIVISION / BATTALION / PROGRAM PLANS .........................................................................28 APPENDIX A: PRE- FIRE PROJECTS.................................................................................... 47 APPENDIX B: UNIT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES .....................................................................56 APPENDIX C: UNIT PROJECTS……………………………………………..……………………….55 APPENDIEX D: PROPOSED/PLANNED FIRE SAFE COUNCIL FUELS PROJECTS............. 59 APPENDICIES E-Z: RESERVED FOR FUTURE USE ............................................................ 61 EXHIBITS: MAPS.....................................................................................................................62 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2016) ..................65 127
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2017)……………77 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2018) ................. 92 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2019) ................106 IGNITION TOTALS/AVERAGE 2010-2020............................................................................ 122 ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2020) ............... 124 128
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UNIT STRATEGIC FIRE PLAN AMENDMENTS
Date Section Updated Page Numbers
Updated
Description
of Update
Updated
By
5/5/2021 Signature Page 5 Updated Signatures Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Prevention Bureau 16 Updated Jake Burgess
5/5/2021 Wildfire Protection Panel 19 Deleted, Added SPBA Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Vegetation Management 21 Added CalVTP Jake Burgess 5/5/2020 SKU Prevention Bureau 25, 26 Updated Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Scott Valley Battalion 31-35 Battalion Updates Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Shasta Valley Battalion 36-39 Battalion Updates Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Butte Valley/Weed Battalion 40-44 Battalion Updates Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 McCloud Battalion 45-48 Battalion Updates Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 Appendix A 49-55 Project Updates Jake Burgess
5/5/2021 Appendix C 58 Updated Jake Burgess
5/5/2021 Appendix D 59, 60 Updated Jake Burgess
5/5/2021 Appendix E 62-64 Updated Maps Jake Burgess
5/5/2021 Yearly Ignition Totals 122, 123 Updated with 2020 Jake Burgess 5/5/2021 2020 Achievements/Analysis 124-139 Annual Updates Jake Burgess 129
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SIGNATURE PAGE
Unit Strategic Fire Plan developed for Siskiyou Unit
This Plan:
• Was collaboratively developed. Interested parties, Federal, State, City, and County agencies within the Unit have been consulted and are listed in the plan.
• Identifies and prioritizes pre-fire and post fire management strategies and tactics meant to reduce the loss of values at risk within theUnit. • Is intended for use as a planning and assessment tool only. It is the responsibility of those implementing the projects to ensure that all environmental compliance and permitting processes are met, as necessary.
Unit Chief Date: 5/5/2021
Phillip R. Anzo
Fire Captain/ Pre-Fire Engineer Date: 5/5/2021
Jake Burgess
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The 2020 Fire Plan reflects CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit’s focus on fire prevention and suppression activities to protect lives, property, and natural resources. Through collaboration among local, state, federal, tribal, and private partners we will progress towards a more fire resilient wildlandurban interface and natural environment. This may include working together to implement a single fuel break and/or a large landscape level fuel reduction project and /or working together to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan. Community protection includes promoting the safety of the public and emergency responders, as well as protection of property and other improvements.
The Siskiyou Unit Fire Plan will be successful by meeting the following goals:
1. Identify and evaluate wildland fire hazards and recognize life, property andnatural resource assets at risk, including watershed, habitat, social and other values of functioning ecosystems.
2. Facilitate the collaborative development and sharing of all analyses and data collection across all ownerships for consistency in type and kind.
3. Promote and support local land use planning processes as they relate to: (a) protection of life, property, and natural resources from risks associated with wildland fire, and (b) individual landowner objectives and responsibilities.
4. Support and participate in the collaborative development and implementation of local, county, and regional plans that address fire protection and landowner objectives.
5. Increase fire prevention awareness, knowledge and actions implemented by individuals and communities to reduce human loss, property damage and impacts to natural resources from wildland fires.
6. Integrate fire and fuels management practices with landowner/land manager priorities across jurisdictions.
7. Determine the level of resources necessary to effectively identify, plan and implement fire prevention using adaptive management strategies.
8. Determine the level of fire suppression resources necessary to protect the values and assets at risk identified during planning processes.
9. Implement post-fire assessments and programs for the protection of life, property, and natural resource recovery.
Through collaborative efforts and hard-work the Siskiyou Unit Fire Plan will guide us towards a more fire resilient future using pre-fire efforts.
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SECTION I: UNIT OVERVIEW
UNIT DESCRIPTION
The Siskiyou Unit (SKU) is in Northern California along the Oregon border and is comprised of Siskiyou County. The Siskiyou Unit encompasses 1.3 million acres of ecologically diverse wildlands. Ecotypes range from high desert in the east, to the magnificent coniferous forests of the Klamath River drainage to the lush ranch lands carpeting the interior valleys.
Magnificent Mt. Shasta serves as the Units geographical centerpiece rising abruptly to an astonishing 14,179 feet in elevation. The County is drained by the Sacramento River in the south, the Klamath River in the north and the Salmon River in the west.
The weather patterns in Siskiyou County are as diverse as its ecology. Summer temperatures may climb into the 100’s, while winter temperatures may drop well below freezing with significant snowstorms common throughout the winter months. Fuel types in the Unit include timber, timber with a grass understory, grass, brush, oak woodland, desert sage and western juniper stands. Like most mountainous areas, Siskiyou County may experience a high occurrence of lightning activity during the summer months. Ranching, recreation and the timber industry fuel Siskiyou County’s economy. The summer months see a large influx of tourists who take advantage of the County’s wide-open spaces for outdoor recreation including, hunting, fishing, white-water rafting, mountain climbing and camping.
Most of the large fires in the Siskiyou Unit over the past 50 years have been wind driven fires.
Lightning, equipment-use, and debris burning have historically been the determined lead ignition sources for these large fires.
The Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management are the largest public land ownerships adjacent to the Unit. Other public lands include the Shasta Valley, Horseshoe Ranch, Butte Valley, Lower Klamath, and Tulelake Wildlife Refuge Areas.
In June of 2010, the Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) released California’s Forest and Rangelands: 2010 Assessment. As part of the assessment, states were required to identify key issues and define the status and trends throughout the forests. Furthermore, states were asked to identify specific geographic areas, called “priority landscapes”. The intent of identifying “priority landscapes” was to assist investment and other programs focusing on the issue areas. The assessment identifies forest and rangeland issues throughout the state including Siskiyou County. The assessment also identifies strategies to address these issues.
The complete assessment can be found on the CAL FIRE FRAP Website. The “priority landscapes” identified within the Siskiyou Unit will be considered during the planning phase of future projects within the Unit. The following “priority landscapes” and strategies have been identified within the Siskiyou Unit:
Wildfire Threats to Ecosystem Health and Community Safety Developing coherent strategies involves collaborative planning, given the unique and disparate audience for dealing with the threat (i.e., numerous individual landowners). In terms of 132
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protecting communities, this is discussed in detail in Chapter 3.3: Planning for and Reducing Wildfire Risks to Communities.
Sustainable Working Forests and Rangelands
Opportunities exist for landowner assistance to enhance productivity and health of working landscapes. Risk Reduction on Forestlands: Identifies areas with timber and biomass energy assets that are threatened by wildfire and forest pests. Risk Reduction on Rangelands; identifies areas where rangeland productivity is threatened by wildfire. Restoring Impacted Timberlands: identifies areas with timber and biomass energy assets that have been impacted by past wildfires or forest pest outbreaks.
Forest Pests and Other Threats to Ecosystem Health and Community Safety Forest management tools include the removal of dead, dying, and diseased trees, thinning of small and medium live trees, replanting multiple species, and other techniques used to remove hazards and improve ecosystem health. In California, responsibility for the control of forest pest outbreaks often falls to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) on state- and privately-owned lands and the U.S. Forest Service on federal lands. CAL FIRE, with the approval of the California Board of Forestry and Fire Protection (BOF), can declare a zone of infestation for native and exotic insect and disease pests. Within a Zone of Infestation CAL FIRE employees may go on private lands to attempt eradication or control in a manner approved by the Board of Forestry.
Water Quality and Quantity Protection and Enhancement
Protecting and managing forests in source watersheds is an essential part of future strategies for providing a sustainable supply of clean water for a broad range of beneficial uses. Tools to address threats to water supplies include water conservation, restoration of riparian forests, restoration of mountain meadows, and protection of groundwater. Tools to address water quality concerns include reduction of soil erosion through Best Management Practices for forest roads and timber harvesting, additional protection for riparian areas in salmonid watersheds, road maintenance and fuel reduction treatments designed to reduce high severitywildfires.
Planning for Reducing Wildfire Risks to Communities
In California, community involvement in wildfire planning is extensive, as evidenced for example, by Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP), as defined under the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003), local and regional Fire Safe Councils, Resource Conservation Districts, and community participation in the federal Fire wise Communities/USA program. State laws requiring “defensible space” around structures, building codes, and other responsibilities are aimed at helping communities reduce their risk of loss when wildfire strikes.
Federal programs, such as the National Fire Plan, also help with funding for fire hazard reduction.
Emerging Markets for Forests and Rangeland Products and Services Strengthen and develop new market opportunities for forest products and benefits provide incentives for forest stewardship and conservation. Emerging markets for renewable energy, ecosystem services and niche products area impacting how forest and rangelands are managed. Developing appropriate policies will require a better understanding of the benefits and environmental impacts of these emerging markets and how society values the various market and non-market products and services provided by forests and rangelands.
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Numerous efforts in California are working towards identifying and protecting important wildlife, plant, and fish habitat. Tools for addressing wildlife habitat needs include the purchase of land and conservation easements, development planning, zoning, habitat mitigation banking, and habitat restoration, and policies, regulations and funding mechanisms that support these efforts.
Climate Change: Threats and Opportunities
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) has identified five strategies to mitigate against greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions: reforestation, forestland conservation, fuels reduction, urban forestry, and forest management to improve carbon sequestration.
UNIT PREPAREDNESS AND FIREFIGHTING CAPABILITIES
At the peak of firefighting preparedness, Siskiyou Unit suppression resources include approximately 70 career personnel and 120 seasonal personnel. The Siskiyou Unit is geographically divided into four fire battalions. Within these battalions the Siskiyou Unit has resources and facilities strategically located. These include: seven fire stations, one conservation camp, and a headquarters facility. During summer months, thirteen schedule “B” engines, two dozers, up to four inmate fire crews, and up to three fire lookouts are staffed.
Through augmentation funding the Unit will staff a Firefighter I hand crew and an additional dozer. The fire lookouts are staffed based upon fire, weather, and lightning activity levels. In the winter months, Siskiyou Unit staffs four stations with fiscal assistance from the County Amador Plan. Two of these stations are staffed year-round with one engine each that are state funded.
The Siskiyou Unit has an Emergency Command Center known as the Yreka Interagency Command Center (YICC). The YICC is located at the Siskiyou Unit Headquarters in Yreka and is a collaboration of CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service (USFS) and County of Siskiyou staff. The YICC provides dispatching services for CAL FIRE, USFS, 30 local government departments and 5 ambulance companies. The YICC is responsible for emergency call taking, dispatching, and tracking of resources. The YICC has an Emergency Dispatcher at the console 24 hours a day. The Goal of the YICC is to meet and exceed the standards set in NFPA 1221 section 6.4.2. These standards specify that 95 percent of all alarms be answered within 15 seconds and 99 percent answered within 40 seconds. In addition, Section 6.4.3 specifics that 95 percent of all dispatching be completed within 60 seconds.
Battalion I (Scott Valley Battalion) is in the northwest portion of the Unit. Within the Battalion there is a CAL FIRE station located in the City of Fort Jones. The Fort Jones Station houses three Type III fire engines and one Type II fire dozer. Deadwood Conservation Camp is located north of Fort Jones along McAdams Creek. Deadwood is an 80-man camp and is capable of providing four Type I hand crews. There are two fire lookouts located within the Scott Valley Battalion, Quartz Hill, and Duzel Rock.
Battalion II (Shasta Valley Battalion) is centrally located in the northern portion of the Unit.
Within the Shasta Valley Battalion there are two CAL FIRE stations. One station is in Yreka and one is in Hornbook. The Yreka Station is considered the headquarters station and houses three Type III fire engines and one Type II dozer. Hornbook Station is located along Interstate 5 near the California and Oregon border in the town of Hornbrook. This station houses two Type III fire engines. Paradise Craggy serves as the fire lookout for the Shasta Valley 134
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Battalion. The Battalion also houses the augmented Firefighter I crew.
Battalion III (Butte Valley Battalion) can be identified on a map as two distinct geographical areas separated by Federal Direct Protection Area. One portion of the Butte Valley Battalion is in the central portion of the Unit near the City of Weed. The other is in the northeast portion of the Unit and includes the Butte Valley and extends north to the Oregon border. Within the Butte Valley Battalion there are two CAL FIRE stations. One station is in Weed City. The Weed Station houses two Type III fire engines and serves as the battalion headquarters. The Macdoel station is in the town of Macdoel and houses one Type III engine.
Battalion IV (McCloud Battalion) is in the southern portion of the Unit. Within the McCloud Battalion there are two CAL FIRE stations. One is in McCloud and the other is in Pondosa.
McCloud Station houses two Type III fire engines. Pondosa Station is located within Shasta County, but is staffed and administered by the Siskiyou Unit. Pondosa Station houses two Type III fire engines.
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LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENTS
The Siskiyou Unit is very appreciative of its local fire departments. Many of these departments are staffed completely by volunteers and whose personnel are often the first to arrive at fires, medical aids and other types of emergencies.
Often these departments are located within Fire Protection Districts (FPDs) or Community Services Districts (CSDs) and are typically governed by elected boards of directors and have authority to levy taxes to support their work. Within the Siskiyou Unit, CAL FIRE reciprocates emergency services using Mutual Aid and Automatic Aid Agreements.
The following local fire departments exist within the Siskiyou Unit:
Etna City Fire Department South Yreka Fire Protection District Fort Jones City Fire Department Yreka City Fire Department Scott Valley Fire Protection District Butte Valley Fire Protection District Happy Camp Fire District Dorris City Fire Department
Copco Lake Fire Protection District Seiad Valley Fire Company Gazelle Fire Protection District Tennant Community Services District Grenada Fire Protection District Tulelake Fire Department Hammond Ranch Fire Zone Weed City Fire Department
Hilt Fire Protection District Lake Shastina Community Service District Hornbrook Fire Protection District Castella Fire Protection District Klamath River Fire Company Dunsmuir City Fire Department Mayten Fire Protection District McCloud Community Services District Montague Fire Protection District Mt Shasta City Fire Department Mt. Shasta Vista Fire Zone Mount Shasta Fire Protection District Salmon River Fire Company Pleasant Valley Fire Zone
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SECTION II: COLLABORATION
COMMUNITY / AGENCIES / FIRE SAFE COUNCILS
Representatives involved in the development of the Unit Strategic Fire Plan are included in the following table. Their organization and title are indicated below:
Plan Development Team:
Organization Title
Fire Safe Council Siskiyou County Fire Safe Council Members Lower Scott River FSC/Northern California
Resource Center Fire Safe Council Members
French Creek FSC/Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Scott Valley FSC/Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Yreka Area FSC/ Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Juniper Flat FSC/Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Rattlesnake Creek FSC/Northern California
Resource Center Fire Safe Council Members
Upper Mid Klamath Watershed Council/ Northern
California Resource Center Fire Safe Council Members
Scott Bar FSC/ Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Seiad Creek FSC/ Northern California Resource
Center Fire Safe Council Members
Happy Camp Fire Safe Council Fire Safe Council Members
Greater Weed Fire Safe Council Fire Safe Council Members Dunsmuir Fire Safe Council Fire Safe Council Members
Mt. Shasta Fire Safe Council Fire Safe Council Members
Weed City Fire Department Fire Chief
Etna City Fire Department Fire Chief
Fort Jones City Elected Officials
Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors Elected Officials
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SECTION III: VALUES
A: VALUES
It is the goal of the Siskiyou Unit to protect life and property from the devastating effects of wildfire and other natural disasters. The Siskiyou Unit is vast in size and varied in its makeup of both natural and man-made assets at risk to wildfires.
The following are values identified at risk in the Siskiyou Unit:
Citizen and firefighter safety
Structures, residential and commercial
Watershed and water
Timber
Rangelands
Wildlife and associated habitat
Infrastructure
Air quality
Unique areas (scenic, cultural, and historic)
Recreation
Soil erosion
Hydroelectric power
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B: COMMUNITIES
To help protect people and their property from potential catastrophic wildfire, the National Fire Plan directs funding to be provided for projects designed to reduce the fire risks to communities.
A fundamental step in achieving this goal was the identification of communities that are at high risk of damage from wildfire. These high-risk communities identified within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the area where homes and wildlands intermix, were published in the Federal Register in 2001. At the request of Congress, the Federal Register notice only listed those communities neighboring federal lands. The list represents the collaborative work of the 50 states and five federal agencies using a standardized process, whereby states were asked to submit all communities within their borders that met the criteria of a structure at high risk from wildfire.
The “Communities at Risk” in Siskiyou County listed in the table below are on the National Registry available at the following site: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/wildfire-planningengineering/fire-plan/communities-at-risk/ Community Federal
Threat
Community Federal
Threat
Big Springs F Lower Scott River F
Callahan F Macdoel
Cecilville F McCloud F
Dorris F Montague
Dunsmuir Mount Shasta F
Etna Quartz Valley Indian Reservation F
Forks of Salmon F Sawyers Bar F
Fort Jones F Scott Bar F
Gazelle Seiad Valley F
Greenview F Somes Bar F
Grenada Tennant F
Hamburg F Tulelake F
Happy Camp F Weed F
Hornbrook F Yreka F
Horse Creek F *Hammond Ranch*
Klamath River F **Mt. Shasta Forest**
**Mt. Shasta Vista** **Klamath River Country Estates**
1. Federal Threat code of F indicates some or all of the wildland fire threat to that community comes from federal (e.g., US Forest Service, BLM,)lands.
2. * Indicates a Community that is not yet designated as a Community at Risk by the State but is in the application process.
3. ** Identifies proposed Communities at Risk.
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FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONES
While the entire County of Siskiyou is subject to varying degrees of fire hazard, there are specific features that make some areas more hazardous than others. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) is required by law to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather and other relevant factors. These maps were developed using science-based and field-tested computer models that assign a hazard score based on factors that influence fire likelihood and fire behavior. Many factors are considered such as fire history, existing and potential fuel (natural vegetation), flame length, blowing embers, terrain, and typical weather for the area. There are three hazard zones in state responsibility areas: moderate, high and very high. These maps identify fire hazard and not fire risk. “Hazard” is based on the physical conditions that give a likelihood that an area will burn over a 30 to 50-year period without considering modifications such as fuel reduction efforts. “Risk” is the potential damage a fire can do to the area under existing conditions, including any modifications such as defensible space, irrigation and sprinklers, and ignition resistant building construction which can reduce fire risk. Risk considers the susceptibility of what is being protected.
These maps are intended to be used for:
• Implementing wildland-urban interface building standards for newconstruction. • Natural hazard real estate disclosure at time of sale. • 100-foot defensible space clearance requirements around buildings. • Property development standards such as road widths, water supply and signage. • Consideration in city and county general plans.
Visit the CAL FIRE Website at www.fire.ca.gov to determine the fire hazard severity in a specific area
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SECTION IV: PRE-FIRE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
A: FIRE PREVENTION
Fire Prevention activities in the Siskiyou Unit include, but are not limited to, the following: fire prevention education, hazardous fuel reduction and vegetation management, civil cost recovery, forest and fire law enforcement, fire prevention engineering, pre-fire planning, risk-analysis, volunteer programs and partnerships. In general, these programs have been shown to be highly effective at reducing the incidence of fire. The Siskiyou Unit contributes its success to the utilization of these main fire prevention components. In addition, the Prevention Bureau prides itself on providing quality public service in a timely, accurate, and courteousmanner.
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ENGINEERING & STRUCTURE IGNITABILITY
Public Resources Code 4290
These regulations have been prepared and adopted for establishing minimum wildfire protection standards in conjunction with building, construction, and development in State Responsibility Areas (SRA). These regulations became effective September 1, 1991. The future design and construction of structures, subdivisions, and developments in State Responsibility Area (SRA) shall provide for basic emergency access and perimeter wildfire protection measures as specified in Public Resources Code (PRC 4290). These measures shall provide for emergency access, signing and building numbering, private water supply reserves for emergency fire use, and vegetation modification. The fire protection standards contained within PRC 4290 shall specify the minimums for such measures. The Unit enforces PRC 4290 in its original form. The County of Siskiyou has not yet increased these standards. 142
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Public Resources Code 4291
One of the main objectives of the Siskiyou Unit is to ensure residents comply with the provisions set forth within California Public Resources Code 4291. This is accomplished through education and enforcement. It is important residents recognize that their first defense against wildfire is to create and maintain defensible space around their homes.
California Public Resources Code 4291 requires property owners in mountainous areas, forest-covered lands, or any land that is covered with flammable material to create at a minimum a 100-foot defensible space (or to the property line) around their homes and other structures.
The state legislature enacted PRC 4291 to improve fire safety and to help prevent catastrophic fires. Under the law, property owners or those who control a property must establish a:
30-foot clean zone (or to property line)
70-foot reduced fuel zone (or to property line)
This does not mean the property must be clear-cut to bare soil, it involves thinning and breaking up the continuity of ladder fuels and large areas filled with contiguous shrubs that can readily transmit fire.
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FIRE SAFE COUNCILS
Fire Safe Councils were developed with the mission to preserve California’s natural and manmade resources by enlisting all Californians to make their homes, neighborhoods, and communities fire safe. Siskiyou County is fortunate to have many active Fire Safe Councils. The Siskiyou Unit is very appreciative of the tremendous efforts these Fire Safe Councils have made in attempting to make Siskiyou County fire safe. Fire Safe Councils are predominantly volunteer based organizations and are continually looking for new community members to join in their efforts. Fire Safe Councils in Siskiyou County are identified in the Battalion Program section of this plan.
SISKIYOU PRESCRIBED BURN ASSOCIATION (SPBA)
The Siskiyou Prescribed Burn Association includes landowners, tribes, and local organizations and agencies that work together to safely conduct burns in the interest of restoring historic roles of fire, using fire as a management tool, and reducing wildfire hazard to communities and watersheds throughout the diverse fire-adapted landscapes of Siskiyou County. 144
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INFORMATION AND EDUCATION
Information and education are an extremely important component of the Siskiyou Unit. Each year the Unit participates and promotes many Fire Safety Education Programs throughout the County.
One of Siskiyou Units most successful Fire Safety Education Programs is the Fire PALS program. The Fire PALS program uses comedy and characterization to teach children about fire prevention and life safety at home and in the forest. In addition to Fire Pals, Smokey Bear and Sparky the Fire dog are commonly called to service to introduce and instill fire prevention and life safety messages in both children and adults. Our fire prevention messages are presented to the public by the Siskiyou Unit participating in numerous outreaches each year which include exhibits at the Siskiyou County Fair and Sportsmen’s Expo, poster contests, living with fire flyers, prevention road signs, rodeos, parades, classrooms, printed materials, radio, television spots, community meetings, Fire Safe Councils, one-on-one contact with homeowners and up-keeping of the Units web page, Facebook page, and Twitter account. Our educational programs are informative and are provided to all ages.
Siskiyou Unit has a dedicated Volunteer in Prevention (VIP) Program that utilizes the citizens of our community who graciously volunteer their time to increase awareness, knowledge and actions implemented by individuals and communities to reduce human loss and property damage from wildland fires. VIPs assist in accomplishing these goals by conducting defensible space inspections required by Public Resource Code 4291. VIPs in the Siskiyou Unit educate thousands of people of all ages about fire prevention by participating in events and outreaches throughout Siskiyou County and other counties of California as well. Within the Siskiyou Unit, VIPs have also been trained to be fire lookouts, to inspect power lines, and to educate homeowners on how to keep their home fire safe. Furthermore, VIPs are trained to assist CAL FIRE’s efforts in providing information to the media and public during wildland fires and other emergencies.
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B. VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
The Siskiyou Unit Resource Management staff administers numerous programs which support the California Strategic Fire Plan.
Fuels Modification
Forest Practice – Siskiyou Unit Resource Management staff is responsible to enforce the California Forest Practice Act and Forest Practice Rules for timber operations on private timberlands. This enforcement starts with the review of the initial project and continues through the harvesting of timber to completion.
During the review of commercial timber harvesting plans, Unit staff has opportunities to provide written recommendations to project proponents designed to facilitate a positive change in the methods in which timber operations are conducted. We continually look for ways to improve forest health, fire safety, hazard reduction, public safety, vehicular access, water sources, timing of operations, wildlife benefits, and other site-specific mitigating measures necessary to support the California’s Strategic Fire Plan. The treatment of logging slash to reduce the overall fuel hazard must comply with the rules and regulations, which generally apply around structures and along roads.
Vegetation Management Program (VMP) - The Vegetation Management Program (VMP) is a cost-sharing program utilizing prescribed fire, and mechanical means, for addressing wildland fire fuel hazards and other resource management issues on State Responsibility Area (SRA) lands. The use of prescribed fire mimics the natural process, restores fire to its historic role in wildland ecosystems, and provides significant fire hazard reduction benefits that enhance public and firefighter safety.
VMP allows private landowners to enter a contract with CAL FIRE to use prescribed fire to accomplish a combination of fire protection and resource management goals. The Unit will support projects that fit within the Unit’s priority areas and are of the most value to the citizens and resources.
California Vegetation Treatment Program (CalVTP) – The California Vegetation Treatment Program, developed by the Board of Forestry and Fire Protection, is a critical component of the state’s multi-faceted strategy to address California’s wildfire crisis, The CalVTP includes the use of prescribed burning, mechanical treatments, manual treatments, herbicides, and prescribed herbivory as tools to reduce hazardous vegetation around communities in the Wildland-Urban Interface(WUI), to construct fuel breaks, and to restore healthy ecological fire regimes. The CalVTP Program Environmental Impact Report (Program EIR) provides a powerful tool to expedite the implementation of vegetation treatments to reduce wildfire risk while conserving natural resources.
California Forest Improvement Program (CFIP) – A state cost share program to assist private timberland owners in the management of their lands. Eligible practices include site preparation, reforestation, pre-commercial thinning, pruning, release, slash disposal, and land conservation projects. Funding assistance to landowners is 75%, or up to 90% for projects on lands damaged by wildfire.
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Grant funded fuel treatments – These projects generally involve the construction or maintenance of fuel breaks in the Wildland-Urban interface.
Fuel Reduction Group- To streamline all phases of fuel reduction work, the Unit has created a working group to maximize efficiency in planning, prioritization, site preparation, mapping, execution, reporting and completion of fuel reduction projects. This includes, but is not limited to fuel breaks, right of way clearance, VMP, CalVTP, prescribed fire, and other fuel reduction activities.
Tree Mortality Task Force- Tree mortality threatens public safety and infrastructure, increases short-term and long-term fire danger, reduces carbon absorbed and stored, reduces wildlife habitat, and decreases revenue for timber dependent communities. As of April 2017, 850,000 acres throughout Siskiyou County have been identified as having some degree of tree mortality, with over 76,000 acres designated as having high to extreme tree mortality. In 2015, Governor Jerry Brown issued a Proclamation of a State of Emergency for tree mortality issues throughout California; and in September 2016, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution to form a Tree Mortality Task Force to address tree mortality issues throughout the County, and provide outreach, education, and opportunities for private landowners who may have tree mortality on their private property. The current structure of the task force is made up of Siskiyou County Natural Resources, the Office of Emergency Services, the US Forest Service, and Cal Fire. The task force aims to carry out a proactive tree mortality program including federal, state, local, public, and private entities to promote and initiate processes and projects to decrease the impacts of tree mortality throughout Siskiyou County. The task force will also engage in outreach and education to provide the public and stakeholders with options to identify, remove, and dispose of trees.
Environmental Review
The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requires public agencies to consider actions on projects that may directly or indirectly result in a physical change in the environment. When CAL FIRE funds, approves, permits, facilitates, or carries out a project as lead agency it is obligated to ensure that the appropriate steps are taken in complying with CEQA by preparing an environmental review. This review is conducted by a Resource Management representative in the Forester classification assigned as the Unit Environmental Coordinator. Reviews conducted by the Environmental Coordinator ensure that the statutory responsibilities of CAL FIRE are addressed in the project planning phase. Examples of CAL FIRE projects in the Unit include facility construction or repairs, maintenance, and fire hazard clearance; fuel reduction projects such as shaded fuel breaks, prescribed burns, and live fire training.
Fire Suppression Repair/Post Fire Assessment
CAL FIRE has authority to conduct fire suppression repair activities during emergency incidents on State Responsibility Areas (SRA). This authority is provided under the Public Resources Code (PRC) Sections 4675 & 4676. Fire suppression repair includes mitigating damage to resources and property caused by firefighting efforts, including but not limited to, potential erosion from dozer and hand lines, road opening and watercourse crossings. The primary objective is to mitigate, fire suppression caused damage to as close to pre-fire conditions as is reasonably possible. This is done by minimizing sediment delivery to watercourses, mitigating slope conditions to pre-fire drainage patterns, removing fire suppression-related debris, restoring, or removing berms and barriers as necessary, repairing gates and fence lines removed for fire control 147
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access, and implementing appropriate mitigation measures (in consultation with a CAL FIRE archaeologist) to protect cultural and/or historic resource sites.
The Resource Management staff provides suppression repair duties in the Unit. Their natural resource background, training and knowledge of both fire control issues and methods of addressing complex environmental issues allows them to assess the effects of pre- and post-fire treatments to refine best practices. This overall experience, knowledge and training greatly support the California’s Strategic Fire Plan.
They work with landowners and other stakeholders to provide a rapid post-fire assessment of the burned area, utilizing after-action reports, to implement the most current technologies and practices. They have many private and agency cooperator contacts, and effectively utilize available resources, including CAL FIRE hand crews, to accomplish the restoration and protection activities.
Forest and Range Health
CAL FIRE's mission emphasizes the management and protection of California's natural resources. The Resource Management Program is an integral part of that responsibility. Management of overstocked timber stands is necessary to achieve the goals of restoring, enhancing, and protecting California’s natural resources. Healthy forests are more productive, are more resistant to diseases that weaken trees or cause mortality, and generally are at lower risk to catastrophic wildfire. Restoring rangeland through prescribed burning of non-native noxious weeds, forbs and grasses promotes increased range health, which has environmental and socio-economic benefit.
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SECTION V: PRE- FIRE MANAGEMENT TACTICS
DIVISION / BATTALION / PROGRAM PLANS
SISKIYOU UNIT PREVENTION
BUREAU
Overview
The Siskiyou Unit Prevention Bureau Consists of the following staffing:
(1) Fire Prevention Battalion Chief/ Peace Officer
(1) Fire Prevention Specialist II/ PIO
(1) Fire Captain Specialist/ Peace Officer
(1) Fire Captain/ Pre-Fire Engineer
(4) Forestry Aid/ Defensible Space Inspectors
The Siskiyou Unit Prevention Bureau covers approximately 1.3 million acres in Siskiyou County.
Fuel types within the Unit include timber, brush, oak woodland, grasses, desert sage and juniper.
Due to the vast size of the County and the diverse landscapes contained within it, the weather in Siskiyou County can vary greatly from one location to the next. However, weather in Siskiyou County can be generally characterized as having hot, dry summers followed by cool, wet winters. Temperatures in the summer can soar above the 100-degree mark and dip below freezing in the winter. Windy conditions are consistently common in several geographical areas of the county. Historically, most of the large fires within the Unit have been wind driven. The mountain ranges and the local weather patterns support a natural mixture for severe electrical storms throughout most of the summer months. Often these storms are accompanied with strong winds and can have little to no precipitation associated with them.
Historically, lightning has been the number one cause of ignitions within the Unit with Debris Burning being the second leading cause of ignitions. While careful analysis of the debris burn incidents has concluded that most debris burns are not debris burn escapes, but rather enforcement issues (i.e., burning out of hours, burning on non-burn days). These incidents typically do not require full suppression efforts from responding firefighting resources. Often, actions taken by firefighting resources have included having the responsible person extinguish the fire. Subsequently, the responsible person was then counseled and educated on the permit requirements of debris burning.
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Ranching, recreation, and the timber industry fuel the County economy. The summer months see a large influx of tourists who take advantage of the wide range of outdoor activities in the County. Activities include hiking, fishing, hunting, mountain climbing, white water rafting, mountain biking and camping. At times, these activities result in both authorized and unauthorized fires. To reduce the total number of negligent fires, the Prevention Bureau takes the lead role in informing, educating, and enforcing forest and fire laws.
Personnel within the Bureau work seamlessly with County Government to ensure public safety building codes are enforced in commercial and residential development. The Bureau vigorously and consistently pursues prompt enforcement of all forest and fire laws and seeks, when appropriate, cost recovery for fire suppression. Bureau personnel are active members on the Siskiyou County Arson Team (SCAT) and collaborate with other law enforcement agencies as needed or requested.
Pre-Fire Engineering is another component of the Prevention Bureau. The Prevention Bureau is responsible for ensuring the Fire Plan and statistical data, are properly captured, and reviewed for pre-fire planning.
The Bureau works with each Battalion towards accomplishing goals and objectives to reduce the ignition problems throughout the Unit. Mapping in a Geographical Information Systems (GIS) environment is a large component of the Pre-Fire Engineering duties. It is imperative that the Bureau assures that all maps are complete and accurate, and the most current methodologies are being used to capture data.
The Prevention Bureau continues to provide education and information through social media platforms, school programs, out-reaches, and one-on-one contact with the public. The Bureau generates press releases and public service announcements on a regular basis, to inform and educate as many residents as possible. The Bureau actively participates in an inter-agency Fire Prevention Co-op. The cooperative is between local, state, and federal agencies and is an ongoing effort to spread fire prevention messages to the communities we serve.
The Prevention Bureau continues to use Forestry Aids to provide defensible space inspections in the SRA, public education, post fire damage inspections (DINS) and power line inspections.
The Prevention Bureau also uses Volunteers in Prevention (VIP) to educate the public by performing clearance inspections around residences, issuing burn permits, campfire permits, power line inspections, and assisting with educational opportunities. 150
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FIRE PREVENTION GOALS
GOAL # 1
Reduce the total number and severity of fires throughout the Unit. a. Prioritize projects, education, and community involvement in target areas based on analyzed ignition data.
b. Reduce the total number of illegal debris burning fires through education and enforcement efforts.
c. Work closely with state, federal, and local governments, to cooperatively reduce ignitions across jurisdictional boundaries.
d. Actively patrol on high fire danger days and provide education on potential fire hazards, proper fire use, and fire safety.
e. Actively patrol in areas with high ignitions and vigorously pursue prompt enforcement action of forest and fire laws when necessary.
GOAL # 2
Increase the total number of defendable homes within the Unit. a. Educate residents on the proper care, maintenance, and benefits of a “defensible space” home.
b. Analyze data to identify areas with large concentrations of homes that do not meet the defensible space requirements and target these areas forinspections. c. Provide training to Siskiyou Unit on PRC 4291 (LE-100) to use as an educational tool with any public contact.
d. When necessary pursue enforcement actions to gain “defensible space”compliance. e. Collaborate with county and local governments and Fire Safe Councils to identify and prioritize planning and fuel reduction projects that will increase a community’s defense in the event of wildfire.
GOAL # 3
Reduce the total number of undetermined fires within the Unit. a. Provide further training and education to field personnel in proper origin and cause investigation.
b. Analyze investigation reports from the field for accuracy and completeness. c. Provide direction to field personnel on proper reporting techniques. 151
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GOAL # 4
Enhance education and training for Bureau personnel.
a. Provide Bureau personnel with training in Juvenile Fire Setter Program. b. Provide Bureau personnel with training in Field Training Officer(FTO). c. Provide Bureau personnel with training in Public Information. d. Provide Bureau personnel with training in Firearms Instruction. e. Provide Bureau personnel with advanced training in GIS. f. Provide Bureau personnel with advanced training in Fire Investigation. 152
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Siskiyou Training Battalion
The Siskiyou Unit Training Bureau provides on-going training, education and certification to all CAL FIRE personnel assigned to the Siskiyou Unit. The Training Bureau also provides training and education support for several local government volunteer fire departments throughout Siskiyou County. The Siskiyou Unit Training Bureau is currently State funded for one Battalion Chief.
The priority of the Siskiyou Training Bureau is to provide the overall safety of permanent, seasonal, and volunteer personnel through proper training. Training is conducted through instructional programs that target operational efficiency with emphasis on safe operating procedures in all aspects of fire and emergency operations. All training is focused on providing and maintaining the highest quality emergency services at both fire and medical responses to the citizens of California. Instructional programs target operational efficiency with emphasis on safety and cost effectiveness in all aspects of fire and emergency operations. The Siskiyou Unit requires all employees to spend at least 15 percent of their time in training. This training can range from informal routine station training to formal web-based or classroom environment training. The Siskiyou Unit has implemented an on-line training program (Target Solutions) which has streamlined the delivery of emergency operational training. All training is based on defined, measurable objectives and delivered in the most effective and cost-efficient manner.
The Siskiyou Unit is heavily involved with cooperative relationships, which include involvement with the College of the Siskiyou’s (COS) Fire Program and training grounds. This cooperation leads to outstanding opportunities that allow quality and cost-efficient professional training using one of the best fire training facilities on the West Coast. The Siskiyou Unit, in cooperation with the Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and many local government fire departments, conducts an annual multi-agency drill (Siskiyou County Interagency Hall Drills) each year to provide annual re-certification for wildland fire training for the Siskiyou County fire services. Local, State and Federal wildland firefighters who participate in the drill can improve their skills, as well as create cooperative working relationships in an interagency environment.
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Deadwood Camp
Deadwood Camp houses up to 80 inmates and staffs four fire-suppression hand crews. The camp is located within Siskiyou County approximately five miles from the City of Fort Jones.
Opened in 1962, Deadwood is jointly operated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. Deadwood Camp is staffed by 1 Division Chief, 8 Fire Captains, 1 Heavy Fire Equipment Operators, 1 Heavy Equipment Mechanic and 1 Stationary Engineer. Correctional staff consists of 6 Correctional Officers, 1 Sergeant and 1 Lieutenant. The primary mission of the camp is to provide fire crews for fire suppression within the State of California. In addition to fire suppression, inmate hand crews provide a work force for flood control, conservation projects and community service.
Daily work assignments include fuel reduction projects for fire safe councils, schools, and local, state, and federal agencies. Acres treated vary by project and stakeholder needs. As recognized by the fire plan, inmate labor for fuel reduction projects provides good training for fire crews and defensible space around valuable assets and infrastructure at a reasonable cost to the taxpayer. In addition, Deadwood Camp provides opportunities for inmates to learn skills in many different aspects including kitchen work, auto repair, cabinet making and basic facility maintenance.
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Yreka Interagency Command Center
The Siskiyou Unit has an Emergency Command Center known as the Yreka Interagency Command Center (YICC). The YICC is located at the Siskiyou Unit Headquarters in Yreka and is a collaboration of CAL FIRE, United States Forest Service (USFS) and County of Siskiyou staff. The YICC provides dispatching services for CAL FIRE, USFS, 30 local government departments and 5 ambulance companies. The YICC is responsible for emergency call taking, dispatching, and tracking of resources. The YICC has an Emergency Dispatcher at the console 24 hours a day. The YICC has one Battalion Chief, five Fire Captains and four Communications Operators for staffing. The Klamath National Forest has one Center Manager, two Assistant Center Managers and five Dispatchers. All personnel in the YICC are Emergency Medical Dispatch (EMD) qualified to provide medical instructions to 9-1-1 callers for medical emergencies. The YICC dispatches approximately 10,000 calls per year to all EMS and Fire agencies within Siskiyou County. The YICC is also the EMS Medical Helicopter Coordination Center for Siskiyou County. It is responsible for ordering medical helicopters when requested or if a certain call type meets Auto Launch criteria as set forth by guidelines within the EMD process. The Goal of the YICC is to meet and exceed the standards set in NFPA 1221 section
6.4.2. These standards specify that 95 percent of all alarms be answered within 15 seconds and 99 percent answered within 40 seconds. In addition, Section 6.4.3 specifics that 95 percent of all dispatching be completed within 60 seconds.
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Scott Valley Battalion
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Scott Valley Battalion (Battalion 1) is located within the north western portion of the Siskiyou Unit. The Battalion is bordered to the east by the Siskiyou Units Shasta Valley Battalion and bordered to the north, west and south by the Klamath National Forest. The Scott Valley Battalion consists of approximately 387,000 acres of State Direct Protection Area (DPA).
The majority of the State Responsibility Area (SRA) lands are in the foothills surrounding Local Responsibility Area (LRA) lands located on the valley floor and bordered by federal Responsibility Area (FRA) in the high mountainous areas. Approximately 56,000 acres of the Battalions Direct Protection Area are federal lands of the United States Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management.
The Battalions infrastructure includes the Fort Jones Fire Station, Duzel Rock Lookout, Quartz Hill Lookout as well as numerous seasonal water tanks located throughout the Battalion for fire suppression. The Battalions assigned fire suppression equipment includes one battalion chief vehicle (B-2611), two front line engines (E-2665 & E-2675), one reserve engine (E-2695), as well as a transport and dozer (TD-2642). Assigned personnel include one Battalion Chief, two Fire Captains, three Fire Apparatus Engineers and two Heavy Fire Equipment Operators.
During fire season staffing also includes approximately 10 to 14 seasonal firefighters. Lookouts are staffed during high fire danger or when severe lightning storms are predicted.
Within the Scott Valley Battalion, the Scott Valley Volunteer Fire Protection District, the Etna City Volunteer Fire Department, the Fort Jones Volunteer Fire Department, and the United States Forest Service (USFS) support the response to emergency incidents with Automatic and Mutual Aid Agreements. It is inevitable that despite the highly effective wildland fire protection system, some fires will continue to escape control efforts under extreme weather conditions, or when resource availability is limited due to significant fire activity. As a result, a collaboration of efforts between these resources, partnered with the communities and its members is necessary to create fire resilience.
Throughout the Battalion there are a significant number of residences within the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). This situation creates a complex WUI problem that requires attention and mitigation strategies to reduce the threat of catastrophic wildfires. The areas of Fort Jones, Etna, Greenview, Quartz Valley, and Callahan support the most populated areas within the Battalion. State Highway 3 runs through the middle of the Battalion with moderate traffic during the daylight hours. Vegetation types within the battalion include seasonal grasses, brush, and timber. Timber makes up approximately 85% of the Battalions vegetation type.
Approximately 15% of the vegetation type is comprised of large brush fields and annual grasses. Historically large fires have occurred throughout the Battalion. Weather and fuel conditions due to drought, combined with potential ignition sources have increased the possibility for large catastrophic wildfires to occur within recent years. Decreased timber 156
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harvesting, and increased number of individuals living and recreating within the battalion also contribute to this potential.
Weather patterns in the Battalion throughout the spring and summer months consist of warm and dry days with a moderate to strong afternoon winds. During the nighttime hours temperatures usually drop with some relative humidity recovery. Snowpack from the surrounding mountains contribute to the areas available water and vegetation moisture content.
The valleys surrounding seasonal snowpack has seen a significant reduction in recent years due to drought.
The topography of the Battalion includes portions of the lush, agricultural lands of the Scott Valley floor and extends upward into the timberland of the steep and rugged mountains. The mountain ranges and the local weather patterns support a natural mixture for severe electrical storms throughout most of the summer months. Often these storms are accompanied with strong winds and can have little to no precipitation associated with them.
The Scott Valley Battalion is fortunate to have several productive Fire Safe Councils (FSC).
Fire Safe Councils are non-profit community led organizations that work with communities and other cooperators to increase fire resilience over the landscape. Over the past several years these Councils have evolved into a vital part of the hazard mitigation and emergency response planning within the Battalion. Collectively these Fires Safe Councils have planned and completed several million dollars’ worth of fuels modification projects, reducing the fire threat in some target areas surrounding the foothills of the Scott Valley (See the attached spreadsheet of projected and completed projects within the Battalion). These projects include fuel breaks and hazardous fuels reduction along routes of ingress and egress. These Fire Safe councils include:
• Lower Scott River FSC
• French Creek FSC
• Quartz Valley Area FSC
• Rattlesnake Creek FSC
• Scott Bar FSC
• Scott Valley FSC
• Seiad Valley FSC
FIRE PREVENTION GOALS
GOAL # 1
Reduce the total fires in the Battalion.
a. Advertise fire prevention messages with fire prevention signs along major roadways. b. Work toward additional weeks of station staffing
c. Provide public training through one-on-one public contact. d. Educate the public with news releases and radio messages. e. Train with local fire departments and fire agencies to achieve common goals. f. Participate in local events for educational purposes. g. Increase the total number and effectiveness of defensible space inspections and promote an increasing level of compliance with defensible space laws (PRC4291). 157
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h. Increase the total number of power line inspections and promote increasing level of compliance with power line laws and regulations (PRC4293). i. Analyze trends in fire cause and focus prevention and education efforts to modify behavior and effect change.
GOAL # 2
Minimize fire size and reduce overall damage and costs associated with wildfires.
a. Support and assist Fire Safe Councils in identifying, obtaining and executing strategically placed fuel modification projects throughout the Battalion. b. Work with landowners to maintain access roads into remote fire prone areas. c. Interact with local timber operators, timberland owners, and resource management staff to identify active timber operations, to educate and reduce the fire threat from their operations.
d. Support the availability and utilization of CAL FIRE hand crews and other CAL FIRE resources for fuel management activities including new projects and ongoing maintenance of existing fuels modification projects.
GOAL # 3
Identify high hazard areas and plan for defending assets at risk. a. Open and maintain existing roads that lead into high fire prone areas. b. Preplan with collaborators to identify primary travel routes and safe refuge areas within the Battalion.
c. Facilitate activities with individuals and organizations, as appropriate, to assist individual property owners in complying with fire safe regulations and fuel reduction. d. Provide a direct community presence in high fire prone areas. Articulate and promote the concept of land use planning to homeowners and landowners, as it relates to fire risk and living within the WUI.
GOAL # 4
Continue to Foster Cooperation with allied agencies.
a. Host and attend multi agency trainings.
b. Attend Scott Valley Fire Chiefs and Scott Valley Consolidation meetings. c. Communicate with and involve allied agencies at all levels.
List of Stakeholders
• Residents within the Battalion
• Property owners within the Battalion
• Various Fire Safe Councils
• Siskiyou Prescribed Burn Association (PBA)
• Mid Klamath Watershed Council
• Scott River Watershed Council
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• Karuk Tribe
• Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District
• Timber Owners
o Fruit Growers Supply Company
o Eco Trust
o Michigan California
o Shasta Cascade
• Fire Departments
o Scott Valley FPD
o Etna FD
o Fort Jones FD
o Happy Camp FD
o Seiad Valley Fire Company
o Klamath River Fire Company
o Salmon River Fire Company
o CAL FIRE
o USFS Fire
• City of Etna
• City of Fort Jones
• Town of Greenview
• Town of Callahan
• CAL-TRANS Highway 3
• Pacific Power & Light (PacifiCorp)
• Siskiyou County Road Department
Pre-Fire Management Solutions
General description of the agreed-on target areas:
Target areas within the Scott Valley Battalion include communities and populated areas, infrastructure, and timber lands. Targeted areas include the west side of Scott Valley from Etna through Quartz Valley. The Fort Jones area from Scott River Road to Mineral Range Road.
The French Creek Road area and the Community of Callahan.
Key points of the local fire problem:
The Scott Valley Battalion is an extremely large area (387,000 acres). The Battalion contains only one CAL FIRE station. Response times can be extended due to long travel times to incidents. Inaccessible terrain also creates extended timeframes in locating and extinguishing ignitions. The high occurrence of lightning activity and lightning caused fires can sometimes overwhelm available resources within the battalion.
General description of the desired future condition:
Continued improvement and maintenance to existing fuel breaks and fuel reduction projects is vital in protecting the battalion from catastrophic wildfires. Concentrated work on strategically located fuel breaks and fuel reduction in areas within proximity to communities, critical infrastructure and timber lands should be completed. Fuel breaks should envelope these identified areas. Fuel breaks accompanied with fuel reduction within these areas will aid in protecting assets at risk. Prescribed fire projects should be conducted to reduce fuels and 159
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provide a fire resilient landscape. Maintenance and reclamation of access roads in fire prone areas should be completed. Maintenance of current water storage tanks for fire suppression as well as placement of further storage tanks in fire prone areas should occur. Maintenance and staffing of fire lookouts as well as the implementation of technological resources for early fire detection should be utilized. Public contact and prevention efforts should work to ensure a fire wise community. A fire wise community combined with early ignition detection within a fire resilient landscape will provide a safer fire environment for the battalion’s communities, stakeholders, and first responders.
Refer to the Siskiyou Unit’s Fire Plan for a detailed list of pre-fire projects within Battalion 1. 160
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Shasta Valley
Battalion
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Shasta Valley Battalion (Battalion II) is centrally located in the northern part of Siskiyou County with the north end bordering the State of Oregon and the Scott Valley Battalion to the west and Weed Battalion to the south. The Klamath National Forest (KNF) borders the east and west with several thousand acres of State Responsibility Area (SRA) extending into the KNF DPA. The Battalion is approximately 484,018 acres; 376,598 acres designated as SRA and 53,420 acres designated as Local Responsibility Area (LRA). It is comprised of the Siskiyou Unit Headquarters Station which houses two fire engines (E2664 & E2669) and one dozer (D2640), the Hornbrook Forest Fire Station which houses two fire engines (E2666 & E2668), and Paradise Craggy Lookout. Hornbrook Forest Fire Station is committed to year-round fire protection due to a contract with Siskiyou County as part of the Amador Plan. Both stations are open year-round for fire permit issuance and other public services. Paradise Craggy Lookout is only staffed with emergency workers during high fire danger days as well as during and after lightning storms.
Fuel types consist of grass, brush and timber that cover flat, rolling hills, and mountainous terrain. Much of the timberlands are fueled with medium to heavy slash from past logging operations. Interstate 5 and Highways 3, 96, 99, 263, as well as the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) railroad line run through the center of the Battalion. There are several major electrical transmission lines running north-south through the Battalion. The Battalion has a significant wildland urban interface (WUI) problem with many houses dispersed amongst the wildland areas. Due to the significant WUI problem, the lack of immediate water sources, and long travel times, much of the prevention efforts have been focused on reducing the potential for large fire losses by public education and enforcement of the California Public Resource Code Section 4291, which requires up to one hundred feet of fuel reduction/clearance around structures.
The weather patterns in the Battalion throughout the spring and summer months consist of warm and dry days with moderate to strong afternoon winds. The Shasta Valley is very prone to steady strong north winds in the summer and very strong south wind in the winter months.
During the nighttime hours, the temperature usually drops with some relative humidity recovery.
Although the wildland fire statistics do not display fires on local response area (LRA) land, in past years LRA has hosted many of the Battalion’s largest fires that have threatened to burn state responsibility areas (SRA). Many of these fires were found to have the same causes as the SRA fires.
The Siskiyou Unit is active in local community outreach programs, such as food / toy drives, school programs, Fire Prevention Week programs and public safety messages. Several fire 161
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prevention signs are displayed throughout the battalion along major roadways in support of these programs.
Existing Prevention Sign Locations:
• Copco Road near railroad tracks.
• Ager-Beswick Road at Omega Road.
• Ager Road at Yreka-Ager Road.
• Old Hwy. 99 south of Yreka near South Yreka F.D. (Also visible from Interstate 5)
• Hwy. A-12 east of Grenada.
• Hwy. 263 north of Yreka
FIRE PREVENTION GOALS
Goal #1
Reduce the total number of fires in the Battalion.
a. Advertise fire prevention messages with fire prevention signs along majorroadways. b. Educate children utilizing school programs.
c. Public education through public participation in local events and fire safe councils. d. Public education through news releases.
e. Public education during burn permits issuance on proper and legal burningtechniques.
Goal # 2
Reduce the impact of large, damaging fires in the Battalion. a. Educate and enforce on proper clearances around structures, per PRC 4291. b. California Public Resources Code Section 4291 using the LE-100 inspection program. c. Support County and Battalion Fire Safe Councils.
d. Assist with fuel reduction programs and fuel break projects. e. Support the California Public Resources Code Section 4290 program, which applies to new construction, to develop safer ingress and egress by establishing road and address standards, develop water supplies for emergency use, and delineate setbacks for fuel break / greenbelt development.
Goal # 3
Reduce the number of Intentionally caused fires.
a. Train with State and Local Fire personnel on fire scene preservation. b. Reduce the number of Undetermined fires.
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List of Stakeholders
• Residents within the Battalion
• Property owners within the Battalion
• Timber Owners
o Land Vest
o Timber Products
o Fruit Growers Supply Company
• U.S. Forest Service, Klamath National Forest
• BLM Medford
• BLM Redding
• County of Siskiyou
• CAL-TRANS: Highways 3,96,263, and Interstate 5
• Pacific Power & Light (PacifiCorp)
• Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP)
• Fire Safe Councils
o Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County
o Copco/Bogus
o Yreka Area Fire Safe Council
Guys Gulch Working Group
Shamrock Working Group
Greenhorn Working Group
Rolling Hills Working Group
Hawkinsville Working Group
Yreka Working Group
o Black Mountain Fire Safe Council
• Siskiyou County Fire Departments within or bordering the Shasta ValleyBattalion o Hilt Fire Hose Company
o Hornbrook Fire Department
o Copco Fire Department
o Mayten Fire Department
o Yreka Fire Department
o South Yreka Fire Department
o Montague Fire Department
o Grenada Fire Department
o Klamath River Fire Hose Company
o Klamath National Forest
o Oregon Department of Forestry
• Cities and Communities within the Shasta Valley Battalion o City of Yreka
o City of Montague
o Town of Grenada
o Town of Hornbrook
o Community of Klamath River Country Estates
o Community of Copco
o Community of Klamath River
o Community of Big Springs
o Community of Little Shasta
o Community of Hilt
o Community of Colestine
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Pre-Fire Management Solutions
General description of the agreed-on target areas:
Target areas within the Shasta Valley Battalion include all populated areas and communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resource assets at risk. Identifying and treating target areas should be a collaborative effort between stakeholders and cooperators to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
Key points of the local fire problem:
The Shasta Valley Battalion covers a large area (484,018 acres) with only 2 CAL FIRE Stations.
Response times can be extended due to long travel times to incidents. Inaccessible terrain also creates extended timeframes in locating and extinguishing ignitions. Receptive fuels, local weather patterns and major highways running through the Battalion contribute to the potential for a high frequency of fires along with rapid fire growth. The high occurrence of lightning activity and lightning caused fires can sometimes overwhelm available resources within the battalion.
General description of the desired future condition:
The future desired condition for the Shasta Valley Battalion is to reduce the total number and size of fires within the Battalion by creating a fire resilient landscape through pre-fire planning, pre-fire engineering, fire prevention information and fuel reduction work in addition to maintaining early detection and aggressive initial attack.
To accomplish this the Battalion will continue educating the public through fire prevention messages via signs, school programs, news releases, meetings and local events while maintaining a positive presence within the community using these programs.
Pre-fire planning and engineering will include developing pre-plans, completing defensible space inspections, conducting damage inspections post fire, issuing burn permits and ensuring compliance with burning regulations.
Fuel reduction efforts will seek to improve and maintain existing fuel breaks concentrating on areas that provide ingress and egress into and around communities. Also, fuel breaks that are strategically advantageous for fire suppression and are close to communities and residences.
Treatments will be geared towards modifying and connecting fuel breaks to completely envelope these areas.
Work will continue towards maintaining and reclaiming forest access roads to areas that are prone to high lightning activity with a focus on clearing and repairing roads and water crossings.
Continue to assess the need for water sources in areas of the Battalion where water is scarce.
Maintenance and staffing of lookouts should continue to be a focus to aid in early fire detection.
Refer to the Siskiyou Unit’s Fire Plan for a detailed list of pre-fire projects within Shasta Valley Battalion.
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BUTTE VALLEY/ WEED BATTALION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Butte Valley-Weed Battalion (Battalion III) consists of two state fire stations. The staffing for the Battalion is as follows: One Battalion Chief (Battalion 2613), Weed Station: Two permanent Fire Captains and four permanent Fire Apparatus Engineers. Approximately 10 to 14 seasonal firefighters complete the peak summer staffing. The Fire Apparatus assigned to Weed Station are Engine 2663 (Model # 34) and Engine 2677 (Model # 34). Macdoel Station:
Staffed during fire season with two permanent Fire Captains and one Limited Term Relief Fire Captain. Approximately five to nine seasonal firefighters complete the station summer staffing.
The Fire Apparatus assigned to Macdoel station is Engine 2660 (Model # 34).
There are approximately 364,000 acres of Direct Protection Area in the Battalion. The fuel types include timber, juniper, desert sage and grassland. Most areas are arid with minimal surface water available for firefighting. There are many areas with poor access due to volcanic geographic features. Most of the vegetation cover needs windy and dry conditions to burn intensely. The weather presents this condition many days throughout the year.
Most of the residents are in the cities of Weed, Dorris, Tulelake, and the communities of Macdoel, Gazelle, Lake Shastina, Hammond Ranch, Mount Shasta Vista Subdivision, and the Carrick Subdivision located northeast of Weed. Interstate 5 and State Highway 97 run through the Battalion with heavy traffic during most times of the day. The Union Pacific (UP) Railroad has tracks through the Weed area and through the Butte Valley. The Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad (CORP) has tracks from Weed heading North through the Shasta Valley.
There are several sets of major electrical transmission lines that run north - south through the Battalion.
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FIRE PREVENTION GOALS
GOAL # 1
To reduce the total fires in the Battalion:
a. Advertise fire prevention messages with fire prevention signs along majorroadways. b. LE-100 Inspections.
c. Educate children utilizing school programs.
d. Public education through public contact and Fire Safe Council outreach. e. Participation in local events.
f. News releases.
GOAL # 2
Reduce the impact of a large fire in the Battalion:
a. LE-100 inspections.
b. Fire Safe training to home-owner groups and other community groups. c. Assist with fuel reduction programs and fuel break projects. d. Obtain funding to perform or contract the work done for fuels projects. e. Support the PRC 4290 and 4291 Program.
f. Support Fire Safe Councils.
g. Improve and develop water storage for fire suppression.
GOAL # 3
Instill Fire Prevention Goals and State Regulations to local Government Fire Depts. a. Jointly train and help local government fire departments. b. Assist in prevention and planning with local government. c. Assist with media handouts and information material.
List of Stakeholders
• Residents within the Battalion
• Property owners within the Battalion
• Timber owners:
o Roseburg Forest Products
o Sierra Pacific Industry
o Hearst Corporation
o Hancock/Olympic Forests
o Land Vest
o Timber Products
o U.S. Forest Service, Klamath National Forest
o U.S. Forest Service, Shasta-Trinity National Forest
o Bureau of Land Management
o Michigan California Timber Company
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Siskiyou County Fire Departments
(Auto/Mutual Aid Agreements)
o Weed FD
o Lake Shastina CSD
o Gazelle FD
o Butte Valley FD
o Dorris FD
o Hammond Ranch FZ
o Mount Shasta Vista FZ
o Pleasant Valley FZ
o Tulelake FD
o Tennant CSD
o USFS (KNF and SHF)
o CAL FIRE
o Oregon Department of Forestry
Cities and Communities
o City of Weed
o City of Dorris
o City of Tulelake
o College of the Siskiyou’s
o Town of Gazelle
o Town of Macdoel
o Town of Tennant
o Town of Edgewood
o Mount Shasta Vista Subdivision
o Carrick Addition Subdivision
o Pleasant Valley Subdivision
o Lake Shastina CSD
o Hammond Ranch
Additional Cooperators
o CAL-TRANS
o California Department of Fish and Game
o Pacific Power & Light (Pacific Corp)
o Siskiyou County
o Union Pacific Railroad (UP)
o Lake Shastina CSD/ Rancho Hills Subdivision
o Boyd Farms
o Shasta Valley Farms
o Lassen Canyon Nursery
o Red Rock Ranch
o Sierra Pacific Ranches
o Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
Fire Safe Councils
o Butte Valley FSC
o Greater Lake Shastina FSC
o Greater Weed Area FSC
o Juniper Flat FSC
o Hammond Ranch FSC
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PRE-FIRE MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
General description of the agreed-on target areas:
Target areas within the Butte Valley/Weed Battalion include all populated areas and communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resource assets at risk. Identifying and treating target areas should be a collaborative effort between stakeholders and cooperators to maximize effectiveness and efficiency. One of the major local fire problems the Battalion is encountering is the Mount Shasta Vista Subdivision. The area that is East of Big Springs road, West of highway 97 and North and South of County road A-12 has seen a major influx in population. It is estimated that the population in that area has increased by 6,000+ in 2020.
The main issues associated with this influx are the possible increase in ignition sources, additional building issues, and un-permitted building. The Battalion will continue to provide public education in different languages to reach as many people as possible regarding fire safety. This area has caused a spike in the Battalion’s responses to nuisance fires, vegetation fires, structure fires and illegal burning. The density of the population, compounded with the narrow roads, language barriers, and an inability to do LE-100 inspections for safety concerns, make this area a high priority for fire and emergency planning.
Key points of the local fire problem:
Extremely large area (364,000 acres), only two CAL FIRE stations in the Battalion, inaccessible terrain and/or long travel times. High occurrence of lightning activity and lightning caused fires. Area is subject to high winds creating fast moving fires with long range spotting potential. Major highways and populated communities present the potential for a high frequency of fires with potential for rapid fire growth through wildland urban interface areas.
General description of the future condition:
The future desired condition for the Butte Valley/Weed Battalion is to reduce the total number and size of fires within the Battalion by creating a fire resilient landscape through pre-fire planning, pre-fire engineering, fire prevention information and fuel reduction work in addition to maintaining early detection and aggressive initial attack.
To accomplish this the Battalion will continue educating the public through fire prevention messages via signs, school programs, news releases, meetings and local events while maintaining a positive presence within the community using these programs.
Pre-fire planning and engineering will include developing pre-plans, completing defensible space inspections, conducting damage inspections post fire, issuing burn permits, and ensuring compliance with burning regulations.
Fuel reduction efforts will seek to improve and maintain existing fuel breaks concentrating on areas that provide ingress and egress into and around communities. Also, fuel breaks that are strategically advantageous for fire suppression and are close to communities and 168
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residences. Treatments will be geared towards modifying and connecting fuel breaks to completely envelope these areas.
Work will continue towards maintaining and reclaiming forest access roads to areas that are prone to high lightning activity with a focus on clearing and repairing roads and water crossings.
Continue to assess the need for water sources in areas of the Battalion where water is scarce.
Refer to the Siskiyou Unit’s Fire Plan for a detailed list of pre-fire projects within Butte Valley/Weed Battalion
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McCloud Battalion
Executive Summary:
McCloud Battalion (Battalion IV) is in Southern
Siskiyou County and parts of northern Shasta
County. Total acreage for the Battalion is
267,855 acres. Two fire stations are maintained in Battalion IV. The Pondosa Station is a seasonal station located on Highway 89, four miles from the old logging mill town Pondosa. During fire season both stations are equipped with two fire engines. McCloud Station operates E2662 (model #34) and E2679 (model #34) and Pondosa Station operates E2661 (model #34) and E2667 (model #34).
A Battalion Chief (B2614), four Fire Captains (FC) and eight Fire Apparatus Engineers (FAE), staff Battalion IV. During the summer months, the staffing is augmented by seasonal employees including up to twenty-eight seasonal Firefighters.
The State Responsibility Area (SRA) within Battalion IV is made up of both private and federal lands, almost entirely timber. The Fire Hazard Ranking for Battalion IV is High and Very High. Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) challenges exist within Battalion IV around the communities of Dunsmuir, Mt. Shasta, and McCloud. Of concern are the rural areas on the east side of Mt. Shasta City, and in Mount Shasta Forest and Wilderness Estate subdivisions to the east of McCloud. Interstate 5 (I-5) and State Highway 89 (Hwy 89) are major routes that run through the Battalion with heavy traffic during most times of the day. The Union Pacific (UP) Railroad has tracks that run north and south through the town of Dunsmuir and the City of Mt. Shasta. There are several sets of major electrical transmission lines that run north and south through the east side of the battalion. Also, a major natural gas pipeline runs north and south through the eastern portion of the Battalion.
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Fire Prevention Goals
GOAL #1
Prevent loss of life and property within the Battalion. o Actively seek opportunities to provide fire safety information to the public. o Continue participation in programs that are already established. o LE-100 inspections.
o Update maps with water sources and fuel breaks.
GOAL #2
Prevent human caused fires by providing homeowners and stakeholders with information about safe burning practices and current burn regulations. o All employees will be well versed in current burn policies. o Collect all fire plans from timber companies, ensure employees are familiar with locations of logging operations and access.
o Public education through public contact.
o Distribute wildfire safety brochures.
GOAL #3
Reduce the impact of large fires in the Battalion.
o Assist and participate with fuel reduction programs and fuel break projects. o Work with cooperators to improve access via road systems in the Battalion. o Support and assist the Fire Safe Councils in Mt. Shasta, Dunsmuir, and McCloud. o Will work with local, federal, and private landowners to foster training andbuild relationships that ensure aggressive initial attack.
List of Stakeholders
• Residents
• Property Owners
• Timber Owners
o Hancock Forest Management
o Hearst Corporation
o Campbell Timberland Management
o Land Vest
o Schrool Timberland
o Sierra Pacific Industry
o W.M. Beatty and Associates
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• USFS Shasta Trinity National Forest
• BLM
• Cal Trans Interstate 5 and Highway 89
• Siskiyou County
• Greater McCloud Fire and Emergency Response Zone
• Mt. Shasta Forest Property Owners Association
• McCloud River Railroad
• Willow Creek Ranch
• City of Dunsmuir
• City of Mt. Shasta
• McCloud Community Service District
• Fire Departments
o McCloud Fire Department
o Mt. Shasta City Fire Department
o Mt. Shasta Fire Protection District
o Dunsmuir Fire Department
o Mt. Shasta Forest Volunteers
o Solider Mountain Fire Department (Shasta County)
• Fire Safe Councils
o McCloud Fire Safe Council
o Mt. Shasta Area Fire Safe Council
o Dunsmuir Fire Safe Council
o Siskiyou County Fire Safe Council
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Pre-Fire Management Solutions
General description of the agreed-on target areas:
Target areas within the McCLoud Battalion include all populated areas and communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resource assets at risk. Identifying and treating target areas should be a collaborative effort between stakeholders and cooperators to maximize effectiveness and efficiency.
Key points of the local fire problem:
The McCloud Battalion covers a large area with only 2 CAL FIRE stations with three of the larger communities in the Unit. Response times can be extended due to long travel times to incidents. Inaccessible terrain also creates extended timeframes in locating and extinguishing ignitions. Remote housing developments, major highways, major railroad, logging, and tourism in the Battalion contribute to the potential for a high frequency of fires along with rapid fire growth. The high occurrence of lightning activity and lightning caused fires can sometimes overwhelm available resources within the battalion.
General description of the desired future condition:
The future desired condition for the McCloud Battalion is to reduce the total number and size of fires within the Battalion by creating a fire resilient landscape through pre-fire planning, pre-fire engineering, fire prevention information and fuel reduction work in addition to maintaining early detection and aggressive initial attack.
To accomplish this the Battalion will continue educating the public through fire prevention messages via signs, school programs, news releases, meetings and local events while maintaining a positive presence within the community using these programs. Promote the use of early notifications via various communications including the Code Red alert system throughout the battalion.
Pre-fire planning and engineering will include developing pre-plans, completing defensible space inspections, conducting damage inspections post fire, issuing burn permits, origin and cause investigation and ensuring compliance with burning regulations.
Fuel reduction efforts will seek to improve and maintain existing fuel breaks concentrating on areas that provide ingress and egress into and around communities. Also, fuel breaks that are strategically advantageous for fire suppression and are in close to communities and residences. Treatments will be geared towards modifying and connecting fuel breaks to completely envelope these areas.
Work will continue towards maintaining and reclaiming forest access roads to areas that are prone to high lightning activity with a focus on clearing and repairing roads and water crossings. Continue to assess the need for water sources in areas of the Battalion where water is scarce. Battalion personnel will ensure two-way communication with logging companies and the railroad to ensure notifications are given and received regarding current logging operations and maintenance of the railroad right-of-way.
Refer to the Siskiyou Unit’s Fire Plan for a detailed list of pre-fire projects within Shasta Valley Battalion. 173
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APPENDIX A: PRE- FIRE PROJECTS
Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
I 21CASKUT260009 Deadwood Defensible Space O
Fuel
Modification 101
I Etna Fuel Break P
Fuel
Modification 100
I 04-DG-11050555 Scott River Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2004 Fuel
Modification 70
I 06-USFS-8908 Lower Scott River Access Roads SFB NC 2006 Fuel
Modification 100
I 06-DG-11050555-021 West Community Shaded Fuel Break M 2006 Fuel
Modification 69
I 06-DG-11050555-022 Sniktaw Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2006 Fuel
Modification 40
I 06-DG-11050555-021 West Community Shaded Fuel Break C 2006 Fuel
Modification 69
I 07UFS9552 Lower Scott River Access Road II NC 2007
Fuel
Modification 50
I 07-DG-11050500-017 French Creek Fuel Break Segment 1 C 2008 Fuel
Modification 44
I 07-DG-11050500-025 Tyler Gulch Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2008 Fuel
Modification 57
I
21CASKUT260038 Etna High School O
Fuel
Modification 35
I 08USFS0109
Elderly & Disabled Landowner Defensible
Space C 2008
Fuel
Modification 60
I 07-DG-11050500-017 French Creek Fuel Break Segment 1 C 2008 Fuel
Modification 44
I 07-DG-11050500-025 Tyler Gulch Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2008 Fuel
Modification 57
07-DG-11050500-023 Rattlesnake Creek Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2008 Fuel
Modification 52
I 07-DG-11050500-022 Old English Road Shaded Fuel Break C 2009 Fuel
Modification 51
I 09USFS-X-0075 (1417) Dangle Lane Shaded Fuel Break C 2010 Fuel
Modification 70
I 09USFS-SFA0090 (930)
French Creek Shaded Fuel Break Seg. B, C
& E C 2010
Fuel
Modification 86
I 09BLM0113 (1388)
Four Corners Community Safety Fuel Break
Phases 3-4-5 C 2010
Fuel
Modification 96
I 09BLM-0093 (931)
Four Corners Community Safety Fuel Break
Phase 6 C 2010
Fuel
Modification 151
I 09USFS-0096 (1519) Lower Scott River Escape Route C 2011 Fuel
Modification 170
I 09USFS-X-0095 (1518) Scott River Watershed Elderly & Disabled C 2011 Fuel
Modification 60
I 09UFS-0099 (1521) Lower Scott River Ridgetop Fuel Break C 2011 Fuel
Modification 170
I 09UFS-0100 (1522)
Lower Scott River Road Fuel Break
Maintenance C 2011
Fuel
Modification 70
I 10USFS-ES0333 French Creek Road Shaded Fuel Break NC 2012 Fuel
Modification
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Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
I 10USFS-ES0329
Big Meadows Recreation Area Hazardous
Fuels Reduction NC 2012
Fuel
Modification 255
I 10USFS-ES0336 Western Scott Valley Shaded Fuel Break NC 2012 Fuel
Modification 270
I 10-DG-11050500-014
Scott Valley Multiple Municipality Wildland
Fire Protection Project A 2012
Fuel
Modification 120
I 11USFS-SFA-X-0038 Old High CCC Road Shaded Fuel Break NC 2012 Fuel
Modification 177
I 11USFS-SFA0072 Scott River Watershed CWPP Completion C 2012 Planning I 11-DG-11051000-017 Western Siskiyou Sustainable Fuel Break C 2013 Fuel
Modification 59
I 10CA-11051000-027
Orleans Private Property Fuels Treatment
Project C 2013
Fuel
Modification 203
I 11-DG-11050500-027
Shackleford Falls Recreation Area Fuels
Reduction C 2013
Fuel
Modification
I 12-DG-11050500-018 Emergency Water Development for Callahan C 2013 Water
Development N/A
I GT-151-SKU-003 Soap Creek Fuel Break Maintenance C 2013 Fuel
Modification 42
I Soap Creek Ridge South Shaded Fuel Break C 2014
Fuel
Modification 24
I 21CASKUT260035
21CASKUT260036 Scott River Ranch VMP P 2029
Fuel
Modification 1000
I 21CASKUT260037 Soap Creek Craggy FB A 2021
Fuel
Modification 25
I 20CASKUT260004 Soap Creek Ridge North Fuel Break M 2021 Fuel
Modification 43
I 18CASKUT260011 Scott Bar Mtn. Under Burn C 2018
Fuel
Modification 241
I 18CASKUT26020 Jones Beach Fuel Reduction C 2018
Fuel
Modification 24
I 19CASKUT260021 Scott River Road Fuel Reduction C 2019 Fuel
Modification 103
I 20CASKUT260024 Tennessee Ridge Fuel Reduction A 2020
Fuel
Modification 34
I 20CASKUT260022 Mill Creek Fuel Reduction A 2019
Fuel
Modification 17
I 18-FP-SKU-1201 Salmon River CWPP P CWPP
I 21CASKUT260045 KNF McBaldy A 2020
Fuel
Modification 148
I Spencer VMP P 2031
Fuel
Modification 1300
I 21CASKUT260060 Emigrant A 2021
Fuel
Modification 10
I 21CASKUT260063 KNF McAdams Ck A 2021
Fuel
Modification 65
I 21CASKUT260065 Stapleton Rx (PBA) A 2021
Fuel
Modification 5
I 20CASKUT260068 Greek C 2019
Fuel
Modification 25
I 21CASKUT260069 Taylor Rx A 2022
Fuel
Modification 8
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Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
I 20CASKUT260071 Island Rx C 2020
Fuel
Modification 66
I 21CASKUT260073 KNF Steamboat A 2021
Fuel
Modification 79
I 21CASKUT260004 Soap Creek Ridge N FB M
Fuel
Modification 30
II 14USFS-SFA-0075 Black Mountain, Phase III C
Fuel
Modification 50
II Siskiyou Golden Fair O
Public
Outreach
II 21CASKUT260019 Hornbrook Cal Trans O
Fuel
Modification 20
II 21CASKUT260030 Yreka Cal Trans O Fuel 191
II 21CASKUT260005 Shasta Valley Wildlife M Modification 150 II 09UFS0159 FSCSC Fuel Reduction 2009 C 2011
Fuel
Modification 50
II 09-DG-11050500-064
Yreka Area FSC Elderly & Disabled Def.
Space C 2012
Fuel
Modification 30
II 11USFS-SFA0073 Yreka Area FSC CWPP Development C 2012 Planning II 11USFS-SFA-X-0086
Yreka Area Defensible Space Fuels
Reduction Project C 2012
Fuel
Modification 124
II 11USFS_SFA-X-0100
Yreka Area Critical Ingress/Egress Shaded
Fuel Break C 2012
Fuel
Modification 150
II 12USFS-SFA216 R Ranch Shaded Fuel Break Project C 2013 Fuel
Modification 30
II 10-DG-11050500-014 Seiad Water Source Development C 2013 Water
Development N/A
II 03USF-0123 Black Mountain, Phase II C 2015
Fuel
Modification 50
II 13USFS-SFA-0122 Klamath River Phase II C 2015 40
II 18CASKUT260042 Houghton Ranch C 2018
Fuel
Modification 315
II 21CASKUT260032 Baird Ranch M
Fuel
Modification 50
II 18CASKUT260035 Pine Mountain Yreka C 2018
Fuel
Modification 89
II 21CASKUT260027 Greenhorn KNF A 2021
Fuel
Modification 66
II 21CASKUT260008 White Rock Shooting Range O
Fuel
Modification 26
II 21CASKUT260058 Bogus Creek VMP A 2029
Fuel
Modification 1400
II 19CASKUT260028 Nature Conservancy C 2019
Fuel
Modification 1353
II 21CASKUT260033 BLM Humbug A 2022
Fuel
Modification 174
II 21CASKUT260007 E Yreka Oaks FR P 2022
Fuel
Modification
II 21CASKUT260050 KNF Badger A 2021
Fuel
Modification 26
176
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Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
II
21CASKUT260061 Hornbrook Station O
Fuel
Modification 13
II 21CASKUT260040 Newton Broadcast A 2021
Fuel
Modification 87
II Greater Yreka Fuel Reduction P
Fuel
Modification 605
II 21CASKUT260057
21CASKUT260077 Craggy GNA/ Craggy Contractor A 2023
Fuel
Modification 1002
II 18-FP-SKU-1141 Yreka Area Pre-Suppression Planning A 2021 Planning III 21CASKUT260034 Siskiyou County Airports O
Fuel
Modification 33
III College of the Siskiyou’s C Fuel
Modification
200
III 21CASKUT260026 Grass Lake Cal Trans O Fuel
Modification 1330
III Tulelake Fair O Public
Outreach
III 15-CA-110505000-018 Tennant Fuel Reduction Phase I A Fuel Modification 100
III Tennant Fuel Reduction Phase II A Fuel
Modification 86
III Tennant Fuel Reduction Phase III P Fuel
Modification 65
III 14USFS-SFA-X-0074 Butte Valley Fuel Reduction A Fuel Modification 50
III Old Edgewood Road M 2009 Fuel
Modification 12
III 09USFS0102 (935) Juniper Flat Hazardous Fuel Reduction C 2010 Fuel
Modification 50
III 10UFS-0650 4th Annual Juniper Flat Free Chipper Days C 2010 Fuel
Modification
III 10USFSES314 Weed City Fuel Break C 2011 Fuel
Modification 50
III Shastina Drive-S. Weed Blvd C 2011 Fuel
Modification 50
III Columbus C 2011 Fuel
Modification 3
III 10USFS-ES0465
Hammond Ranch Community Hazardous
Fuel Reduction C 2012
Fuel
Modification 50
III 10UFS-0653
Juniper Flat FSC Hazardous Fuels
Reduction, Phase 2 C 2012
Fuel
Modification 100
III 11USFS-SFA-X-0042
Juniper Flat Defensible Perimeter Fuel
Break, Phase I C 2012 100
III 11USFS-SFA-X-0120 Hammond Ranch Community Hazardous Fuels Reduction Project, Phase 2 C 2012
Fuel
Modification 90
III RAC2012 Siskiyou Fire Warden Brush Chipper C 2012 Equipment III RAC2011
Pleasant Valley Senior Fuel Reduction
Project C 2013 Fuel Modification 25
III Juniper Flat Escape Route Chipper Days C 2013 Fuel
Modification
III 13USFS-SFA-0123
South Weed Fuel Break
(Weed City Fuel Break V) C 2014 Fuel Modification
40 177
53 Updated: May 5, 2021
Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
III Observatory Hill Fuels Reduction C 2014 Fuel
Modification 60
III East Weed Fuel Break Phase III
Maintenance A 2014 Fuel Modification 51
III 21CASKUT260029 Tule Lake Rx 1A A 2021 Fuel
Modification 2500
III 12-DG-11050500-011 Pleasant Valley Senior Project C 2014 Fuel Modification 25
III RAC2010 Pleasant Valley Water Storage C 2015 Water Tanks III 13USFS-SFA-0123 West Weed Fuel Reduction C 2015 Fuel Modification 26.8
III RAC2010 Hammond Ranch Water Storage P 2017 Water Tanks III 19CASKUT260036 Erickson C 2018
Fuel
Modification 296
III 19CASKUT260037 Mt Shasta Vista C 2018
Fuel
Modification
III 19CASKUT260016 Modoc Gulch C 2018 Fuel
Modification 591
III 2600-2020-FPL-015 Juniper Flat Comprehensive Fuel Reduction A 2024 Fuel
Modification 2800
III 2400-2019-FPL-008 Lake Shastina Fuels Treatment (45 Day Report) C 2019 Fuel Modification 389
III 19CASKUT260029 Mt. Hebron C 2019 Fuel
Modification 36
III 20CASKUT260044 Weed City Water Tanks C 2019 Fuel
Reduction 24
III 20CASKUT260046 Hammond Ranch C 2020 Fuel
Modification 61
III 19CASKUT260049 Big Springs RX C 2019 Fuel
Modification 5
III 19CASKUT260007 Shasta O Ranch VMP C 2019 VMP 496
III 20CASKUT2600 Tennant C 2020 Fuel
Modification 138
III 21CASKUT260003 Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge O Fuel
Modification 78
III 19CASKUT260015 Meiss Lake Road P Fuel
Modification 56
III 19CASKUT260023 Big Springs Fuel Break C 2019 Fuel
Modification 116
III 21CASKUT260001 East Weed Fuel Break P Fuel
Modification 12
III 18-FP-SKU-1024
Hammond Ranch Area Hazardous Fuel
Reduction Project A 2022
Fuel
Modification 240
III 20CASKUT260002 MCWD Dwinnell C 2020
Fuel
Modification 20
III 21CASKUT260023 Rancho Chipping A 2021
Fuel
Modification
III 21CASKUT260053 Lower Klamath Rx A 2021
Fuel
Modification 2184
III 20CASKUT260054 Bray Under-burn C 2020
Fuel
Modification 1475
178
54 Updated: May 5, 2021
Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
III 21CASKUT260067 Butte Valley Broadcast P
Fuel
Modification
III-IV Interstate 5 Fuels Treatment A 2023 Fuel
Modification 480
IV 18-FP-SKU-1025
McCloud Community Perimeter Shaded Fuel
Break A Fuel Modification 67
IV Sacramento Headwaters Fuel Reduction
(Spring Hill) A Fuel Modification 150
IV 21CASKUT260031 Mt Shasta Cal Trans O Fuel
Modification 503
IV 01-BLM-0098 McCloud FMZ Phase #1 C 2003 Fuel
Modification 83
IV 02-BLM0-0076 McCloud FMZ Phase #2 C 2004 Fuel
Modification 32
IV 04-DG-11051400-005 McCloud FMZ Phase #3 C 2006 Fuel
Modification 52
IV 05-BLM-0209 McCloud FMZ Phase #4 C 2006 Fuel
Modification 43
IV 07USFS9430 McCloud FMZ Phase #4B C 2006 Fuel
Modification 24
IV 07USFS9434 Shasta Forest Interface Project 1 C 2007 Fuel 49 IV Bascom Wood C 2011 Fuel
Modification 240
IV South Dunsmuir Fuel Break P 2011 Fuel
Modification 20
IV 09-DG-11052912-151- Rainbow Ridge Fuel Break Phase II C 2011 Fuel Modification 20
IV 10USFS0379 Lake Siskiyou Phase V C 2012 Fuel
Modification 40
IV 10USFS-ES0382 Rainbow Ridge Fuel Break Phase I C 2012 Fuel Modification 44
IV 10USFS SFA 0504 Dunsmuir Fuel Reduction Project C 2012 Fuel Modification 56
IV McCloud FMZ #5 C 2012 Fuel
Modification 73
IV 09-D6-11052912151-SKU002 Azalea C 2013 Fuel
Modification 40
IV 12UFS0173
SW Mt. Shasta Fuel Reduction Project,
Phase II C 2014 Fuel Modification 83
IV Azalea Herbicide C 2014 Maintenance 35
IV 19CASKUT260002 Thamar Shaded Fuel Break C 2015 Fuel
Modification 46
IV 13USFS-SFA-0135
NE Mt. Shasta Fuel Reduction Project,
Phase III C 2015 Fuel Modification 76
IV 13USFS-SFA-0142
Dunsmuir Fuel Reduction Connection 2013-
RCD C 2015 Fuel Modification 58
IV 19CASKUT260041 Pilgrim RX C 2018 Fuel
Modification 339
IV 18CASKUT260013 South Mt. Shasta Fuel Break C 2018 Fuel Modification 10
179
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Status Guide: A= Active, P= Planning, C= Completed, O= Ongoing, M= Maintenance, NC= Not Complete Batt Project Number Project Name Status
Estimated
Completion
Year Project Type Net
Acres
IV 21CASKU260017 Pondosa Station Fuel Reduction O Fuel
Modification 6
IV 21CASKU260017 Mt Shasta Fish Hatchery Fuel Reduction M 2020 Fuel Modification 31
IV 21CASKUT260047 Siskiyou County Flood O Fuel
Modification 275
IV 19CASKUT260051 Shasta Acres C 2019 Fuel
Modification 50
IV 21CASKUT260006 Squaw Valley Fuel Break A 2021 Fuel
Modification 212
IV 21CASKUT260012 Mt Shasta Sewer Ponds M 2020 Fuel
Modification 15
IV 19CASKUT260010 So. Mt. Shasta Fuel Break Phase 2 C 2019 Fuel Modification 60
IV 21CASKUT260048 Castle Crags A 2021 Fuel
Modification 116
IV 21CASKUT260015 Azalea Fuel Break A 2021 Fuel
Modification 120
IV 20CASKUT260016 Spring Meadows P 2021 Fuel
Modification 2
IV 20CASKUT260059 Dunsmuir High School O
Fuel
Modification 17
IV 21CASKUT260043 Deetz Rd. A 2021 Fuel
Modification 11
IV 20CASKUT260062 Shastice Park O
Fuel
Modification 7
IV 20CASKUT260064 SHF Elk C 2022 Fuel
Modification 3500
IV 21CASKUT260039 Siskiyou 89 C 2020 Fuel
Modification 26
IV 21CASKUT260074 SHF Bike A 2021 Fuel
Modification
I-IV School and Education Programs O Public
Outreach
I-IV 06BLM9058 FSCSC Planning and Coordination Support C 2008 CWPP I-IV 09USFS0159
Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County Fuel
Reduction C 2011 Fuel Modification 50
I-IV 10UFS0548 FSCSC Fuel Reduction 2010 C 2012 Fuel
Modification 298
180
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APPENDIX B: UNIT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
• Identify and evaluate assets at risk while collaboratively developing and sharing common data sets.
o Develop streamlined data collection tools within the Unit to present consistent data sets for timely analysis and reporting.
o Collect and create updated maps and GIS data layers within the unit forownership, assets at risk, operations, hazards, fire history, ignitions and any other pertinent data as needed.
o Evaluate and protect against emerging threats such as climate change, insect and disease outbreaks and hazardous fuel conditions.
o Engage with local groups (e.g., Fire Safe Councils) to prioritize assets at risk and mitigating factors.
• Support local land use planning and the development of local plans within the Unit that pertain to wildland fire protection.
o Collaborate with local agencies to ensure current and future land use planning identifies strategies to ensure communities are fire safe. o Ensure compliance with fire safe regulations through all stages of land use planning.
o Support and participate in development of local fire plans and CWPPs ensuring common goals and objectives as it relates to the Unit Fire Plan. o Support community-based efforts to mitigate the risks and effects of wildland fires.
• Reduce risk to lives, property and natural resources through increased fireprevention efforts.
o Continue to grow fire prevention awareness and planning through expanded education efforts utilizing public out-reach, community events, social media and new technology as applicable.
o Expand the number of defensible space inspections within the unit and promote an increasing level of compliance.
o Expand educational efforts to not only include defensible space, but also fire safe building materials, structure hardening and improved building design to withstand wildland fires.
o Investigate all wildland fires and pursue appropriate mitigating action. o Utilize trends in fire cause to focus fire prevention efforts. 181
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• Increase fuels reduction scope by integrating fire and fuels management practices with stake-holder priorities.
o Support landowner-initiated fuels reduction at the unit level. o Ensure a collaborative approach to local fuel reduction and prescribed fire projects within the Unit by partnering with local stake holders to develop common priorities and objectives.
o Support local partners in securing grant funding for collaboratively plannedfuel reduction work within the Unit.
o Promote the use of prescribed fire, vegetation management, grazing, forest thinning, hazardous fuels removal, sustainable commercial forest management and other fuels treatment projects.
• Identify the level of prevention and firefighting resources needed at the unit level to implement pre-fire strategies and protect assets at risk. o Conduct analysis based on data collected to determine effectiveness of current resources and need for additional future resources and equipment. o Expand efforts to enable personnel to understand and participate in pre-fire activities.
o Maintain an aggressive initial attack policy prioritizing life, property, natural resources while considering values at risk and cost factors. o Ensure that personnel receive appropriate training and equipment to meet the increasingly challenging response environment safely and successfully. o Evaluate and implement new technologies to improve efficiency, safety, and situational awareness.
• Develop post-fire assessment strategies and tactics to protect life, property, and natural resources.
o Implement rapid post-fire analysis, when appropriate, to determine values at risk and implement mitigation measures in a timely manner. o Utilize appropriate resources to accomplish restoration and protection activities. o Assess pre- and post-fire treatments to refine best management practices. o Assist stakeholders and landowners in burned areas to develop vegetation treatment plans and promote native species for restoration. 182
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APPENDIX C: UNIT PRIORITY PROJECTS
Priority Projects:
For 2021 Siskiyou Unit has identified the following Priority Projects:
1. The Azalea Fuel Break (Phase 1 of Interstate 5 Fuel Reduction)
2. Yreka Area Fuel Reduction
3. Truck Village (Phase 2 of Interstate 5 Fuel Reduction)
4. Edgewood (Phase 3 of Interstate 5 Fuel Reduction)
Picture: Azalea Fuel Break map
183
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Appendix D: Proposed/Planned Fire Safe Council and other entity fuel reduction/planning projects:
1. Lake Shastina Fuel Reduction- Lake Shastina: treating 1000 acres and protecting2300 structures.
2. Deetz-Eddy-Luginbuhl Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta, treating 150 acres and protecting 100 structures.
3. Hidden Meadow Fuel Reduction- Weed: treating 140 acres protecting 3000structures.
4. Eddy Drive-Hwy 89 Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: treating 140 acres and protecting 2000 structures.
5. South Old Stage-Hwy. 89 Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: treating 220 acres andprotecting 2000 structures.
6. North Mount Shasta Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: Treating 200 acres and protecting500-1000 structures.
7. South Mount Shasta Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: Treating 500-1200 acres and protecting 500 structures.
8. Highland Drive Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: Treating 100 acres and protecting 100 structures.
9.Timber Hills-Rainbow Ridge Fuel Reduction Project- Mount Shasta: Treating 150 acres and protecting 500 structures.
10. Boles Creek-N. Rays Fuel Reduction Project- Weed: Treating 100 acres andprotecting the town of Weed.
11.E. Weed Fuel Reduction Project: Treating 100 acres and protecting South Weed infrastructure
12. Pleasant Valley Fuel Reduction, Dorris/Butte Valley: Treating 100 acres andprotecting 100 structures and the town of Dorris.
13. Bray II Fuel Reduction- Bray: Treating 110 acres and protecting 100Structures.
14. Black Mountain Fuel Reduction- Hornbrook area: Treating 200 Acres and protecting 200 structures.
15. Wallow Fire Fuel Reduction- Fort Jones: Treating c.200 acres
16. North Old Stage Road Fuel Reduction- Mount Shasta: Treating 100 acres
17. Black Mountain Fuel Reduction- Hornbrook area, treating 200 acres protecting 200 structures.
18. Klamath River Fuel Reduction- Klamath River, treating 200 acres. 184
60 Updated: May 5, 2021
19. Horse Creek Fuel Reduction- Horse Creek, treating 200acres.
20. Westside Fuel Reduction- Protecting Southwest side of Yreka area.
21. Kilgore Hills Fuel Reduction- Protecting Southeast side of Yreka area.
22. Siskiyou County Fuel Treatment Map- Planning project
23. Yreka Ridge Fuel Break- Protecting Yreka Area, 220 Acres
24. Siskiyou Prescribed Burn Project- Siskiyou Prescribed Burn Association planning and implementation.
25. Lower McCloud Fuels Treatment- South of McCloud in portions of Shasta and Siskiyou Counties, treating up to 12,000 acres protecting private timber land/private property. Multiple treatments and treatment types including prescribed fire and fuel modification.
26. McKinley Scott Fuel Reduction- Yreka, Scott Bar. Fort Jones, Humbug, Hawkinsville, Klamath River – 2300 Acres
27. Scott Bar Mountain Fuel Reduction
28. Interstate 5 Fuel Treatment- South Mt. Shasta, 50 acres.
29. Dunsmuir Hazardous Fuel Reduction- Dunsmuir: Treating 500 acres. 185
61 Updated: May 5, 2021
APPENDICES E-Z
These Appendices are reserved for future use if necessary. 186
62 Updated: May 5, 2021
EXHIBITS: MAPS
Figure A: Unit Map
187
63 Updated: May 5, 2021
Figure B: 2020 Ignitions Map
188
64 Updated: May 5, 2021
Figure C: Fire Prevention Signs
189
65 Updated: May 5, 2021
ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2016) The Siskiyou Unit maintained and grew relationships with all stakeholders and agencies within the Unit. In 2016, fuel reduction projects continued within the Unit that will serve to protect wildland urban interface areas (WUI) and watersheds. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) conducted fuels reduction work on the Thamar Project and began work on a new fuel reduction project which is the Soap Creek Ridge North Project. Work continued the Shasta O Ranch VMP which is approximately 500 acres. Planning began on a 1,000-acre VMP on the Scott River Ranch located in Scott Valley. Site preparation was conducted on a fire suppression water tank for the Hammond Ranch Subdivision which is expected to be completed in 2017. A second water tank is planned for the Lower Scott Valley.
Throughout the year, fire prevention education and the FIRE PALS program were again conducted at numerous local school programs, at the Siskiyou County Fair and at other community outreaches. The Siskiyou Unit Training Bureau continued on-going training, education and certification to all CAL FIRE personnel assigned to Siskiyou Unit. The Training Bureau also assisted and participated in county-wide training drills, which focused on Mass Casualty Incidents, in conjunction with County OES, Local Volunteer Fire Departments. The collaboration between CAL FIRE and the College of the Siskiyou’s continues to improve with a long-term goal of adding a Fire Captain A position at the college to manage the Fire Technology Program through a Schedule A contract. The Siskiyou Unit, in cooperation with the Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and many local government fire departments, conducted an annual two-day multi-agency drill (Siskiyou County Interagency Eric Hall Drills) in June. This drill provides annual refresher training for wildland firefighting as well as other types of emergency incidents. Local, state, and federal wildland firefighters that participate improve their skills and create positive working relationships in an interagency environment.
Siskiyou Unit Tree Mortality
This winter, rainfall and snowpack in Siskiyou County have been above normal. This welcomed precipitation will hopefully aid in the recovery of drought conditions the county has been experiencing over the past several years. The drought has led to sporadic areas of tree mortality within the Siskiyou Unit. The tree mortality has primarily occurred on lower to midelevation south facing aspects in the Scott Valley, Shasta Valley, Hilt Basin and Miller Mountain areas. Mortality seems to be concentrated in transition areas exhibiting poor soil conditions where pine and other conifers are mixed with white oak and brush species. Ponderosa pine is the primary species that is being affected in these areas. Western juniper stands within the Shasta Valley and Scott Valley have also showed signs of tree mortality. White fir stands within the eastern portion of the County have also been hard hit by the drought. The drought-stricken trees have become susceptible to fir engraver bark beetle attacks. It is unknown if the abundant rainfall and snow that has occurred throughout the unit in the 2016-2017 winter will slow the spread of bark beetle attacks and drought mortality.
The added fire threat posed by dead tree fuels continues to be a concern for potential rapid-fire 190
66 Updated: May 5, 2021
growth. The dead trees will serve as a receptive fuel bed resulting in more ignitions from lightning and various human causes.
The Unit has identified landowner education as the primary avenue of abating the fire risks associated with tree mortality. Unit personnel continue to actively meet with landowners in 191
67 Updated: May 5, 2021
affected areas and educate them with respect to their options for fuel treatments under the Forest Practice Rules and state and federal forest landowner cost share programs. Funding for these programs is increasing due to public realization that drought related tree mortality is an issue that must be addressed.
In response to the drought and associated tree mortality, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has created the Siskiyou County Tree Mortality Taskforce. The Siskiyou Unit serves as collaborators on this Task Force. The objective of this Task Force is to carry out a proactive tree mortality program including federal, state, local, public, and private entities to initiate projects and processes to decrease the impacts of tree mortality in Siskiyou County. The Task Force will also engage in public outreach and education, and projects and actions to provide stakeholders with options to remove and dispose of trees on private property. The Task Force will endeavor in the restoration and planning work after trees are removed from the landscape, to promote active forest management and forest health throughout the County.
The Unit has identified key locations for strategic fuel breaks and vegetation management projects in response to drought mortality. In addition, a collaborative effort will be employed to assure an aggressive suppression response. The Unit will work with landowners to ensure prompt access to lightning prone areas. Early detection by staffed lookouts and augmented response will aid in suppression efforts.
2016 Siskiyou Prevention Bureau Achievements
In 2016 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 209 total fires with various causes, of which 99 were vegetation fires within the state responsibility area. Lightning was the number one cause of hostile ignitions within the Unit. The ignition analysis showed that debris burn escapes were the major preventable cause of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation is steadily increasing. Two fires within the Siskiyou Unit were determined to be caused by arson.
During the year, the Prevention Bureau took the following enforcement actions: 12 custodial arrests, 38 citations, 8 District Attorney Complaints, 14 cost recovery cases initiated, and 28 assists to other law enforcement agencies. The bureau also processed 123 building permits and conducted 9 plan reviews. 74 LE-38 notice of fire hazard inspections were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. These accomplishments included: 13 fire prevention displays/presentations, over 20,000 public contacts, 5,750 contacts with students through school programs and maintenance of 19 fire prevention signs. The prevention bureau processed 3,997 defensible space inspections.
Defensible space inspections remained substantially higher than prior years due to the addition of Forestry Aids. Forestry aids completed 3,754 of the defensible space inspections for the year. There were 167 media contacts made for fire information and/or prevention education.
Numerous hours of staff time were spent with outreaches to local and federal government cooperators and fire safe councils in aiding them in fire prevention efforts. 192
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2016 Siskiyou Unit Ignitions-Cause Percentages
Undetermined
6% Lightning
18% Campfires
1%
10%
Smoking
4%
3% Debris Burning
Arson
7% 21%
Equipment Use
2% Playing With Fire
17% 9% Vehicle
2% Railroad
Power Lines
Miscellaneous/Other
2016 Siskiyou Unit - Total Ignitons By Cause
Undetermined
25 20 Lightning
20 18 17 Campfires
15 Smoking
10 10 9 Debris Burning
7 6 Arson
5 2 2 3 4
1 Equipment Use
0 Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
193
69 Updated: May 5, 2021
Scott Valley Battalion 2016-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2016, fire prevention was a priority in the Battalion. This was the fifth year of drought in California and the community seemed to be aware of the fire potential. The CAL FIRE employees in the Battalion continued to make opportunities to educate the public on fire safety through public outreach programs like the local rodeos and parades.
Progress was made with the Fire Safe Councils to reduce fuels in strategic areas of the battalion. Through a Fire Safe Council grant, funds were obtained to begin installation of a fire suppression water tank within the Battalion.
A 1000-acre Vegetation Management Program (VMP) on the Scott River Ranch was initiated to reduce a mature stand of chaparral brush in the Battalion. We plan to complete the VMP in 2017.
Ignition Analysis
In 2016, the Scott Valley Battalion had 21 ignitions which were equal to the number of ignitions in 2015. Although lighting ignitions were below their historic average in the Battalion, they still tied for the leading fire ignition with debris burn escapes. Increased public contacts with an emphasis on debris burning safety and regulations will be a focus for battalion personnel in 2017. Lighting ignitions are naturally occurring events and unavoidable. We can better prepare for lighting fires by staffing up the two Battalion lookouts during times of need and augmenting our fire suppression resources. We will continue to work closely with the local fire safe councils to reduce available fuels in strategic locations.
The increased precipitation during the 2016-2017 winter made many of the fire access roads unpassable. A priority during the 2017 spring and summer will be to work with our cooperators, like the United States Forest Service and local timber companies to identify the roads with access issues and either mitigate the road blockage or consider greater use of air resources. It will be important to develop pre-attack strategies for the identified areas with access issues.
The early engine staffing of the Battalion will provide more educational opportunities through the burn permit process and participation at community events. We will utilize random compliance checks on observed debris burns to assist with educating the public on fire safety.
Ignitions by electrical power were one less than both lighting and debris burn escapes. It will be important to make Public Resource Code 4292 inspections early to identify compliance issues prior to possible ignitions. All other ignitions were within historical averages. 194
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2016 Scott Valley Battalion Ignitions
6 Undetermined
5 Lightning
4 Campfires
3 Smoking
2 Debris Burning
1 Arson
0 Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2016 SCOTT VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2016 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 2 3.50
Lightning 5 0.58
Campfires 1 1.30
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 5 2.31
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 1 0.10
Playing With Fire 1 33.00
Vehicle 0 0
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 4 .40
Miscellaneous/Other 2 .35
Total: 21 41.54
5 5
1 4
1 1
2 2
0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
195
71 Updated: May 5, 2021
Shasta Valley Battalion 2016-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2016, California saw many catastrophic fires like in the previous drought-stricken years that had plagued the State. On a positive note, there were more defensible space inspections conducted in the Battalion with the addition of Defensible Space Inspectors again in 2016.
Battalion personnel continued attending community outreach programs providing education through public contact and participation at local events. The Black Mountain Fire Safe Council continued their fuel reduction project in the Klamath River Country Estates. This project has allowed for fuel reduction along the major ingress/egress routes in the area, providing residents with escape routes and better access for fire personnel in the event of a wildfire.
The Yreka Fire Safe council continued its efforts to educate the public in the area and sought more citizen involvement along with identifying funding for additional Fire Safe projects. This year the council was awarded a grant for five free chipper days in the Yreka Area. This allowed residents to clean up their property and chip the debris to minimize the fire danger around their homes. They also submitted a grant for Federal funding to treat fuels in the Greenhorn area. If the grant is awarded it will allow better access for emergency personnel, provide residents with more defensible space, and an escape route in the event of a wildfire.
The Soap Creek Ridge North Fuel Break project was also started in 2016. CALFIRE and the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District collaborated on the project and hope to finish this project in 2017. Also, the California Conservation Corps (CCC) are currently being used to accomplish fuel removal on the project.
Ignition Analysis
In 2016, there were a total of 36 ignitions in the Battalion which was down from 2015 and 2014.
Illegal burning was down from 2015 which was most likely contributed to an increase in public education and prevention. The largest and most catastrophic fire in the Battalion was the “Grade” fire which was caused from an electrical power cord. The fire was located just north of the city of Yreka in the Hawkinsville area. It destroyed 10 structures and burned approximately 710 acres in about eight hours. Contributing factors for the large fire growth were strong North winds, a drop in relative humidity to 6%, and decadent brush that had been severely dried from the drought. All other ignitions were within historical averages. 196
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2016 Shasta Valley Battalion Ignitions
Undetermined
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1
0 Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2016 SHASTA VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2016 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 7 25.91
Lightning 6 6.90
Campfires 4 0.11
Smoking 1 0.10
Debris Burning 3 4.61
Arson 2 0.20
Equipment Use 4 21.70
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 1 0.10
Railroad 1 28
Electrical Power 5 713
Miscellaneous/Other 2 0.73
Total: 36 801.36
7 6
5 4 4
3 2 2
1 1 1
0 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
197
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Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion 2016-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2016 the Butte Valley/Weed Battalion in cooperation with the City of Weed utilized various resources that continued and completed the Boles Fire Clean-up project consisting of fuel reduction and pile burning. In cooperation with the Butte Valley State Wildlife Refuge an ongoing fuel reduction and pile burning project was agreed to and initiated. This project will be a continuous annual effort. The Butte Valley Fire Safe Council managed a grant funded shaded fuel break in the Butte Valley. This project parallels Schoolhouse Road just north of the Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge and consisted of fuel reduction and burning in areas ranging from 75- 100’ along the road for approximately 2 miles. The Greater Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council also developed and published a Fire Safety and Prevention handbook for residents and property owners that were distributed.
Ignition Analysis
In 2016, there were a total of 26 ignitions in the Battalion which was down from 2015 by 7%.
The total acreage for Battalion 3 was 4.07 acres which was a very large decrease from 2015.
The Battalion experienced 8 lightning ignitions due to unfavorable weather conditions in 2016.
In 2016, debris burning was an ignition problem contributing to 6 escaped fires for a total acreage of 1.21 acres. Equipment use was determined as the cause of 2 fires. Historically, Battalion 3 has identified the railroad as a source of ignitions and in 2015 the Battalion had 0 fires caused by the railroad. Campfires contributed to only one fire start. 6 fires were identified as undetermined. Debris burning will continue to be the focus of the prevention educational messages in the coming year. All other ignitions are within historical averages. 198
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2016 Butte Valley/Weed Battalion Igntions
9 8
7 6
5 4
3 2
1 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2016 BUTTE VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2016 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 6 0.60
Lightning 8 0.80
Campfires 1 0.01
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 6 1.21
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 2 1
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 1 0.10
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 1 0.10
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.25
Total: 26 4.07
8 6 6
2 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
199
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McCloud Battalion 2016-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2016 many fuel break projects were completed, maintained, or initiated. Close work with area Fire Safe Councils along with continued education efforts helped to avert any large fire ignitions within the Battalion. Areas in which fuel break work was concentrated included the East side of Dunsmuir, the North, West and East side of Mt Shasta, and the Highway 89 corridor. Work continues at Spring Hill road to Rainbow Ridge area. The number of defensible space inspections increased dramatically with an emphasis on public education contacts. Timber companies continue to maintain fuel breaks and roadways and are an asset to firefighting resources in the area. Numerous public and agency outreach events have also been used to spread the word of the importance of wildfire awareness.
Ignition analysis
In 2016 there were a total of 16 ignitions down from 36 within the Battalion. Three were calls for abandoned campfires, up from two the prior year. One ignition was lightning caused, which was a decrease from fifteen the year prior. The remaining ignitions fell within historical averages.
Early detection and aggressive initial attack contained all fires to less than 1.5 acre, up from one acre the year prior.
Due to the severe drought conditions, we have experienced, which has caused areas of tree mortality to occur throughout Battalion IV, all conifers have been affected. The added threat posed by dead fuels is a concern for potential rapid-fire-growth, access, and safety of personnel. Working with landowners and the public to limit the potential for ignitions along with early detection with augmented response will aid in suppression efforts. 200
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2016 McCloud Battalion
Ignitions
3.5 3
2.5 2
1.5 1
0.5 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2016 MCCLOUD BATTALION IGNITIONS
2016 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 3 0.30
Lightning 1 0.10
Campfires 3 0.21
Smoking 1 0.01
Debris Burning 3 0.36
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 0 0
Playing With Fire 2 0.20
Vehicle 2 1.24
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.10
Total: 16 2.52
3 3 3
1 1
2 2
0 0
1 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
201
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND IGNITION ANALYSIS REPORTING (2017) The Siskiyou Unit maintained and grew relationships with all stakeholders and agencies within the Unit. In 2017, fuel reduction projects continued within the Unit that will serve to protect wildland urban interface areas (WUI) and watersheds. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) assisted the Siskiyou Unit with fuels reduction work on the Thamar Project and Soap Creek Ridge North Project. Fuel reduction projects were also completed by the Siskiyou Unit in the Hornbrook, Yreka, Scott Valley, Weed, Mount Shasta, and Butte Valley areas. Work continued the Shasta O Ranch VMP which is approximately 500 acres. Planning continues for a 1,000-acre VMP on the Scott River Ranch located in Scott Valley. Construction began on the fire suppression water tank for the Hammond Ranch Subdivision, which is expected to be completed in 2018. A second water tank is planned for the Lower Scott Valley area.
Throughout the year, fire prevention education and the FIRE PALS program were again conducted at numerous local school programs, at the Siskiyou County Fair and at other community outreaches. The Siskiyou Unit Training Bureau continued on-going training, education and certification to all CAL FIRE personnel assigned to Siskiyou Unit. The Training Bureau also assisted and participated in county-wide training drills, which focused on Mass Casualty Incidents, in conjunction with County OES, Local Volunteer Fire Departments. The Siskiyou Unit, in cooperation with the Klamath National Forest, Shasta-Trinity National Forest and many local government fire departments, conducted an annual multi-agency drill (Siskiyou County Interagency Eric Hall Drills). This drill provides annual refresher training for wildland firefighting as well as other types of emergency incidents. Local, state, and federal wildland firefighters that participate improve their skills and create positive working relationships in an interagency environment.
202
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Siskiyou Unit Tree Mortality
Drought conditions in recent years have led to sporadic areas of tree mortality within the Siskiyou Unit. The tree mortality has primarily occurred on lower to mid-elevation south facing aspects in the Scott Valley, Shasta Valley, Hilt Basin and Miller Mountain areas. Mortality seems to be concentrated in transition areas exhibiting poor soil conditions where pine and other conifers are mixed with white oak and brush species. Ponderosa pine is the primary species that is being affected in these areas. Western juniper stands within the Shasta Valley and Scott Valley have also showed signs of tree mortality. White fir stands within the eastern portion of the County have also been hard hit by the drought. The drought-stricken trees have become susceptible to fir engraver bark beetle attacks. Abundant rainfall and snow that occurred throughout the unit in the 2016-2017 winter does not appear to have slowed the spread of bark beetle attacks and drought mortality.
The added fire threat posed by dead tree fuels continues to be a concern for potential rapid-fire growth. The dead trees will serve as a receptive fuel bed resulting in more ignitions from lightning and various human causes.
The Unit has identified landowner education as the primary avenue of abating the fire risks associated with tree mortality. Unit personnel continue to actively meet with landowners in affected areas and educate them with respect to their options for fuel treatments under the Forest Practice Rules and state and federal forest landowner cost share programs. Funding for these programs is increasing due to public realization that drought related tree mortality is an issue that must be addressed.
In response to the drought and associated tree mortality, the Siskiyou County Board of Supervisors has created the Siskiyou County Tree Mortality Taskforce. The Siskiyou Unit serves as collaborators on this Task Force. The objective of this Task Force is to carry out a proactive tree mortality program including federal, state, local, public and private entities to initiate projects and processes to decrease the impacts of tree mortality in Siskiyou County. The Task Force will also engage in public outreach and education, and projects and actions to provide stakeholders with options to remove and dispose of trees on private property. The Task Force will endeavor in the restoration and planning work after trees are removed from the landscape, to promote active forest management and forest health throughout the County.
The Unit has identified key locations for strategic fuel breaks and vegetation management projects in response to drought mortality. In addition, a collaborative effort will be employed to assure an aggressive suppression response. The Unit continues to work with landowners to ensure prompt access to lightning prone areas. Early detection by staffed lookouts and augmented response will aid in suppression efforts.
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2017 Siskiyou Prevention Bureau Achievements
In 2017 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 213 total fires with various causes, of which 148 were vegetation fires within the state responsibility area. Lightning was the number one cause of hostile ignitions within the Unit. The ignition analysis showed that debris burn escapes were the major preventable cause of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation continues to increase. 12 fires within the Siskiyou Unit were determined to be caused by arson. GIS mapping data was collected for 40 SRA vegetation fires within the unit.
During the year, the Prevention Bureau took the following enforcement actions: 7 custodial arrests, 31 citations, 6 District Attorney Complaints, and 12 assists to other law enforcement agencies. The bureau also processed 130 building permits and conducted 5 plan reviews. 48 LE-38 notice of fire hazard inspections were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. These accomplishments included: 13 fire prevention displays/presentations, over 25,000 public contacts, 6,230 contacts with students through school programs and maintenance of 19 fire prevention signs. The prevention bureau processed 2,659 defensible space inspections.
Defensible space inspections totaled less than the previous year due to higher-than-normal incident activity in the unit. Unit Forestry aids were instrumental in completing these inspections, completing 1,571 of the defensible space inspections for the year. There were 167 media contacts made for fire information and/or prevention education. Numerous hours of staff time were spent with outreaches to local and federal government cooperators and fire safe councils in aiding them in fire prevention efforts.
2017 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 28 72.9
Lightning 41 16.63
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 23 162.58
Arson 12 33.27
Equipment Use 21 179.61
Playing With Fire 1 0.33
Vehicle 4 0.9
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 5 3.92
Miscellaneous/Other 12 475.45
Total: 148 945.69
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2016 Siskiyou Unit -Total Ignitions By Cause
Undetermined
45 40
35 30
25 20
15 10
5 0
41 Lightning
28 Campfires
23 21 Smoking
Debris Burning
12 12
Arson
1 4 5
0 1 0 Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
205
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2017 Siskiyou Unit Ignitons - Cause Percentages
Undetermined
3%
1%
Lightning
0% 8%
3% 19% Campfires
Smoking
14% Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
8% 28%
Playing With Fire
15% Vehicle
0% 1% Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
206
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Scott Valley Battalion 2017-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2017, opening fire access roads in the Battalion was a priority. Local fire activity allowed opportunities to use both fire equipment and landowner equipment to achieve this goal. The opening of these road systems now allows for access to approximately 27,000 acres that were previously closed to vehicular traffic.
The local fire activity also allowed for fuel reduction to occur along approximately 12 miles of contingency fuel breaks or roads around the town of Etna. The prescription included mostly thinning and chipping.
Ignition Analysis
In 2017, the Scott Valley Battalion had 25 ignitions which remains consistent with previous years. Lightning ignitions continue to be the leading fire cause in the Battalion. Lightning ignitions are naturally occurring events and unavoidable. We can better prepare for lightning fires by staffing the two Battalion lookouts during times of predicted lightning weather.
Escaped debris burns was again the second leading fire cause in the Battalion. The Scott Valley Battalion had 5 fires caused by debris burn escapes. This was the same as the previous year.
Additional prevention signs were ordered to assist with public education on fire safety. Fire personnel will continue to personally educate the public while issuing burn permits at the fire station, during burn pile inspections and at local events like the Etna Rodeo. The Battalion will continue to look for opportunities to work with the community on fuel breaks in and around populated areas.
The Battalion had no electrical power caused fires in 2017. The prevention and enforcement efforts from the previous year appear to have made an impact. All other fire ignitions remain within historical averages.
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2017 Scott Valley Battalion Ignitions
10 9
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1
0 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2017 SCOTT VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2017 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 3 2.2
Lightning 9 5.03
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 5 26.9
Arson 1 15
Equipment Use 3 0.94
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 0 0
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 4 469.75
Total: 25 519.82
9 5
0 0
4 3 3
1 0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
208
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Shasta Valley Battalion 2017-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2017, California saw many catastrophic fires like in the previous drought-stricken years that had plagued the State. On a positive note, there were more defensible space inspections conducted in the Battalion with the addition of Defensible Space Inspectors again in 2017.
Battalion personnel continued attending community outreach programs providing education through public contact and participation at local events.
The Yreka Fire Safe council continued its efforts to educate the public in the area and sought more citizen involvement along with identifying funding for additional Fire Safe projects. They also worked on a grant for Federal funding to treat fuels around the Yreka area. If the grant is awarded it will allow better access for emergency personnel, provide residents with more defensible space, and an escape route in the event of a wildfire. The Fire Safe Council hopes to utilize existing projects and tie these together with the USFS Craggy Fuel Break project. The Craggy project will provide a fuel break on Humbug and Gunsight ridges helping to protect the city of Yreka.
The Soap Creek East Fuel Break project was completed in 2017. CALFIRE and the Shasta Valley Resource Conservation District collaborated on this project and were successful with its completion.
CALFIRE partnered with TREX last year assisting with a fuel reduction and modification project on the Bogus Creek Ranch near Copco Lake. The Nature Conservancy also partnered with CALFIRE on their property in the Shasta Valley in hopes of improving range through burning approximately 1400 acres of non-native grasses and juniper.
Ignition Analysis
In 2017, there were a total of 63 ignitions in the Battalion which is the highest it has ever been.
Contrary to the ignition total; the amount of total acreage burned was significantly lower at 163.3 acres. Contributing factors to the higher ignition totals were an increase in residents in rural areas, a more abundant grass crop, and more lightning. Siskiyou county has seen a population increase in the wildland urban interface (WUI) areas in the last two years that is attributed to marijuana production. Arson fire numbers were also up in 2017 from two to eight for the year.
The CALFIRE Siskiyou Unit Prevention Bureau investigated each fire and was very successful in apprehending those responsible.
The largest fires in the Shasta Valley were the Bogus and White pine fires which were both around 50 acres each. These fires were debris burn escapes that could have been easily prevented if the responsible had been in attendance and diligent in extinguishing their burn pile.
The Battalion will continue with its aggressive education and prevention plan in 2018 with the hope of increased public outreach and reducing the number of hostile fires. All other ignitions were within historical averages.
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2017 SHASTA VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2017 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 11 10.41
Lightning 17 5.6
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 6 105.9
Arson 8 18.07
Equipment Use 10 15.57
Playing With Fire 1 0.33
Vehicle 1 0.1
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 3 1.82
Miscellaneous/Other 6 5.5
Total: 63 163.3
3 2017 Shasta Valley Battalion Ignitions
Undetermined
18 16
14 12
10 8
6 4
2 0
17 Lightning
11 Campfires 10
8 Smoking
6 6
Debris Burning
Arson
0 0 1 1 0
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
210
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Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion 2017-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2017, the Butte Valley/Weed Battalion received Northern Region Staff approval through efforts of the Siskiyou Unit VMP coordinator to initiate a 496-acre fuel reduction, pile burning, mechanical thinning and broadcast burn over a three-year time period on the Shasta “O” Ranch. The Shasta “O” Ranch is located just north of Weed City, but southwest of the Lake Shastina community. This VMP while challenging with adverse fuel and weather conditions has a strategic objective. The Shasta “O” Ranch property is adjacent to the Phase 1 fuel reduction project that received grant approval in 2015. The Phase 1 fuel reduction project utilized mechanical thinning to reduce and remove fuels with distances of up to 200’ along Ordway Road and was completed in 2017. This project was sponsored by the Greater Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council. The combination of these two projects sharing a “common” boundary increases the overall fire protection for Lake Shastina of fire advancing from the south/southwest. In addition, it is helping to reduce the dead and down fuel load from past historical fires in the area including the Hoy fire which left thousands of dead and downed Juniper trees.
The Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge proposed a fuel reduction project regarding Juniper tree eradication. This consisted of tree felling, piling and burning. Approximately 30 acres were treated, and this is active project with the California Department of Fish and Wildlife.
The battalion staff continuously attends and/or participates in community events.
In 2017 a community pre-fire season awareness and fire safety discussion was presented to a local Hmong community using a language interpreter.
Multiple educational and fire prevention out-reach programs are instructed to the elementary schools in the battalion.
Ignition Analysis
In 2017, there were 38 ignitions in the Battalion. This is compared to 26 ignitions in 2016. In 2017 the total acreage burned in the battalion was 250.82 acres. Compared to the final acres burned in 2016 being 4.07. The battalion experienced 10 lightning fires, making this the highest cause of ignitions in the battalion. In 2017, debris burning continues to contribute to unwanted fires in the battalion with 6 fires burning 28.32 acres. Equipment use was determined as the cause of 6 fires and burned 159 acres. Equipment use fires showed an increase from the previous year in 2016 and will be a focal point of fire prevention in 2018. For the second consecutive year, there were 0 fires caused by the railroad in the battalion. All other ignitions are within historical averages.
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2017 BUTTE VALLEY BATTALION IGNITIONS
2017 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 9 59.5
Lightning 10 1
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 6 28.32
Arson 1 0.1
Equipment Use 6 159
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 2 0.6
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 2 2.1
Miscellaneous/Other 2 0.2
Total: 38 250.82
1 0 0 0 0
2017 Butte Valley/Weed Battalion Igntions
12 10
8 6
4 2
0 Undetermined
10 9 Lightning
Campfires
6 6
Smoking
2 2 2 Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
212
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McCloud Battalion 2017-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
In 2017 many fuel break projects were completed, maintained, or initiated. Close work with area Fire Safe Councils along with continued education efforts helped to avert any large fire ignitions within the Battalion. Areas in which fuel break work was concentrated included the East side of Dunsmuir, the North, West and East side of Mt Shasta, and the Highway 89 corridor. Work continues on Spring Hill road to Rainbow Ridge area. The number of defensible space inspections increased dramatically with an emphasis on public education contacts. Timber companies continue to maintain fuel breaks and roadways and are an asset to firefighting resources in the area. Numerous public and agency outreach events have also been used to spread the word of the importance of wildfire awareness.
Ignition analysis
In 2017 there were a total of 21 ignitions up from 16 within the Battalion in 2016. Debris Burning was the leading cause of fire ignitions which increased 3 from the previous year. Five ignitions were caused from lightning as well as undetermined. One fire was caused by arson. The remaining ignitions fell within historical averages. Early detection and aggressive initial attack contained all fires to less than 1 acre, down from 1.5 acre the year prior.
Due to the severe drought conditions, we have experienced, which has caused areas of tree mortality to occur throughout Battalion IV, all conifers have been affected. The added threat posed by dead fuels is a concern for potential rapid-fire growth, access, and safety of personnel.
Working with landowners and the public to limit the potential for ignitions along with early detection with augmented response will aid in suppression efforts. 213
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2017 McCloud Battalion Igntions
7 6
5 4
3 2
1 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2017 MCCLOUD BATTALION IGNITIONS
2017 Causes Number
by
Causes
Acres
Burned
Undetermined 5 0.79
Lightning 5 5
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 6 1.46
Arson 1 0.1
Equipment Use 2 4.1
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 1 0.2
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 0 0
Total: 21 11.75
6 5 5
2 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
214
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORTING (2017)
Fire Planning:
In 2017 fuel reduction work continued to be a priority on multiple CAL FIRE and Fire Safe Council projects. These projects included Thamar, Butte Valley Fire Safe Council Fuels Reduction, Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge, Soap Creek Ridge North Fuel Break, Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, South Mount Shasta Fuel Break, Squaw Valley Fuel Break, Big Springs Fuel Break, Ordway VMP, Deadwood Defensible Space, along with many other projects. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) assisted CAL FIRE on the Thamar and Soap Creek Ridge North projects. The Siskiyou Unit continues to plan fuel reduction projects for 2018.
Construction was started on a fire suppression water storage tank for the Hammond Ranch Subdivision which is expected to be completed in 2018. A second water tank is planned for the Lower Scott Valley area.
Siskiyou Unit Personnel participated in the review and editing of various Community Wildfire Protection Plans.
The Siskiyou Unit recognizes the necessity for maintenance to be completed on multiple fuel breaks within the Unit. Maintenance grants have been challenging to obtain by Siskiyou County Fire Safe Councils. The Unit would be more fire resilient by maintaining and constructing strategically located fuel breaks rather than completing fuel breaks in non-strategic areas.
Investigations and Enforcement:
In 2017 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 213 total SRA fires with various causes. 148 of the total fires were vegetation fires. The ignition analysis shows that debris burn escapes were the major preventable causes of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation continues to steadily increase. 12 fires within the Siskiyou Unit were determined to be caused by arson.
During the year, the prevention bureau took the following enforcement actions: 7 custodial arrests, 31 citations, 6 cases filed with the District Attorney for prosecution, and 12 assists to other law enforcement agencies. The bureau also processed 130 building permits and conducted 5 plan reviews. 48 LE-38 Notice of Fire Hazard inspections were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
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Wildland Fire Prevention Engineering:
The Siskiyou Unit processed a total of 130 building permit applications and conducted 5 plan reviews in 2017.
Education and Information:
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. These accomplishments included: 13 fire prevention displays/presentations, over 25,000 public contacts, 6,230 contacts with students through school programs and maintenance of 19 fire prevention signs. There were over 167 media contacts made for fire information and/ or prevention education.
Vegetation Management:
Fuel reduction work continues to be a priority within the Siskiyou unit. In 2017 many fuel reduction projects were completed as well as new projects planned for 2018. Fuel reduction work started on the 500-acre Vegetation Management Program (VMP) contract on the Ordway Ranch in Weed. The name of the project is the Shasta O Ranch VMP. Treatment includes a combination of hand piling and burning, tractor piling and burning and prescribed burning. Fuel Work was Planning continues for various VMP projects including a 1,000-acre VMP on the Scott River Ranch located in Scott Valley as well as numerous other fuel reduction projects throughout Siskiyou County.
Volunteerism:
Volunteers in Prevention put in 1,685 hours of Fire Prevention activity within the Unit. Volunteer hours were combined from Honor Guard, Lookouts, Siskiyou Golden Fair, Fire Pals, School programs and training.
Fire Hazard Severity Mapping and Mitigation:
No Fire Hazard Mapping was conducted in 2017. Fuel reduction projects be conducted throughout Siskiyou County continue to be considered short term mitigations for fire hazard severity.
Other Fire Prevention Projects in SRA:
Numerous hours of staff time were spent in with Local and Federal government cooperators assisting them in combined fire prevention efforts. Staff hours were also spent aiding Fire Safe Councils in their fuel reduction and fire prevention education efforts. 216
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2018 Siskiyou Unit Ignition Analysis
In 2018 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 150 total fires with various causes, of which 99 were vegetation fires within the state responsibility area. This was down by 53 fires from the previous year. Lightning was the number one cause of ignitions within the Unit at 29. The ignition analysis showed that debris burn escapes were the major preventable cause of fires last year.
In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. The number of undetermined fires in the Unit was down by 19 fires, which indicates that efforts by Prevention staff to train and assist the field staff with investigations was very successful. Only one fire within the Unit was determined to be caused by arson which was down significantly from 12 last year. GIS mapping data was collected for 20 SRA vegetation fires within the unit and submitted to the Fire and Resource Assessment Program.
2018 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 9 22.81
Lightning 29 386.27
Campfires 4 2.34
Smoking 4 6.77
Debris Burning 21 38118.27
Arson 1 26
Equipment Use 4 8.61
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 9 1.42
Railroad 2 3.1
Electrical Power 2 0.6
Miscellaneous/Other 14 17.55
Total: 99 38593.74
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2018 Siskiyou Unit Ignitions - Cause
Undetermined
Lightning
14%
9%
2%
2%
Campfires
Smoking
9% Debris Burning
30%
Arson
0%
4% Equipment Use
1% Playing With Fire
21% 4%
4% Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2018 Siskiyou Unit - Total Ignitions by Cause
Undetermined
35 30
25 20
15 10
5 0
29 Lightning
Campfires
21 Smoking
14 Debris Burning
9 9 Arson
4 4 5
1 0
2 1 Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
218
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Scott Valley Battalion 2018 Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements:
In 2018, Battalion personnel worked with The U.S. Forest Service, fire safe councils and local landowners to complete over 500 acres of fuel reduction work within the battalion. The utilization of CAL FIRE hand crews from Deadwood Camp and other CAL FIRE resources attributed to the success of these fuel treatment projects. Opening fire access roads continued to be a priority in the Battalion. Work continued through cooperation with private timber companies to open fire access roads that were previously impassable.
CAL FIRE Community Wildfire Protection Grants were submitted by the Salmon River Restoration Council for implementation of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan in the community of Salmon River. The Lower Scott River Fire Safe Council obtained grant funding to install two skid mounted water tanks for fire suppression in remote locations in the battalion and are continuing to work with landowners for their placement. The Scott River Ranch VMP Project has continued to move forward. The Unit is receiving assistance from CAL FIRE Northern Region staff in completing CEQUA documents to implement the work on this important project.
Battalion personnel continued to foster cooperative relationships with local agencies and participated in multi-agency training exercises. The battalion worked with the Fire Prevention Bureau participating in local events for public education, as well as creating public education social media posts regarding the leading causes of fires within the battalion and unit.
Total fire ignitions and burned acres were down slightly from previous years and historical averages.
Ignition Analysis:
In 2018, the Scott Valley Battalion had 16 ignitions totaling 18.47 acres, which was lower than historical trends. Escaped debris burns was the leading fire cause in the Battalion. The Scott Valley Battalion had 7 fires caused by debris burn escapes and was the second leading number of acres burned. This was up slightly from last year and historical norms. Additional prevention signs were ordered as well increasing efforts in posting social media content to assist with public education regarding fire safety when burning. Fire personnel will continue to personally educate the public while issuing burn permits at the fire station, during burn pile inspections and at local events like the Etna Rodeo.
For the past two years, the Battalion has had no electrical power caused fires. The prevention education and enforcement efforts from the previous year appear to have made an impact in these ignitions. The battalion did not receive significant lighting caused fires in 2018 which contributed to the reduction in ignitions and burned acres within the battalion. All other fire ignitions remain within historical averages. 219
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In 2018 the battalion will continue to look for opportunities to work with the community on fuel breaks in and around populated areas. The focus of these fuel breaks will be to improve ingress and egress routes for communities within the battalion. The Battalion will also continue to work to identifying locations for the implementation and completion of fuel reduction projects that will help to reduce the ignition and spread of wildland fires. 220
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2018 Scott Valley Battalion Ignitions
8 7
6 5
4 3
2 1
0 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2018 Scott Valley Battalion Ignitions
2018 Batt I Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 1 0.1
Lightning 2 0.11
Campfires 1 0.13
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 7 5.65
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 0 0
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 1 0.1
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 4 12.38
Total: 16 18.47
7 4
1 2
1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
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Shasta Valley Battalion 2018- Achievements and Ignition Analysis Achievements
In 2018, the Shasta Valley Battalion’s greatest accomplishment was a significant reduction in fire starts. In 2017 the Battalion recorded 62 ignitions with only 25 ignitions listed in 2018. This was over a 50% decrease in fire ignitions. Battalion personnel continued attending community outreach programs providing education through public contact and participation at local events.
The Yreka Fire Safe council continued its efforts to educate the public in the area and sought more citizen involvement along with identifying funding for additional Fire Safe projects. They also submitted a grant for State funding to analyze fire behavior in the Yreka area. The Fire Safe Council hopes to utilize existing projects and tie these together with the USFS Craggy Fuel Break project. The Craggy project will provide a fuel break on Humbug and Gunsight ridges helping to protect the city of Yreka.
CALFIRE partnered with TREX last year assisting with a fuel reduction and modification project on the Bogus Creek Ranch near Copco Lake. The Nature Conservancy also partnered with CALFIRE on their property in the Shasta Valley in hopes of improving range through burning approximately 1400 acres of non-native grasses and juniper.
Ignition Analysis
In 2018, the Shasta Valley Battalion saw a significant reduction in total ignitions.
Lightning was one of the top ignition sources which was consistent with historical trends. The Battalion recorded four debris burn escapes which equaled the number of lighting fires and other miscellaneous fire causes. Debris burn escapes accounted for over 20% of the total ignitions in the battalion. The Battalion personnel will continue to educate the public through the burn permit process to ensure the burning rules are followed.
The largest fire in the Shasta Valley was the Klamathon fire. The fire grew to approximately 38,000 acres. The Klamathon fire was a wind driven fire that burned through the Hornbrook community. The fire damaged or destroyed 96 structures. The focus this year in the Battalion will be to staff lookouts and augment initial attack resources during times of predicted red flag conditions based on wind.
Large fast-moving fires are becoming more of a trend throughout the state.
These fires are showing limited success by traditional fuel breaks. Therefore, the fuel breaks focus, within the Shasta Valley Battalion, will lie along routs of ingress and egress.
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2018 Shasta Valley Battalion Ignitions
Undetermined
4.5 4
3.5 3
2.5 2
1.5 1
0.5 0
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2018 Shasta Valley Battalion Ignitions
2018 Batt II Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 3 0.77
Lightning 4 251.49
Campfires 1 2.1
Smoking 2 6.66
Debris Burning 4 38016.4
Arson 1 26
Equipment Use 3 4.9
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 2 0.1
Railroad 1 2.9
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 4 0.84
Total: 25 38312.16
4 4 4
3 3
2 2
1 1 1
0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
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Butte Valley / Weed Battalion 2018- Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
2018 was an extraordinarily challenging year with high fire activity which impacted the ability to focus on new and continuing Battalion fuels reduction projects. Despite the local and statewide fire activity, Butte Valley / Weed Battalion continued its efforts on the 496-acre Shasta “O” Ranch Vegetation Management Program (VMP). Approved in 2017, the mechanical thinning phase has been completed and focus is now on fuel reduction through pile and broadcast burning as weather, fuels, and resource availability permit. The Shasta “O” Ranch VMP is located just north of Weed City and southwest of the Lake Shastina community and has a strategic objective to tie into Greater Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council’s completed fuel reduction project along Ordway Road. The combination of these two projects sharing a common boundary increases the overall fire protection for Lake Shastina of fire advancing from the south/southwest. In addition, it is helping to reduce the dead and down fuel load from past historical fires in the area including the Hoy fire which left thousands of dead and downed Juniper trees.
The Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge proposed a fuel reduction project which was completed with broadcast burning of standing dead grass and tulles. Approximately 394 acres were burned to remove tulles which impede water foul’s access and prepare for over seeding of winter oat grass.
Battalion personnel assisted The Klamath National Forest with prescribed burns in the Tennant area as well as the Bureau of Land Management with a 591-acre prescribed burn in the Dorris / Modoc Gulch area. Participating in these prescribed burns encourages interagency cooperation, area orientation and provides valuable training and experience.
In lieu of any active grant awards, the Butte Valley / Weed Battalion continues to focus on emergency ingress and egress of at-risk communities. Weed and Macdoel station personnel continued with local chipping projects in coordination with the Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council in Mt Shasta Vista and the Hammond Ranch Fire Safe Council. The focus of the chipping projects is to improve ingress and egress of easements in subdivisions where vegetation has built up and impedes civilian evacuation and emergency responder access. The Mt Shasta Vista subdivision continues to be an area of concern for fuels reduction and civilian safety, which is at high risk due to local wind patterns, extended response times, narrow winding roads and a high concentration of non-English speaking population involved in the marijuana industry. Additional chipping projects will continue to be coordinated and evaluated within communities in the Butte Valley / Weed Battalion.
Close coordination between Butte Valley / Weed Battalion and Fire Safe Councils continued through 2018 with five very active Fire Safe Councils either applying for grants or contributing to grants to reduce fuels and improve ingress and egress. The Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County submitted a “Siskiyou County Multi-Communities Fuels Reduction Project” grant via CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program that would include the Greater Lake Shastina area, Mt. Shasta Vista subdivision and the Hidden Meadow subdivision. Additionally, the Hammond Ranch Fire Safe Council applied for a “Hammond 224
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Ranch Area Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program”. These grants, if awarded in 2019, encompass entire subdivisions and reduce fuels along main roads that are overgrown with vegetation and pose a threat to resident evacuation and firefighter access.
The Battalion staff continuously attends and/or participates in community events.
In 2018 a community pre-fire season awareness and fire safety discussion was presented to a local Hmong community using a language interpreter.
Battalion personnel continue to deliver educational and fire prevention out-reach programs to the elementary schools in the battalion.
Ignition Analysis
In 2018, there were 40 ignitions in the Battalion, compared to 38 ignitions in 2017. In 2018 the total acreage burned in the battalion was 254.68 acres, compared to the final 250.82 acres burned in 2017. The battalion experienced 17 lightning fires, up from 10 in 2017, making lightning the highest cause of ignitions in the battalion for two years in a row. In 2018, debris burning continued to be the battalion’s second highest number of fires caused with 7 fires burning 94.62 acres. Debris burning will be the focus for fire prevention efforts for 2019.
Equipment use was determined as the cause of 1 fire which burned 3.7 acres. Equipment use fires decreased dramatically from 2017 which may be a result of focused fire prevention education and widespread media coverage of large fires and fire safety. There was 1 railroad ignition in the battalion, continuing the trend of very low railroad caused ignitions. All other ignitions are within historical averages.
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2018 Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion Ignitions
2018 Batt III Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 4 21.93
Lightning 17 129.17
Campfires 1 0.01
Smoking 2 0.11
Debris Burning 7 94.62
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 1 3.7
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 4 1.14
Railroad 1 0.2
Electrical Power 1 0.6
Miscellaneous/Other 2 3.2
Total: 40 254.68
2018 Butte Valley/Weed Battalion Igntions
18 16
14 12
10 8
6 4
2 0
17 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
7 Smoking
4 4 Debris Burning
1 2
0 1 0 1 1 2
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
226
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McCloud Battalion 2018-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
2018 saw many accomplishments in the McCloud Battalion highlighted by the restarting of the McCloud and the Dunsmuir Fire Safe Councils. Fuel reduction work continued through the Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County around the City of Mount Shasta, with fuel break projects initiated, completed, and maintained utilizing chipper days, Deadwood Crews and Engine Companies within the Battalion. Working with local Fire Safe Councils, timber companies and the United States Forest Service, through continued education efforts, helped avert any large fire ignitions within the Battalion. Fuel breaks and broadcast burning were concentrated in the areas on the east side of Dunsmuir, the North, West and East side of Mt Shasta and the Highway 89 corridor which included widening of an existing fuel break on Squaw Valley Road.
Work continues at Spring Hill Road to Rainbow Ridge area. Battalion personnel and equipment also contributed to cooperator fuel reduction projects with the Shasta Trinity National Forest with the Algoma and Pilgrim projects. The number of defensible space inspections in the Battalion increased dramatically with an emphasis on public education contacts. Timber companies continue to add fuel breaks while also maintaining existing fuel breaks and roadways. These cooperators continue to be an asset to firefighting resources in the area. McCloud Battalion personnel are involved in the local Fire Safe Council and School programs in addition to outreach events designed to educate the public of the importance of wildfire awareness through various means such as the Ready, Set, Go, Code Red and defensible spaceprogram.
The McCloud Fire Safe Council submitted a grant through CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program that will establish a shaded fuel break around the town of McCloud which was awarded in 2019 for $775,066.00.
Ignition analysis
In 2018 there were a total of 18 ignitions, which were down from 21 ignitions the previous year.
Causes varied from abandoned campfires, lightning caused fires, illegal burns and equipment fires. The remaining ignitions fell within historical averages. Early detection and aggressive initial attack contained all fires to less than 6 acres total, up by one acre from the year prior.
Due to previous years of severe drought conditions and the Bark Beatle infestation California has experienced, tree mortality continues to expand throughout the McCloud Battalion. The added threat posed by dead fuels is a concern for potential rapid-fire growth, compromised ingress and egress for the safety of the community and emergency personnel. As this mortality continues to expand, the Siskiyou County Tree Mortality Task Force will help prioritize the growing need for fuel reduction work throughout the battalion. Working with landowners and stakeholders to limit the potential for ignitions along with early detection, augmented response and well-planned fuel reduction work will aid in suppression efforts. 227
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2018 McCloud Battalion
Ignitions
7 6
5 4
3 2
1 Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking
Debris Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
2018 McCloud Battalion Ignitions
2018 Batt IV Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 1 0.01
Lightning 6 5.5
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 3 1.6
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 1 0.01
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 2 0.08
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 0 0
Miscellaneous/Other 4 1.13
Total: 18 8.43
6 4
3 1
2 1 1
0 0 0 0 0
Undetermined
Lightning
Campfires
Smoking Debris
Burning
Arson
Equipment Use
Playing With Fire
Vehicle
Railroad
Electrical Power
Miscellaneous/Other
228
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORTING 2018
Fire Planning:
In 2018 fuel reduction work continued to be a priority on multiple CAL FIRE and Fire Safe Council projects. These projects included Butte Valley Wildlife Refuge, Soap Creek Ridge North Fuel Break, Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, South Mount Shasta Fuel Break, Squaw Valley Fuel Break, Big Springs Fuel Break, Ordway VMP, Deadwood Defensible Space, Weed City Water Tanks, along with many other projects. The California Conservation Corps (CCC) assisted CAL FIRE on the Thamar and Soap Creek Ridge North projects. The Siskiyou Unit continues to plan fuel reduction projects for 2019.
Construction was started on a fire suppression water storage tank in 2017 for the Hammond Ranch Subdivision which was completed in 2018. A second water tank is planned for the Lower Scott Valley area.
Siskiyou Unit Personnel participated in the review and editing of various Community Wildfire Protection Plans including the Siskiyou County CWPP Update.
The Siskiyou Unit recognizes the necessity for maintenance to be completed on multiple fuel breaks within the Unit. Maintenance grants have been challenging to obtain by Siskiyou County Fire Safe Councils. The Unit would be more fire resilient by maintaining and constructing strategically located fuel breaks rather than completing fuel breaks in non-strategic areas.
Investigations and Enforcement:
In 2018 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 158 total SRA fires with various causes, 99 of which were vegetation fires. The ignition analysis shows that debris burn escapes were the major preventable causes of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation continues to steadily increase. Only one fire within the Unit was determined to be caused by arson which was down significantly from 12 last year.
During the year, the Prevention Bureau took the following enforcement actions: 3 custodial fire related arrests, 19 citations, 5 District Attorney Complaints, and 8 assists to other law enforcement agencies. 38 LE-38 notice of fire hazard inspections were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
Wildland Fire Prevention Engineering:
The Siskiyou Unit processed a total of 142 building permit applications and conducted 27 plan reviews in 2018.
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Education and Information:
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. These accomplishments included: 25 fire prevention displays/presentations, over 35,000 public contacts, 7,160 contacts with students through school programs and maintenance of 21 fire prevention signs. The prevention bureau processed 3468 defensible space inspections, an increase of 809 from the previous year. Unit Forestry aids were instrumental in completing these inspections, while also completing 3414 powerline Inspections for the year. There were 167 media contacts made for fire information and/or prevention education. Numerous hours of staff time were spent with outreaches to local and federal government cooperators and fire safe councils in aiding them in fire prevention efforts.
Vegetation Management:
Fuel reduction work continues to be a priority within the Siskiyou unit. In 2018 many fuel reduction projects were completed as well as new projects planned for 2019. Fuel reduction work started on the 500-acre Vegetation Management Program (VMP) contract on the Ordway Ranch in Weed. Treatments include a combination of hand piling and burning, tractor piling and burning and prescribed burning. Fuel Work was Planning continues various VMP projects including a 1,000-acre VMP on the Scott River Ranch located in Scott Valley, Bogus Creek VMP and numerous other fuel reduction projects throughout Siskiyou County.
Volunteerism:
Volunteers in Prevention put in 2,985 hours of Fire Prevention activity within the Unit. Volunteer hours were combined from Honor Guard, Lookouts, Siskiyou Golden Fair, Fire Pals, School programs and training.
Fire Hazard Severity Mapping and Mitigation:
No Fire Hazard Mapping was conducted in 2018. Fuel reduction projects to be conducted throughout Siskiyou County continue to be considered short term mitigations for fire hazard severity.
Other Fire Prevention Projects in SRA:
Numerous hours of staff time were spent in with Local and Federal government cooperators assisting them in combined fire prevention efforts. Staff hours were also spent aiding Fire Safe Councils in their fuel reduction and fire prevention education efforts. 230
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2019 Siskiyou Unit Ignition Analysis
In 2019 the Siskiyou Unit had 123 vegetation fires burning 146.45 acres within the State Direct Protection Area. This was up by 24 fires from the previous year and up about 16 from the 10- year average. Lightning was the number one cause of ignitions within the Unit at 59 which is 34 more than the 10-year average and is the main reason for an above average number of ignitions in the Unit. The ignition analysis showed that debris burn escapes were the major preventable cause of fires last year but was within the 10-year average. The number of undetermined fires in the Unit was up by 1 fire from last year but was still about 40 percent lower than the 10-year average, which indicates that efforts by Prevention staff to train and assist field staff with investigations continues to be successful. 7 fires within the Unit were determined to be caused by arson which is up from only 1 last year. Electrical caused fires were up from 2 last year to 10 this year which is about 50 percent more than the 10-year average. All other ignitions in the Unit were near or below the 10-year average. GIS mapping data was collected for 9 SRA vegetation fires within the unit and submitted to the Fire and Resource Assessment Program.
2019 Causes Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 10 5.95
Lightning 59 53.8
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 1 9.69
Debris Burning 14 20.78
Arson 7 .68
Equipment Use 8 6.78
Playing with Fire 0 0
Vehicle 6 3.99
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 10 37.9
Miscellaneous/Other 7 6.78
Total: 123 146.45
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Scott Valley Battalion 2019 Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements:
In 2019, Battalion personnel worked throughout Siskiyou County on Unit fuel reduction projects.
The Battalions personnel and equipment attributed to the Units successful completion of these critical projects. These projects will help protect Siskiyou County communities and first responders from the damaging effects of catastrophic wildfires. Battalion personnel worked with local landowners within Scott Valley to educate and assist them with fuel reduction projects, utilizing broadcast burning to enhance agriculture production and fire safe landscapes. Opening and maintaining fire access roads continued to be a priority in the Battalion. Work continued through cooperation with private timber companies and landowners to open fire access roads that were previously impassable.
One of Scott Valleys large timber landowners, Eco Trust, received grant funding for a local project. The project includes fuel reduction as well as access and egress improvement on their lands in the Crystal creek area. This project builds on the maintenance and future continuation of Etna Fuel Break. The project also contributes to the protection of citizens and landowners from wildfires on the west side of Scott Valley. The Lower Scott River Fire Safe Council was successful in contacting and obtaining permission to place a water storage tank at the desired project location. The council is moving forward with the purchase and installation of a skid mounted water tank for fire suppression use in the lower Scott River Road area. The Scott River Ranch VMP Project in the McConaughy Gulch area has been approved. This project is a 10-year project to improve habitat and range land as well as reducing potential ignition and spread of catastrophic wildfires in the area. The project consists of utilizing CAL FIRE personnel and equipment to conduct pile and broadcast burning. By reducing fuel loading and reintroducing controlled fire to the landscape, the area will be more resilient to the damaging effects of potential wildfires upon completion. The Unit received assistance from CAL FIRE Northern Region staff in completing environmental compliance documents and other important portions of the project to ensure the successful approval of the VMP project. Battalion personnel also assisted residents and landowners with fuel reduction, focused on ingress and egress, along Mill Creek Road. This project will continue and is anticipated to be completed in 2020. The project enhances the safety of residences and property owners the area as well as first responders.
Battalion personnel continued to foster cooperative relationships with local and federal counterparts, participating in local and multi-agency training exercises. The battalion worked with the Units Fire Prevention Bureau participating in local events. This created direct contact with community members for public education. Fire Prevention education topics included the leading causes of fires within the battalion and unit. Scott Valley Battalion personnel alone completed over 233
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150 LE-100 fire safety inspections within Scott Valley in 2019 to help ensure the safety of residents and first responders.
In 2019 the total number of fire ignitions and burned acres within the Scott Valley Battalion were down slightly from historical averages.
Ignition Analysis:
In 2019, the Scott Valley Battalion had 25 ignitions totaling 22.68 acres, which was higher than the previous year. This increase can be attributed to the number of lightning caused fires. Lightning was the leading cause of fires within the battalion with 15 ignitions totaling 10.76 acers burned.
Aggressive fire suppression, lookout staffing, landowner relationships and available suppression resources contributed to the quick containment and minimal acres burned in these ignitions.
Battalion personnel will continue to work with landowners to keep access roads open and foster cooperative relationships to aid in the suppression of these ignitions.
The Battalion had 3 debris burn and equipment caused fires which were the second leading causes of fire ignitions. This was down slightly from last year and historical averages. Additional prevention signs, as well increasing efforts in posting social media content to assist with public education regarding fire safety when burning seems to have decreased these ignitions. Fire personnel will continue to educate the public while issuing LE-5 burn permits at the fire station.
Battalion personnel will conduct random burn pile inspections when burning is observed and continue education efforts at local events like the Etna Rodeo.
Increased training and education for battalion personnel related to fire investigation and scene preservation has also reduced the number of undetermined caused fires in the battalion from previous years.
All other fire ignitions remain within historical average.
In 2020 the Scott Valley Battalion will continue to look for opportunities to work with the community on fuel breaks in and around populated areas. The focus of these fuel breaks will be to improve ingress and egress routes for communities within the battalion as well as protecting communities, critical infrastructure, and timber lands. The Battalion will also continue to work to identifying locations for the implementation and completion of fuel reduction projects within these strategic locations. The goal for these projects will be to reduce available fuel for fire ignitions and reduce the spread of wildland fires within Scott Valley. 234
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2019 Scott Valley Battalion Ignitions
2019 Batt I Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 0 0
Lightning 15 10.76
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 3 9.57
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 3 1.12
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 0 0
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 1 1
Miscellaneous/Other 2 0.13
Total: 25 22.68
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Shasta Valley Battalion 2019- Achievements and Ignition Analysis Achievements
In 2019, the Shasta Valley Battalion’s greatest accomplishment was limiting all but one vegetation fire to less than 10 acres in size. In 2019, the Battalion recorded 56 ignitions with a total acreage burned of only 99.32 acres. This computes to an average of 1.77 acres per ignition. This puts the Battalion well under the State goal of 90% of the fires controlled at 10 acres or less.
The Yreka Fire Safe council continued its efforts to educate the public in the area and sought more citizen involvement along with identifying funding for additional Fire Safe projects.
They received a grant for State funding, to analyze fire behavior in the Yreka area. The Fire Safe Council hopes to utilize existing projects and tie these together with the USFS Craggy Fuel Break project. The Craggy project will provide a fuel break on Humbug and Gunsight ridges helping to protect the city of Yreka.
CALFIRE partnered with TREX two years ago, assisting with a fuel reduction and modification project on the Bogus Creek Ranch near Copco Lake. The 1400-acre Bogus Creek VMP ties into the work completed with TREX. Battalion personnel continued site preparation for prescribed burning, which the Unit hopes to begin in 2020. The Nature Conservancy also partnered with CALFIRE on their property in the Shasta Valley in hopes of improving range through burning approximately 1400 acres of non-native grasses and juniper. This property was purchased by the Department of Fish and Wildlife and future fire management cooperation is expected. Shasta Valley Battalion personnel in conjunction with other CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit personnel completed the White Rock prescribed fire project and will revisit maintenance in the future. Other fuel reduction projects completed in 2019 include the Baird Ranch, Baird Ranch Phase 2, Hornbrook Station Klamathon Fire Cleanup and multiple projects assisting the Klamath National Forrest.
Currently, CALFIRE is in the early planning phases with several fuel reduction projects around the Yreka area. Most of these projects are expected to tie into the current USFS Craggy Fuel project and past Fire Safe Council fuel reduction efforts. 236
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Ignition Analysis
In 2019, the Shasta Valley Battalion saw a significant increase in total ignitions.
Lightning was the driving force behind the ignition increase and was the top ignition source which was consistent with historical trends. Early augmentation of suppression resources and early detection efforts during lighting activity, helped keep all fires small. The second leading cause of fires in the Battalion was debris burn escapes and power line caused fires with 6 each. Undetermined fires were down about 70 percent from historical averages.
Battalion personnel will continue to educate the public through the burn permit process including burning regulations, site inspections and public outreach in conjunction with the Prevention Bureau. Battalion personnel will work with pre-fire to complete power line inspections in State Responsibility Areas within the Shasta Valley Battalion. Battalion personnel have worked closely with the Prevention Bureau to gain more education and experience in conducting origin and cause investigations which resulted in less fire caused being undetermined.
The largest fire in the Shasta Valley was the Rocky fire. The fire grew to approximately 16 acres. The Rocky fire was an electrical caused fire. All other fires were kept to less than 10 acres and were near or below historical averages.
Large fast-moving fires are becoming more of a trend throughout the state.
Traditional fuel breaks have shown to be less effective when suppressing these types of fires. Therefore, fuel reduction efforts within the Shasta Valley Battalion, will focus on improving ingress and egress for communities, protecting critical infrastructure and creating a fire resilient environment while protecting natural resources. 237
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2019 Shasta Valley Battalion Ignitions
2019 Batt II Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 2 0.44
Lightning 25 32.96
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 1 9.69
Debris Burning 6 10.58
Arson 6 0.43
Equipment Use 2 1.1
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 5 3.89
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 6 33.73
Miscellaneous/Other 3 6.5
Total: 56 99.32
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Butte Valley / Weed Battalion 2019- Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
2019 was a slower year for fire activity in the Battalion which allowed personnel to focus on new and continuing fuels reduction projects. Butte Valley / Weed Battalion completed the 496-acre Shasta “O” Ranch Vegetation Management Program (VMP). The project was approved in 2017 and was completed using mechanical thinning and pile and broadcast burning as weather, fuels and resource availability allowed. The Shasta “O” Ranch VMP is located just north of Weed City and southwest of the Lake Shastina community and tie’s in to Greater Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council’s completed fuel reduction project along Ordway Road. In December of 2019 Butte Valley / Weed Battalion completed the Lake Shastina Fuels Treatment Project. This project was completed using mastication and chipper/chainsaw work treating one hundred feet on both sides of the roads for ingress/egress and community protection. The project treated 389 acres on Highway 97 north from Big Springs road to Highway A12, Big Springs Road from Highway 97 to Seldom Seen Ranch Road, and Jackson Ranch Road two miles west to the Shasta “O” Ranch. This project connected multiple other projects sharing a common boundary increasing fire resiliency and ingress/egress for Lake Shastina. The fuel break will help protect the community from fire advancing from the south, east and west. In addition, helping to reduce the dead and down fuel load from past historical fires in the area including the Hoy and Hotlum Fires.
Battalion personnel assisted The Klamath National Forest with prescribed burns in the Tennant area with a 500-acre prescribed burn on the Klamath National Forest as well as the Bureau of Land Management with pile burning in Butte Valley. Participating in these prescribed burns encourages interagency cooperation, area orientation and provides valuable training and experience to Battalion and Unit personnel.
The Butte Valley / Weed Battalion continues to focus on improving emergency ingress and egress routes for at-risk communities. Weed and Macdoel station personnel continued with local chipping projects in coordination with the Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council in Mt Shasta Vista and the Hammond Ranch Fire Safe Council. The focus of the chipping projects is to improve ingress and egress of easements in subdivisions where vegetation has built up and impedes civilian evacuation and emergency responder access. The Mt Shasta Vista subdivision continues to be an area of concern for fuels reduction and civilian safety, which is at high risk due to local wind patterns, extended response times, narrow winding roads and a high concentration of non-English speaking population involved in the marijuana industry. February of 2020, Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council received a CAL FIRE CCI Fire Prevention Grant for $812,000 to complete 433 acres of fuel reduction (100ft each side) along the roads in the Mount Shasta Vista Sub-Division. The project will utilize mastication and chipper/chainsaw work to provide valuable ingress, egress, and defensible space for the citizens in that area. The project is scheduled to begin in September of 2020. Additional fuel reduction projects will continue to be evaluated and planned to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources in the Butte Valley / Weed Battalion.
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Close coordination between Butte Valley / Weed Battalion and Fire Safe Councils continued through 2019 with five active Fire Safe Councils either applying for grants or contributing to grants to reduce fuels and improve ingress and egress. The Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County submitted a “Siskiyou County Multi-Communities Fuels Reduction Project” grant via CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program that would include the Greater Lake Shastina area, Mt. Shasta Vista subdivision and the Hidden Meadow subdivision. Additionally, the Hammond Ranch Fire Safe Council applied for a “Hammond Ranch Area Hazardous Fuels Reduction Program”. These grants, if awarded in 2020, encompass entire subdivisions and reduce fuels along main roads that are overgrown with vegetation and pose a threat to evacuation routes and firefighter access.
The Battalion staff continuously attends and/or participates in community events.
In 2019 a community pre-fire season awareness and fire safety discussion was presented to a local Hmong community using a language interpreter. Battalion personnel continue to deliver educational and fire prevention out-reach programs to schools in the battalion.
Ignition Analysis
In 2019, there were 30 ignitions in the Battalion, compared to 40 ignitions in 2018. This is down 10 from last year which may be a result of focused fire prevention education, widespread media coverage of large fires and an unusually wet winter. In 2019 the total acreage burned in the battalion was 18.53 acres, compared to 254.68 acres burned in 2018. Resource availability and early detection aided in quick fire suppression keeping all fires within the Battalion less than 10 acres.
The battalion experienced 13 lightning fires, down from 17 in 2018, making lightning the highest cause of ignitions in the Battalion for two years in a row. Work will continue with landowners and cooperating agencies to improve ingress and egress for areas with high lightning occurrence to aid in quick fire detection and suppression. In 2019, debris burning continued to be the battalion’s second highest number of fires caused with 5 fires burning 0.63 acres. Battalion personnel will focus on increasing public education on safe residential and agricultural burning in 2020 working with the Public Information Officer to increase prevention efforts. The Battalion had 5 fires that were undetermined which was up by 1 from last year and was also the second leading cause of fires. To better understand the fire problem in the Battalion, it is important to reduce the number of undetermined fires to better target prevention efforts. Battalion personnel will work with the Prevention Bureau to get additional training and experience with cause and origin investigations. Equipment use was determined as the cause of 3 fires which burned 4.56 acres. Equipment use fires increased from 2018 which will also be a focus of fire prevention in 2020.
The Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion will continue to focus on preventing and reducing the number of all vegetation fires through public education events, media, fuel reduction, preplanning and any other means that are feasible. All other ignitions were near or below historical averages.
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2019 Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion Ignitions
2019 Batt III Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 5 0.81
Lightning 13 9.07
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 5 0.63
Arson 1 0.25
Equipment Use 3 4.56
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 0 0
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 2 3.16
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.05
Total: 30 18.53
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McCloud Battalion 2019-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
2019 saw many accomplishments in the McCloud Battalion highlighted by the restarting of the McCloud and the Dunsmuir Fire Safe Councils. Fuel reduction work continued through the Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County around the City of Mount Shasta, with fuel break projects initiated, completed, and maintained utilizing chipper days, Deadwood Crews and Engine Companies within the Battalion. Completed projects included the Shasta Acres community chipping project and phase 1 and 2 of the South Mt. Shasta Fuel Break. Maintenance work continues for fuel reduction projects at Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery and at the Mt. Shasta sewer ponds. Collaboration between CAL FIRE, the United States Forest Service, local Timber Companies, Fire Safe Councils and local Fire Departments for pre-fire planning and fire prevention will continue to be a priority in the Battalion. The McCloud Battalion assisted the Shasta Trinity National Forest with prescribed burning on the Pilgrim Creek and Elk projects.
Battalion personnel assisted with the Governors 45-day fuels project, the Lake Shastina Fuels Treatment. The number of defensible space inspections in the Battalion continued with an emphasis on compliance and public education. Timber companies continue to add fuel breaks while also maintaining existing fuel breaks and roadways. Collaboration with cooperators continues to be a critical asset in pre planning and fire suppression.
McCloud Battalion personnel are involved in the local Fire Safe Council and School programs in addition to outreach events designed to educate the public on the importance of wildfire awareness through various means such as the Ready, Set, Go, Code Red and defensible spaceprograms. The McCloud Fire Safe Council was awarded a grant through CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program that will establish a shaded fuel break around the town of McCloud for $775,066.00 with work beginning in 2020.
The Siskiyou Unit is working with CAL TRANS on the reentry and maintenance of the Azalea Fuel break on Interstate 5 from Dunsmuir to Azalea Rd. This project will treat both sides of Interstate 5 within the CAL TRANS right-of-way. This is the first of three phases to treat fuels along the Interstate 5 Right-of-Way from Dunsmuir to Edgewood Rd. The unit is has also began maintenance of the Squaw Valley fuel break.
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Ignition analysis
In 2019, the McCloud Battalion had 12 ignitions totaling 5.92 acres, which was down 33 percent from the previous year. This overall decrease can be attributed to fewer human caused fires as lightning caused fires were the same as in 2018. Lightning, which is historically the number one cause of wildland fires in the Unit and Battalion, was the leading cause of fires within the Battalion for 2019 with 6 ignitions totaling 1.01 acers burned. Resource availability, quick suppression, and cooperative efforts aided in keeping all fires to a minimum. Battalion personnel will continue to foster cooperation with local landowners, Fire Safe Councils, and other fire agencies to seek opportunities to improve access to aid in the quick response and suppression of lightning caused fires.
The Battalion had 3 undetermined caused fires which was the second leading causes of fire ignitions. This was up slightly from last year. Battalion personnel will work with the Prevention Bureau to increase proficiency in wildfire origin and cause investigations. Reducing the number of undetermined fires is critical to better understand the prevention needs of the Battalion. The number of escaped debris burns fell to zero in 2019, down from 3 in 2018. Historically this is the second leading cause of fires in the Unit and Battalion. Increased efforts in posting fire prevention education messages on social media and public outreach on fire safety when burning seems to have decreased these ignitions. Fire personnel will continue to personally educate the public while issuing LE-5 burn permits at the fire station and while conducting burn pile and defensible space inspections. Station personnel will continue education efforts at local events in the Battalion. All other wildland fire ignitions were near or below historical trends.
In 2020 the McCloud Battalion will work with cooperators and the public to plan and execute fuel reduction projects that protect communities and strengthen ingress and egress on major routes of travel. Fuel reduction work will focus on protecting communities, improving ingress and egress, protecting critical infrastructure, and enhancing natural resources. The Battalion will also look to identify other areas that fit these criteria for future projects with the goal being to reduce the number and size of wildland fires in the Battalion. 243
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2019 Batt IV Number Acres
by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 3 4.7
Lightning 6 1.01
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 0 0
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 0 0
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 1 0.1
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 1 0.01
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.1
Total: 12 5.92
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORTING 2019
Fire Planning:
In 2019 fuel reduction work continued to be a priority on multiple CAL FIRE and Fire Safe Council projects. These projects included the Lake Shastina Fuel Treatment, Shasta Valley Wildlife Area, South Mount Shasta Fuel Break, Squaw Valley Fuel Break, Ordway VMP, Bogus Creek VMP, White Rock broadcast burn, Castle Crags Project, Siskiyou County Flood Control, Deadwood Defensible Space, Weed City Water Tanks, along with many other projects.
Siskiyou Unit Personnel participated in the review and editing of various Community Wildfire Protection Plans including the Siskiyou County CWPP Update.
The Siskiyou Unit recognizes the necessity for maintenance to be completed on multiple fuel breaks within the Unit. Maintenance grants have been challenging to obtain by Siskiyou County Fire Safe Councils. The Unit would be more fire resilient by maintaining and constructing strategically located fuel breaks rather than completing fuel breaks in non-strategic areas.
Investigations and Enforcement:
In 2019 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 187 total SRA fires with various causes, 123 of which were vegetation fires. The ignition analysis shows that debris burn escapes was the major preventable cause of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation continues to steadily increase. Seven fires within the Unit were determined to be caused by arson which was up from 1 last year and was up from the 10-year average.
During the year, the Prevention Bureau took the following enforcement actions: 3 custodial fire related arrests, 33 citations, 3 District Attorney Complaints, and multiple assists to other law enforcement agencies. 25 LE-38 notices of fire hazard inspection were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
Wildland Fire Prevention Engineering:
The Siskiyou Unit processed a total of 120 building permit applications and conducted 30 plan reviews in 2019.
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Education and Information:
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. These accomplishments included: 20 fire prevention displays/presentations, over 38,500 public contacts, 8000 contacts with students through school programs and maintenance of 21 fire prevention signs. The prevention bureau processed 5855 defensible space inspections, an increase of 2387 from the previous year. Unit Forestry aids were instrumental in completing these inspections, while also being instrumental in supporting the Lake Shastina Fuels Treatment Project. There were 167 media contacts made for fire information and/or prevention education. Numerous hours of staff time were spent with outreaches to local and federal government cooperators and fire safe councils in aiding them in fire prevention efforts.
Vegetation Management:
Fuel reduction work continues to be a priority within the Siskiyou unit. In 2019 many fuel reduction projects were completed as well as new projects planned. Fuel reduction work was completed on the 500-acre Vegetation Management Program (VMP) contract on the Ordway Ranch in Weed. Treatments included a hand and tractor piling, pile burning and prescribed burning. Prescribed fire burn preparation began on the 1400-acre Bogus Creek VMP in anticipation of burning in 2020. The Scott River Ranch VMP located in Scott Valley was approved in 2019 with preparation work beginning in 2020. Planning has begun for several other VMP and fuel reduction projects including the Golden Gate Flat VMP, several smaller VMPs in the Yreka area, the Azalea Fuel Break in Dunsmuir and the Squaw Valley Fuel Break in McCloud.
Volunteerism:
Volunteers in Prevention put in 3000 hours of Fire Prevention activity within the Unit. Volunteer hours were combined from Honor Guard, Lookouts, Siskiyou Golden Fair, Fire Pals, School programs and training.
Fire Hazard Severity Mapping and Mitigation:
No Fire Hazard Mapping was conducted in 2019. Fuel reduction projects to be conducted throughout Siskiyou County continue to be considered short term mitigations for fire hazard severity.
Other Fire Prevention Projects in SRA:
Numerous hours of staff time were spent in with Local and Federal government cooperators assisting them in combined fire prevention efforts. Staff hours were also spent aiding Fire Safe Councils in their fuel reduction and fire prevention education efforts. 246
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YEARLY IGNITION TOTALS BY CAUSE FROM 2010-2020
2010 to 2020 Causes Number Yearly
by Average
Causes
Undetermined 185 17
Lightning 383 35
Campfires 63 6
Smoking 17 1.5
Debris Burning 164 15
Arson 50 5
Equipment Use 80 7
Playing With Fire 14 1.3
Vehicle 54 5
Railroad 10 0.9
Electrical Power 58 5
Miscellaneous/Other 103 9
Total: 1181 107.3
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2020 Siskiyou Unit Ignition Analysis
In 2020 the Siskiyou Unit had 114 vegetation fires burning 747.22 acres within the State Direct Protection Area. This was down by 9 fires from the previous year and up about 7 from the average. Lightning was the number one cause of ignitions within the Unit at 33 which is near average. The ignition analysis showed that vehicle caused fires were the major preventable cause of fires last year, almost three times the 11-year average. The number of undetermined fires in the Unit was up by 11 fires from last year and was above the 11-year average. The Unit had 9 Arson fires which is up from 7 last year and is nearly twice the 11-year average. Debris burning caused fires were 33 percent below the Unit average which is likely a direct result of focused fire prevention education and enforcement. All other ignitions in the Unit were near or below the 10-year average. GIS mapping data was collected for 17 SRA vegetation fires within the unit and submitted to the Fire and Resource Assessment Program.
SKU Number Acres
2020 by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 21 112.2
Lightning 33 30.81
Campfires 3 1.2
Smoking 1 0.9
Debris Burning 10 21.14
Arson 9 0.27
Equipment Use 7 9.6
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 14 560.94
Railroad 1 0.2
Electrical Power 10 8.6
Miscellaneous/Other 5 1.36
Total: 114 747.22
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Scott Valley Battalion 2020 Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements:
In 2020, Battalion personnel worked throughout Siskiyou County on Unit fuel reduction projects.
The Battalions personnel and equipment attributed to the Units successful completion of these critical projects. These projects will help protect Siskiyou County communities and first responders from the damaging effects of catastrophic wildfires. Battalion personnel worked with local landowners within Scott Valley to educate and assist them with fuel reduction projects, utilizing broadcast burning to enhance agriculture production and fire safe landscapes. Opening and maintaining fire access roads continued to be a priority in the Battalion. Work continued through cooperation with private timber companies and landowners to open fire access roads that were previously impassable.
Eco Trust received grant funding for a local project and continues with fuel reduction as well as access and egress improvement on their lands in the Crystal creek area. This project builds on the maintenance and future continuation of Etna Fuel Break. The project also contributes to the protection of citizens and landowners from wildfires on the west side of Scott Valley. The Lower Scott River Fire Safe Council (LSRFSC) has made progress on a water tank project. The tanks are in place and work continues with the plumbing. The LSRFSC is currently working on grant proposals for both fuel breaks and pre-fire planning. These proposals include creating maps and GIS databases to utilize in pre-plans as well as fuel breaks along Scott River Road that will increase ingress and egress for the public and first responders. The French Creek, Quartz Valley area, Rattlesnake Creek, Scott Bar, Seiad and Scott Valley Fire Safe Councils will be cooperatively applying for three grants to include fuel reduction around the Partridge Pine Community, Defensible Space for disabled and elderly in the Scott Valley area, and ingress and egress in the Seiad Creek Community.
The Scott River Water Shed Council will also submit grants for fuels reduction projects in Scott Valley that will tie into previous completed fuel breaks and proposed Fire Safe Council grant fuel breaks.
The Scott River Ranch VMP Project in the McConaughey Gulch area continues to move forward.
This project is in year 2 of 10-year contract and will improve habitat and range land as well as reducing potential ignition and spread of catastrophic wildfires in the area. CAL FIRE personnel and equipment were able conduct pile and broadcast burning this winter and will continue with mechanical treatment and plan for a broadcast burn at the end of this year. By reducing fuel loading and reintroducing controlled fire to the landscape, the area will be more resilient to the damaging effects of potential wildfires upon completion. The Unit received assistance from CAL FIRE Northern Region staff in completing environmental compliance documents and other important portions of the project to ensure the successful approval of the VMP project. Battalion personnel also assisted residents and landowners with fuel reduction, focused on ingress and egress, along Mill Creek Road. This project will continue and is anticipated to be completed in 251
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2020. The project enhances the safety of residences and property owners the area as well as first responders.
Battalion personnel continued to foster cooperative relationships with local and federal counterparts, participating in local and multi-agency training exercises. The battalion worked with the Units Fire Prevention Bureau participating in local events. This created direct contact with community members for public education. Fire Prevention education topics included the leading causes of fires within the battalion and unit. Scott Valley Battalion personnel alone completed over 150 LE-100 fire safety inspections within Scott Valley in 2020 to help ensure the safety of residents and first responders.
In 2020 the total number of fire ignitions and burned acres within the Scott Valley Battalion slightly increased from historical averages.
Ignition Analysis:
In 2020, the Scott Valley Battalion had 34 ignitions totaling 111.82 acres, which was higher than the previous year. This increase can be attributed to 6 additional lightning caused fires. Lightning was the leading cause of fires within the Battalion with 21 ignitions totaling 13.11 acers burned.
Aggressive fire suppression, lookout staffing, landowner relationships and available suppression resources contributed to the quick containment and minimal acres burned in these ignitions.
Battalion personnel will continue to work with landowners to keep access roads open and foster cooperative relationships to aid in the suppression of these ignitions.
The Battalion had 4 undetermined fires which was the second leading causes of fire ignitions.
Debris burning caused fires were down from last year and about half of the historical average.
Electrical and equipment caused fires were tied for the third leading cause of fire ignitions with 3 each. Additional prevention signs and increasing efforts in posting social media content to assist with public education regarding fire safety when burning seems to have decreased these ignitions.
Fire personnel will continue to educate the public while issuing LE-5 burn permits at the fire station. Battalion personnel will conduct random burn pile inspections when burning is observed and continue education efforts at local events like the Etna Rodeo.
In 2021 the Scott Valley Battalion will continue to look for opportunities to work with the community on fuel breaks in and around populated areas. The focus of these fuel breaks will be to improve ingress and egress routes for communities within the battalion as well as protecting communities, critical infrastructure, and timber lands. The Battalion will also continue to work to identifying locations for the implementation and completion of fuel reduction projects within these strategic locations. The goal for these projects will be to reduce available fuel for fire ignitions and reduce the spread of wildland fires within Scott Valley. 252
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Batt I Number Acres
2020 by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 4 95.1
Lightning 21 13.11
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 2 1.01
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 3 2.1
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 0 0
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 3 0.4
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.1
Total: 34 111.82
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Shasta Valley Battalion 2020 - Achievements and Ignition Analysis Achievements:
In 2020, the Shasta Valley Battalion was successful in keeping 95% of our fires to less the 10 acres. A decrease in lighting activity had a part in this. Another contributing factor was the successful use of hired equipment for initial attack during resource drawdown. This augmentation included engines, dozers, and helicopters.
The Yreka Fire Safe council continued its efforts to educate the public in the area and sought more citizen involvement along with identifying funding for additional Fire Safe projects. They received a grant for state funding, to analyze fire behavior in the Yreka area. This data is being used to update the Yreka Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). The Fire Safe Council hopes to tie in past and current projects with the USFS Craggy Fuel Break project. The Craggy project will provide a fuel break on Humbug and Gunsight ridges helping to protect the city of Yreka and surrounding communities.
Shasta Valley Battalion personnel in conjunction with other CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit personnel completed the Newton prescribed fire project, located on the southern edge of Yreka City. This was an 83-acre broadcast burn project with an additional 6 acres of manual fuel treatment. The Battalion has plans to complete phase two of this project in 2021. Other fuel reduction projects completed in 2020 include the KNF Greenhorn, BLM Humbug, and multiple other projects assisting the Klamath National Forrest.
Currently, CALFIRE is in the early planning phases with several fuel reduction projects around the Yreka area. Most of these projects are expected to tie into the current USFS Craggy Fuel project and past Fire Safe Council fuel reduction efforts. 254
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Ignition Analysis:
In 2020, the Shasta Valley Battalion saw a decrease in total ignitions. This reduction in total number of fires can most directly be associated with a below average amount of lighting caused fires.
The leading cause of fires in the Battalion for 2020 was Intentionally set fires with a total of nine. This was an increase of 80% above the six-year normal in this category. Fortunately, suppression resources were able to limit the intentionally caused fires to a total of 0.27 acres.
Undetermined fires were slightly above the six-year historical average.
The largest fire in the Shasta Valley was the Badger fire. The fire grew to approximately 557 acres. The Badger fire was a vehicle caused fire. The Townsend Fire was the second largest at 13 acres. The Townsend Fire was a debris burn escape. All other ignitions were at or below the historical averages.
Large fast-moving fires are becoming more of a trend throughout the state.
Fuel reduction efforts within the Shasta Valley Battalion, will continue to focus on improving ingress and egress for communities, protecting critical infrastructure, and creating a fire resilient environment while protecting natural resources.
Battalion personnel will continue to educate the public through the burn permit process including burning regulations, site inspections and public outreach in conjunction with the Prevention Bureau. Battalion personnel will work closely with the Prevention Bureau to gain more education and experience in preserving fire scenes along with conducting origin and cause investigations. The results of this will help decrease the number of undetermined fires in the Battalion.
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Batt II Number Acres
2020 by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 8 14.5
Lightning 8 15.4
Campfires 1 0.1
Smoking 1 0.9
Debris Burning 4 16.74
Arson 9 0.27
Equipment Use 2 7
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 5 559.21
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 1 0.1
Miscellaneous/Other 1 0.1
Total: 40 614.32
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Butte Valley / Weed Battalion 2020- Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
Battalion personnel assisted The Klamath National Forest with prescribed burns in the Tennant area with a 500-acre prescribed burn on the Klamath National Forest as well as the Bureau of Land Management with pile burning in Butte Valley. They also assisted with prescribed burns totaling over 2,500 acres with the USFWS in the Tulelake/State line area.
Participating in these prescribed burns encourages interagency cooperation, area orientation and provides valuable training and experience to Battalion and Unit personnel.
The Butte Valley / Weed Battalion continues to focus on improving emergency ingress and egress routes for at-risk communities. Weed and Macdoel station personnel continued with local chipping projects in coordination with the Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council in Mt Shasta Vista and the Hammond Ranch Fire Safe Council. The focus of the chipping projects is to improve ingress and egress of easements in subdivisions where vegetation has built up and impedes civilian evacuation and emergency responder access. The Mt. Shasta Vista subdivision continues to be an area of concern for fuels reduction, ingress, and egress. This area is at high risk due to local wind patterns, extended response times, narrow winding roads and a high concentration of people. February of 2020, Juniper Flat Fire Safe Council received a CAL FIRE CCI Fire Prevention Grant for $812,000 to complete 433 acres of fuel reduction (100ft each side) along the roads in the Mount Shasta Vista Sub-Division. The project will utilize mastication and chipper/chainsaw work to provide valuable ingress, egress, and defensible space for the citizens in that area. As of March 2021, the RFP for the fuel reduction project has been awarded and work will begin as soon as the weather permits. Additional fuel reduction projects will continue to be evaluated and planned to protect communities, critical infrastructure, and natural resources in the Butte Valley / Weed Battalion.
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Ignition Analysis
In 2020, there were 20 ignitions in the Battalion, compared to 30 ignitions in 2019 and 40 in 2018. This is down 20 in the last two years and is 10 below the 6-year average for the Battalion. This is mainly the result of fewer lightning caused fires and partly because of focused fire prevention education, widespread media coverage of recent large fires. In 2020 the total acreage burned in the Battalion was 10.89 acres, which is about 11 percent of the yearly average of 96 acres over the last six years. Resource availability and early detection aided in quick fire suppression keeping all fires within the Battalion less than 10 acres.
The leading causes for 2020 were lightning fires, undetermined fires, and vehicle caused fires. Lightning fires were well under the historical average whereas all other ignitions were near or below average. Historically lightning caused fires are the number one cause of fires in the Unit and Battalion. For this reason, work will continue with landowners and cooperating agencies to improve ingress and egress for areas with high lightning occurrence to aid in quick fire detection and suppression. In 2020, debris burning was about 80 percent lower than the past 6 years. Battalion personnel will focus on increasing public education on safe residential and agricultural burning in 2021 working with the Public Information Officer to increase prevention efforts as this is typically near the top of human caused fires. The Battalion had 4 fires that were undetermined which was down by 1 from last year. To better understand the fire problem in the Battalion, it is important to reduce the number of undetermined fires to better target prevention efforts. Battalion personnel will work with the Prevention Bureau to get additional training and experience with cause and origin investigations. Vehicle was determined as the cause of 4 fires which burned 1.23 acres. Vehicle caused fires increased from 2019 which will also be a focus of fire prevention in 2021.
The Butte Valley/ Weed Battalion will continue to focus on preventing and reducing the number of all vegetation fires through public education events, media, fuel reduction, preplanning and any other means that are feasible. All other ignitions were near or below historical averages.
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Batt III Number Acres
2020 by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 4 1.4
Lightning 4 2.3
Campfires 0 0
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 1 0.1
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 2 0.5
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 4 1.23
Railroad 1 0.2
Electrical Power 3 5.1
Miscellaneous/Oth 1 0.06
Total: 20 10.89
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McCloud Battalion 2020-Ignition Analysis and Achievements Achievements
2020 saw many accomplishments in the McCloud Battalion highlighted by the restarting of the McCloud and the Dunsmuir Fire Safe Councils. Fuel reduction work continued through the Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County around the City of Mount Shasta, with fuel break projects utilizing chipper days, Deadwood Crews and Engine Companies within the Battalion. Engine crews began work on the Deetz Rd. project in 2020 and will continue in 2021. Deadwood Crews and Battalion Engine companies completed the Siskiyou 89 project in cooperation with CAL TRANS and began working on the Squaw Valley Fuel Break. Maintenance work continues for fuel reduction projects at Mt. Shasta Fish Hatchery and at the Mt. Shasta sewer ponds.
Collaboration between CAL FIRE, the United States Forest Service, local Timber Companies, Fire Safe Councils and local Fire Departments for pre-fire planning and fire prevention will continue to be a priority in the Battalion. Defensible space inspections in the Battalion continued with an emphasis on compliance and public education. Timber companies continue to add fuel breaks while also maintaining existing fuel breaks and roadways. Collaboration with cooperators continues to be a critical asset in pre-planning and fire suppression.
McCloud Battalion personnel are involved in the local Fire Safe Council and School programs in addition to outreach events designed to educate the public on the importance of wildfire awareness through various means such as the Ready, Set, Go, Code Red and defensible space programs. The McCloud Fire Safe Council was awarded a grant through CAL FIRE’s California Climate Investments Fire Prevention Grant Program that will establish a shaded fuel break around the town of McCloud for $775,066.00 with work continuing in 2021.
The Siskiyou Unit is working with CAL TRANS on the reentry and maintenance of the Azalea Fuel break on Interstate 5 from Dunsmuir to Azalea Rd. This project will treat both sides of Interstate 5 within the CAL TRANS right-of-way. This is the first of three phases to treat fuels along the Interstate 5 Right-of-Way from Dunsmuir to Edgewood Rd
Ignition Analysis
In 2020 there were a total of 20 ignitions, which was up from the 12 ignitions the previous year.
The increase in ignitions in the Battalion was mostly due to an increase in tourism and outdoor recreation in the Battalion. Causes varied from abandoned campfires, debris burns, vehicle, undetermined/other, electrical power, and miscellaneous fires. The McCloud Battalion did not have any lightning fires in 2020. The remaining ignitions fell within historical averages. Early detection and aggressive initial attack contained all fires to less than 10 acres and a total of 10.19 acres, up by five acres from the year prior.
All human caused fire types will be addressed by targeted messaging and education of the public utilizing fire prevention signs, education outreach, and social media campaigns.
Battalion personnel will work closely with the Prevention Bureau to gain more education and experience in preserving fire scenes along with conducting origin and cause investigations.
The results of this will help decrease the number of undetermined fires in the Battalion.
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Batt IV Number Acres
2020 by Burned
Causes
Undetermined 5 1.2
Lightning 0 0
Campfires 2 1.1
Smoking 0 0
Debris Burning 3 3.29
Arson 0 0
Equipment Use 0 0
Playing With Fire 0 0
Vehicle 5 0.5
Railroad 0 0
Electrical Power 3 3
Miscellaneous/Other 2 1.1
Total: 20 10.19
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ANNUAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORTING 2020
Fire Planning:
In 2020 fuel reduction work continued to be a priority on multiple CAL FIRE and Fire Safe Council projects. These projects included the Newton Broadcast Burn, Squaw Valley Fuel Break, Scott River Ranch VMP, Bogus Creek VMP, Castle Crags Project, Siskiyou County Flood Control, Deadwood Defensible Space, multiple USFS (KNF & SHF) projects, along with many other projects. Siskiyou Unit Personnel participated in the review and editing of various Community Wildfire Protection Plans including the Yreka Area CWPP Update.
The Siskiyou Unit recognizes the necessity for maintenance to be completed on multiple fuel breaks within the Unit. Maintenance grants have been challenging to obtain by Siskiyou County Fire Safe Councils. The Unit would be more fire resilient by maintaining and constructing strategically located fuel breaks rather than completing fuel breaks in non-strategic areas.
In 2020, CAL FIRE conducted the 5-year State Responsibility Area (SRA) review. The Siskiyou Unit proposed 34,462 acres of Local Responsibility Area (LRA) be converted to SRA. This proposal was approved by the California Board of Forestry and went into effect on July 1st of 2020.
Investigations and Enforcement:
In 2020 the Siskiyou Unit investigated 167 total SRA fires with various causes, 114 of which were vegetation fires. The ignition analysis shows that vehicle caused fires were the major preventable cause of fires last year. In addition to debris burn escapes, investigating illegal burning was a main activity for Unit personnel and prevention investigators. Illegal burn investigations associated with marijuana cultivation continues to steadily increase. Nine fires within the Unit were determined to be caused by arson which was up from 7 last year and was up from the Unit average.
During the year, the Prevention Bureau took the following enforcement actions: 2 custodial fire related arrests, 8 citations, 1 District Attorney Complaints, and multiple assists to other law enforcement agencies. 44 LE-38 notices of fire hazard inspection were issued due to illegal burning within the Unit.
Wildland Fire Prevention Engineering:
The Siskiyou Unit processed a total of 127 building permit applications and conducted 24 plan reviews in 2020.
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Education and Information:
Fire prevention and education programs were conducted throughout the year. 2020 made it very challenging with the Covid-19 pandemic. These accomplishments included: 30 fire prevention signs that were displayed on major roadways, fire prevention messaging to over 20,000 people daily via social media, and 12,490 contacts with students through virtual school programs. The prevention bureau processed 9,490 defensible space inspections, an increase of 3,635 from the previous year. Unit Forestry Aids (DSI) were instrumental in completing these inspections. There were 167 media contacts made for fire information and/or prevention education. Numerous hours of staff time were spent with outreaches to local and federal government cooperators and fire safe councils in aiding them in fire prevention efforts.
Vegetation Management:
Fuel reduction work continues to be a priority within the Siskiyou unit. In 2019 many fuel reduction projects were completed as well as new projects planned. Fuel reduction work was completed on the 500-acre Vegetation Management Program (VMP) contract on the Ordway Ranch in Weed. Treatments included a hand and tractor piling, pile burning and prescribed burning. Prescribed fire burn preparation began on the 1400-acre Bogus Creek VMP in anticipation of burning in 2020. The Scott River Ranch VMP located in Scott Valley was approved in 2019 with preparation work beginning in 2020. Planning has begun for several other VMP and fuel reduction projects including the Golden Gate Flat VMP, several smaller VMPs in the Yreka area, the Azalea Fuel Break in Dunsmuir, and the Squaw Valley Fuel Break in McCloud.
Volunteerism:
Volunteers in Prevention put in 1000 plus hours of Fire Prevention activity. Volunteer hours were limited to the Honor Guard and training functions due to the challenges of Covid-19 pandemic.
Fire Hazard Severity Mapping and Mitigation:
No Fire Hazard Mapping was conducted in 2020 but it is expected that new Fire Hazard Severity Zone mapping will be completed in 2021. Fuel reduction projects to be conducted throughout Siskiyou County continue to be considered short term mitigations for fire hazard severity.
Other Fire Prevention Projects in SRA:
Numerous hours of staff time were spent in with Local and Federal government cooperators assisting them in combined fire prevention efforts. Staff hours were also spent aiding Fire Safe Councils in their fuel reduction and fire prevention education efforts.
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Community Wildfire Protection Plan
Yreka Area
Badger Fire | July 2020 Yreka Area View of Mt Shasta Klamathon Fire | September 2018 July 2021
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MUTUAL AGREEMENT PAGE
This Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) for the Greater Yreka Area, California:
✓ Was collaboratively developed. Participants included interested residents and citizens, local fire departments, city and county leadership positions, state and federal suppression agencies and other land management entities of the Greater Yreka Area.
✓ Is designed to help communities identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommends the types and methods of treatment that will protect the communities of the Greater Yreka Area.
✓ Identifies current measures to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area addressed by the plan.
The following entities mutually agree with the contents of this Community Wildfire Protection Plan:
Recommended by: ________________________________________________________ George Jennings, President
Yreka Area Fire Safe Council
Recommended by: ________________________________________________________ Bernie Paul, Chief, South Yreka Fire Protection District and President Siskiyou County Fire Chiefs Association
Recommended by: ________________________________________________________ Jerry Lemos, Chief, Yreka Fire Department
Recommended by: ________________________________________________________ Duane Kegg, Mayor
City of Yreka
Approved by: _________________________________________________________ Phillip R. Anzo, Unit Chief
CAL FIRE Siskiyou
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This CWPP is a community-based resource guide to achieve resilience in plans, preparation and survival in the Yreka Area’s wildfire environment. Strength in the collaboration process is a noteworthy step. People and organizations that contributed to the plan development include:
Yreka Area Residents
Due to coronavirus pandemic community members primarily contributed input online or via email Yreka City Leadership
City Mayor and City Manager Support
Yreka Area Fire Safe Council
Member support and collaboration
Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County
Reference source for online countywide CWPP
County of Siskiyou Leadership
County Office of Emergency Services
Siskiyou County Fire Chief’s Association
President, Fire Chief Association
Yreka Fire Department
Chief and Executive Committee
South Yreka Fire Department
Chief and Board of Directors
CAL FIRE
Siskiyou Unit CAL FIRE personnel were active participants Representation included:
Unit Chief and Assistant Chief
Unit Battalion Chief
Unit Prevention Officers
Klamath National Forest
All Forest personnel who participated in workshops and assisted in plan development stages, including:
Forest Leadership staff
Forest Fire Ecologist
Community Meetings and Workshop Hosts
CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Headquarters, Yreka, CA
South Yreka Fire Department
Northern California Resource Center
Leadership and Project Management Representatives
Consultant/Support
Geo Elements LLC
PROACTIVE Wildland Resources
Project Team
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PLAN OVERVIEW
This CWPP is a product of collaboration among citizens across the Yreka Area and serves as a guide with tools to help prepare and protect local communities for wildfire impacts. Current information is imperative as California faces ongoing, unprecedented loss of life, property and natural resources to wildfire. The Yreka Area Fire Safe Council (YAFSC) has been central to project initiation and leadership, with funding support from CAL FIRE and Northern California Resource Center grants. Cooperative work includes communication amongst local and state fire departments, the local fire safe council, city leadership, and general public.
Requirements for a CWPP described by the Healthy Forest Restoration Act of 2001 are:
1. Developed collaboratively
2. Identifies and prioritizes areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments
3. Recommends treatments to reduce structure ignitability ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ART I: General Elements
• Part I: Core Sections. Address general elements for the entire CWPP. An overview of the plan organization is as follows:
Sections 1-5:
❖ Introduction, purpose, objectives, collaborative process ❖ Local policy (includes reference to State, Federal policy) ❖ Yreka Area background (including Communities at Risk) ❖ Wildfire situation: ecology, climate, fire history, wildfire environment ❖ Wildfire science/assessment
Sections 6-8:
❖ Action plans (preparedness, strategy, mitigation actions, implementation tools)
❖ Potential funding resources
❖ Monitoring programs
RT II: Planning Regions (1-6)
• Part II: Planning Areas. Convey wildfire assessment and analysis (from Section 5) into ten succinct divisions, providing tools at a scale to better support local efforts and/or CWPP development.
• Part III: Appendices.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
MUTUAL AGREEMENT PAGE III
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS V
PLAN OVERVIEW VII
TABLE OF CONTENTS IX
PART I. CORE SECTIONS 1
SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION 3
1.1 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN 3
1.2 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES 4
1.3 PLANNING PROCESS 5
1.3.1 Public Outreach 5
1.3.2 Interagency Collaborative Approach 6
1.3.3 Public Review and Comment Period, Final Public Meeting 6
1.3.4 Fire Safe Council Role 6
SECTION 2. POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 7
2.1 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK 7
2.1.1 Updates – State 7
SECTION 3. YREKA AREA OVERVIEW 9
3.1 YREKA AREA PLANNING AREAS OVERVIEW 9
3.2 THE TEN PLANNING AREAS 11
3.3 VALUES AT RISK 11
3.3.1 Life Safety 12
3.3.2 Homes/Structures/Neighborhoods 13
3.3.3 Critical Infrastructure and Municipal Facilities 14
3.3.4 Natural and Historic Resources 15
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3.3.5 Recreation Amenities/Facilities 16
3.4 COMMUNITY AT RISK (CAR) 17
3.5 FIRE PROTECTION 17
3.5.1 Wildfire Direct Protection Areas (DPA) 18
3.5.2 Yreka Area Suppression Resource Information 18
SECTION 4. DEFINING THE WILDFIRE SITUATION 21
4.1 FIRE ECOLOGY 21
4.2 CLIMATE 23
4.2.1 Weather Systems and Fire 23
4.2.2 Climate Change 24
4.2.3 Drought 24
4.2.4 Tree Mortality 26
4.3 AREA FIRE HISTORY 26
4.4 YREKA AREA WILDLAND FIRE ENVIRONMENT 30
4.4.1 Fuels 30
4.4.2 Weather 33
4.4.4 Fire Behavior Characteristics 35
SECTION 5. WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT 37
5.1 WILDLAND FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY 37
5.1.1 Fire Hazard Severity Zones 37
5.2 COMPONENTS OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY 40
5.2.1 Fuel Models 40
5.2.2 Fuel Rank 40
5.2.3 Wildland Fire Threat 40
5.3 RISK AND BURN PROBABILITY 44
5.4 INITIAL ATTACK SUPPRESSION OPPORTUNITY 49
5.4.1 Fireline Intensity (Flame Length) 49
5.4.2 Rate of Spread 49
5.4.3 Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity 49
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5.4.4 Structures and Wildfire Suppression Concerns 49
5.5 RECENT LOCAL WILDFIRES UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS 55
5.5.1 Background 55
5.5.2 King Fire 56
5.5.2 Grade Fire 58
SECTION 6. ACTION PLAN 61
6.1 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS 61
6.1.1 Wildfire Preparedness Programs 61
6.1.2 Area Notification Systems 62
6.1.3 Emergency Services 64
6.2 VALUES PROTECTION ACTIONS 66
6.2.1 Strengthen Life Safety 66
6.2.2 Reduce Home/Structure and Access Ignitability 66
Overview 66
Home Hardening 69
Defensible Space 69
6.2.3 Sustain Natural and Cultural Resources 72
6.3 FUELS MITIGATION ACTIONS 73
6.3.1 Hazard Fuel Treatments 73
6.3.2 Prioritization of Fuel Treatments 74
6.3.3 Fuel Treatment Levels and Prescriptive Guidelines 77
6.3.4 Fuel Treatments 83
6.3.5 Existing Fuel Reduction Activities 86
6.4 WILDFIRE EVACUATION ACTIONS 86
6.4.1 General Evacuation Process 87
6.4.2 Evacuation Routes 89
6.4.3 Potential Issues with Evacuation 89
6.4.4 Public Health Emergency Preparedness | Vulnerable/Fragile Population 89
6.4.5 Compromised Evacuation Situations 90
SECTION 7. FISCAL RESOURCES 93
7.1 POTENTIAL GRANT FUNDING SOURCES 93
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SECTION 8. MONITORING 97
8.1 CWPP MONITORING 97
8.2 FUEL TREATMENT MONITORING 97
PART II. PLANNING AREAS (1-10) 99
1. HAWKINSVILLE 101
2. EAST YREKA 113
3. CENTRAL YREKA 117
4. WEST YREKA 129
5. THE PINES 141
6. SCHULMEYER GULCH 153
7. CRAM GULCH AND GUYS GULCH 165
8. CITY OF YREKA (INCORPORATED AREA) 177
9. SOUTH YREKA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT 189
10. THREAT ZONE 201
PART III. APPENDICES 213
APPENDIX A: ACTIONABLE ITEMS SUPPLEMENT 215
APPENDIX B: REFERENCES 225
APPENDIX C. GLOSSARY 229
APPENDIX D. ADDITIONAL WILDFIRE ANALYSIS PRODUCTS 233
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PART I. Core Sections
Sections 1-8 address general elements for the entire CWPP. An overview of the plan organization is as follows:
Sections 1-5:
❖ Introduction, purpose, objectives, collaborative process ❖ Local policy (includes reference to State, Federal policy) ❖ Yreka Area background (including Communities at Risk) ❖ Wildfire situation: ecology, climate, fire history, wildfire environment ❖ Wildfire science/assessment
Sections 6-8:
❖ Action plans (preparedness, strategy, mitigation actions, implementation tools)
❖ Potential funding resources
❖ Monitoring programs
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SECTION 1. INTRODUCTION
This Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) conveys a wildfire assessment to achieve a common goal of expanding community wildfire resilience for life, safety and value protection.
The Yreka Area Fire Safe Council initiated this update of the initial 2013 plan, with support from the Northern California Resource Center (NCRC) and CAL FIRE. It provides extensive new data and information, including an increased scope of geographic and administrative coverage. As a science-based platform, this CWPP provides foundational guidance for the Yreka Area’s wildfire planning, education, mitigation and implementation strategy and actions. Cooperative work by all citizens to accomplish adaptive measures that minimize potential wildfire hazard will progressively increase survivability factors in the Yreka Area Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) setting.
2020 was historic in California’s wildfire history, marked by the most acreage ever burned in the state in a single wildfire season. This occurred just two years after the devastating 2018 wildfire season, the deadliest in state history. In midJuly of 2020, in the Yreka Area, the Badger Fire threatened thousands of residents as it moved down the slopes and into the outskirts of towns.
The significant increase in wildfire incident size and complexity over the past several years has been accompanied by catastrophic damage including loss of life, structures, infrastructure, and natural resources. Factoring recent fire severity data, climate trends, and ecosystem changes, we know the question is not if a wildfire will burn, but when it will burn.
This plan fulfills an important role to better position Yreka Area communities in wildfire education, mitigation actions, and the ability to acquire potential grants as well as other funding sources.
1.1 PURPOSE OF THE PLAN
The primary purpose of this CWPP is to provide guidance that enhances protection of human life and helps Yreka Area communities become more resilient to wildfire. It is a resource to guide future actions by all citizens. It provides an understanding of how to plan and implement specific actions to reduce wildfire threat, live more safely in a wildfire prone environment, and build more resilient communities.
Badger Fire, July 19, 2020
Wildfire Today, CALFIRE Photo
External Links
This CWPP contains links to numerous websites and additional resources. When you see blue underlined text, it indicates a clickable link. All links were current as of the CWPP publication date.
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Wildfire science and data provided in this CWPP will effectively help identify vulnerable and/or high-hazard areas, which is important in wildfire protection grant application processes.
1.2 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
Table 1 summarizes the key goals and objectives of this CWPP that were collaboratively defined and updated during interagency meetings and public workshops during the initial period of the planning process.
Table 1. CWPP Goals and Objectives
GOALS OBJECTIVES
Reduce the wildfire
threat to life and
property
• Identify specific areas with the greatest wildfire threat • Evaluate wildfire protection capabilities and safe evacuation needs • Develop guidelines and mitigation strategies to reduce threats to life and property
Educate the public
about wildfire threats
and fire prevention
measures
• Increase knowledge of existing policy, regulations and guidelines that address wildfire hazard or threat
• Identify opportunities for property owners to receive on-site education as it pertains to pre-fire prevention planning and living in the WUI
• Increase awareness of the public disaster readiness resources of CAL FIRE’s “Ready for Wildfire” and California’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) “Listos” campaigns
Improve fire safety by
reducing excessive fuel
loads and fire hazards
• Identify strategies that reduce structure vulnerability through assessment of potential damage/loss from burning embers and a flaming fire front
• Evaluate safety requirements of ingress and egress routes throughout the area for incorporation into existing and future fuel treatment activities
• Identify and prioritize hazard mitigation strategies and hazardous fuel reduction activities that enhance protection of values
Promote healthy forest
landscapes, providing
for improved water and
air quality
• Implement mitigation strategies that consider visual, resource and environmental quality
• Ensure mitigation activities follow best management practices regarding natural and historic resources
• Ensure the CWPP meets or exceeds the requirements of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 and addresses the importance of concerted actions regarding the increasingly problematic tree mortality issue
Facilitate knowledge of
national, state and
county level fire plans
• Provide information resources to enable citizens’ access to the latest plans and policies at all levels
• Identify grant funding sources for projects
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1.3 PLANNING PROCESS
The development of a CWPP is a collaborative process by which community participants assess the wildfire threat, define their WUI boundaries, identify their communities’ values at risk from wildfire, and then develop solutions to mitigate the wildfire threat. A key foundational document (the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003 (HFRA)) provides flexibility for communities to determine the substance and detail of their planning.
The CWPP planning process brings together local interests to identify and discuss mutual concerns related to public safety and community and natural resources sustainability. The process provides a positive, solution-oriented environment in which to address the challenges of living in a community at risk from wildfire.
The HFRA specifies three minimum requirements for a CWPP, including:
1. Collaboration. A CWPP must be collaboratively developed. Various administrators and officials from fire protection agencies as well as other interested parties should be involved.
2. Prioritized Fuel Reduction. A CWPP must identify and guide prioritization of areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommend the types and methods of treatment that reduce wildfire risk.
3. Treatment of Structural Ignitability. A CWPP must recommend measures that homeowners and communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the area addressed by the plan.
The HFRA requires that three entities must mutually agree on the final contents of a CWPP:
1. The applicable local government entities (i.e., counties or cities)
2. The local fire department(s)
3. The state entity responsible for forest management
For the Yreka Area, final approval of any Community Wildfire Protection Plan rests with the CAL FIRE Unit Chief of Siskiyou.
1.3.1 Public Outreach
Due to Covid-19 safety concerns and restrictions, conducting the standard set of public workshops and meeting forums for this CWPP was not possible. Pre-pandemic, there had been public outreach at meetings with the South Yreka and Yreka Fire Departments as well as two presentations to the Yreka City Council. The onset of the pandemic brought a rapid close to public meetings. Project information and a public input announcement were printed in local press (Siskiyou Daily News) on December 9, 2020 and posted on the YAFSC website. This statement referenced the possibility of “virtual” (Zoom) workshop(s) to be announced depending on the level of interest generated by the press release. Additional outreach included since that point was via Facebook, email, and targeted small gatherings. 283
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The CWPP was discussed at the following meetings:
Collaborative Meeting Dates and Locations
• December 2019: South Yreka Fire Protection District, Board of Directors • December 2019: Yreka Fire Department, General Meeting, Executive Committee • December 2019: January 2020, Yreka City Council CWPP presentation. • February 2020: Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County, Klamath National Forest HQ • February 2021: Interagency meeting at CAL FIRE HQ, Yreka • March 2021: Interagency and Resource agency projects and grants overview meeting, Yreka Fire Department
1.3.2 Interagency Collaborative Approach
A primary aspect in the development of this CWPP was to include and engage Yreka area wildfire emergency responder agencies. This approach was designed to share information and broaden the range of inputs. Participation included representation from:
• Local fire departments
• CAL FIRE
• USFS - Klamath National Forest
• Siskiyou County OES (Office of Emergency Services)
• Listos California
• Northern California Resource Center
1.3.3 Public Review and Comment Period, Final Public Meeting After incorporating agency and public inputs, a draft CWPP was created and the document was posted on the Northern California Resource Center website on May 19, 2021 for a two-week public review period. Comments were considered and incorporated where appropriate.
1.3.4 Fire Safe Council Role
The Yreka Area Fire Safe Council (YAFSC) was formed in 2006 by property owners interested in protecting their properties and the surrounding area from catastrophic wildfire. YAFSC is a small community-based group, organized to improve the Yreka Area’s resilience and reduce overall vulnerability to wildfire by providing wildfire education programs, project support and planning (more information is at the YAFSC website). They work closely with local fire agencies and coordinate with community citizens to develop and implement wildfire protection priorities. 284
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SECTION 2. POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
2.1 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK
Knowledge of policies ensures compliance with wildfire prevention and mitigation recommendations, with the CWPP Siskiyou County being the primary reference document. This section lists only new or updated policies and regulations since the 2019 publication of the Siskiyou County CWPP, and also lists local policy pertaining specifically to the Yreka Area.
2.1.1 Updates – State
2019 California Fire Code
This code establishes regulations affecting or relating to structures, processes, premises and safeguards regarding residences and historic buildings. The code includes: 1) hazards of fire and explosion arising from the storage, handling or use of structures, materials or devices; 2) conditions hazardous to life, property or public welfare in the occupancy of structures or premises; 3) fire hazards in the structure or on the premises from occupancy or operation; 4) matters related to the construction, extension, repair, alteration or removal of fire suppression or alarm systems; and 5) conditions affecting the safety of fire fighters and emergency responders during emergency operations. California Building Code 2019 Chapter 7A (includes section 705A – roofing) Establishes minimum standards for the protection of life and property by increasing the ability of a building located in any Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) within State Responsibility Areas (SRAs) or any Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Area to resist the intrusion of flames or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire and contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses.
California Residential Code 2019 Chapter 3 Building Planning, Section R337 Material and Construction Methods for Exterior Wildfire Exposure Establishes minimum standards for the protection of life and property by increasing the ability of a building located in any FHSZ within SRAs or any WUI Fire Area to resist the intrusion of flame or burning embers projected by a vegetation fire and contributes to a systematic reduction in conflagration losses.
California Building Code 2019 Chapter 7A
California Code of Regulations Title 14, 1270.04 (relates to PRC 4290) Please refer to Section 1.4 of the CWPP Siskiyou County for the complete list of policies and regulations relevant to this CWPP, including the California Fire Management Agreement (CFMA), an important policy agreement essential to understanding the interaction of respective agencies during an emergent wildfire response. 285
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This subchapter specifies the following directives: (a) local jurisdictions shall provide the Board Director with notice of applications for building permits, tentative parcel maps, tentative maps, and use permits for construction or development within a SRA, (b) the Board Director shall review and make fire protection recommendations on applicable construction or development permits or maps provided by the local jurisdiction, and (c) the local jurisdiction shall ensure that the applicable sections of this subchapter become a condition of approval of any applicable construction or development permit or map. 286
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SECTION 3. YREKA AREA OVERVIEW
The Yreka Area is located in the northern portion of Siskiyou County, just 22 miles south of the California-Oregon border. It is nestled in the southern portion of the Klamath Mountain Range and at the northern end of Shasta Valley. The area is surrounded by uniquely diverse ecosystems: steep broken mountainous terrain typical of the Klamath National Forest to the west; intermittent gentle grasslands broken by butte structures to the east; and a broad flat plain formed by the historic lava flows of Mount Shasta to the south. Yreka Area elevations range from a high of 6,060 feet at the peak of Antelope Mountain in the north to a low of 2,395 feet where Yreka Creek leaves the area. The lands adjacent to the area are of mixed wildfire management jurisdiction: primary agencies include Federal (USFS, USFWS, BLM and tribal, State (CAL FIRE) and private entities/companies.
Yreka City is the largest city in the county and became the county seat in April 1857. The 2020 census puts the city population at 7,604. Dominant industries still include some mining, along with timber harvesting and ranching. Hunting, fishing, camping and backpacking attract many visitors to the area as well.
The proximity to Interstate Highway 5 (I-5) adds to a high volume of pass-through/drop-in visitors on a year-round basis. Tourists/visitors are often unaware of the area’s fire history and seasonal conditions that pose a significant wildfire risk to citizens and tourists. Warm dry weather of the summer season has substantially increased in duration over the last four decades (NASA Goddard Institute for Space Science, 2020). Thunderstorm activity is a familiar occurrence, causing numerous wildfires each year, typically occurring in steep inaccessible terrain. In the past decade, human-caused ignitions in the Yreka Area’s WUI have also posed an increasingly serious threat to nearby communities and resources.
3.1 YREKA AREA PLANNING AREAS OVERVIEW
This updated CWPP provides a wildland fire analysis and protection strategy for an overall area that encompasses the city of Yreka and expands outward with a WUI “threat zone” that has been extended beyond the original CWPP WUI boundary by approximately 1.5 miles in all directions (as depicted in Figure 1).
Ten Planning Areas are addressed. The initial Planning Areas (1-7) were established in the 2013 Yreka Area CWPP for the purpose of accurately defining wildfire assessment elements and producing more specific and useful planning tools and actions in the context of geographical and topological characteristics. (Note: for clarity, several of the Planning Area names are slightly different in this document compared to the 2013 CWPP). This CWPP also adds three new Planning Areas (8-10) covered here for the first time to encompass additional considerations (such as important local administrative control aspects). 287
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Figure 1. Yreka Area Community Wildfire Protection Plan Map 288
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3.2 THE TEN PLANNING AREAS
1. Hawkinsville
2. East Yreka
3. Central Yreka
4. West Yreka
5. The Pines
6. Schulmeyer Gulch
7. Cram Gulch and Guys Gulch
8. City of Yreka (Incorporated Area)
The incorporated City of Yreka crosses several of the original PA boundaries and is delineated with a dotted orange line in the map. It was deemed useful to conduct an assessment to provide details specifically for this area which is under the direct authority of the Yreka Fire Department (YFD).
9. South Yreka Fire Protection District (SYFPD)
For the same reasons (stated in #8), a standalone analysis was also done for the South Yreka Fire Protection District. [Note: The SYFPD is undergoing a change in their protection boundary and this CWPP assessment uses the proposed boundary which is currently under legal and administrative review. The map displays both the current (solid red line) and proposed (solid yellow line) boundaries.]
10.Threat Zone
A 1.5 mile buffer zone surrounding the original Yreka Area CWPP boundaries was added to help in assessing threats from outside the WUI or potentially from within the WUI threatening neighboring areas. Wildfires within this buffer zone pose a potential threat because they can spread into the Yreka Area and/or into the outlying areas, depending on wind direction. It is pivotal in the protection strategy within and exterior to the Yreka Area.
3.3 VALUES AT RISK
Values at risk include structures, critical infrastructure, businesses, and other tangible elements.
Values also include intangible elements such as natural resources, sensitive species, cultural and historical resources, visual resources, and residents’ perspectives about these intangible elements around them. Establishing effective wildfire hazard mitigation actions that protect both sets of values (tangible and intangible) is a challenge. Planning and developing strategies that reduce the overall wildfire threat is central to a balanced action plan that will lead to protection of all values.
An effective CWPP is tailored to focus on and address the most important values as defined collaboratively by the public and the community at large. During the planning process for this CWPP, the following key values were selected as being of primary importance to be addressed:
• Life Safety
• Homes/Structures/Access
• Critical Infrastructure and Municipal Facilities
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• Natural and Historic Resources
• Recreation Amenities/Facilities
3.3.1 Life Safety
Human life safety (the physical well-being of all people in the community) was identified as the top priority for the Yreka Area. Recent wildfires that have threatened the area – including the 2018 Klamathon Fire and the 2020 Badger Fire - resulted in public evacuations, firefighter and civilian injuries, and one civilian death.
The complex nature of the Yreka Area WUI presents numerous life safety issues to consider prior to and during a wildfire emergency. These urgent life safety events often demand decisions regarding evacuation, transport of vulnerable or functional-needs populations, locations of temporary shelters, access and egress issues, restricted and/or congested transportation systems, lack of defensible space, and structure vulnerability.
Emergency responders fulfill delivery of evacuation notification to citizens for protection of their life safety. Neglecting to take initial evacuation actions can put the lives of these individuals, as well as those of firefighters and law enforcement personnel, at even greater risk.
Awareness of specific population sub-sets and their inherent concerns is important to consider before and during emergency wildfire evacuations, both for responders and neighbors. These groups include:
• Vulnerable populations have special needs and may be less likely to respond to, cope with, and recover from a wildfire. These populations include those who live with a disability (blind, cognitive disorders, mobility limitations), and those who are limited/non-English speaking, culturally isolated, medically or chemically dependent, homeless, deaf or hard-ofhearing, frail, elderly, children, people living in poverty, people without access to transportation, etc. Age, along with physical and mental limitations, can restrict mobility, making it more difficult for these individuals to evacuate in a disaster. Lack of financial resources may hinder the ability for low-income populations to invest in emergency preparedness as well as recover from loss. Non-English speakers may face communication barriers in understanding evacuation orders or support services. Planning for vulnerable populations is important to consider and gauge.
• Non-resident populations are short-term residents, visitors, and/or guests. Their interest areas include hiking trails, businesses, hotels, recreation facilities/amenities, short and longterm home rentals, and vacation homes. This contingent is very prominent in the Yreka Area due to its adjacency to the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor. Individuals passing through and/or enjoying the attractions are likely not familiar with the wildfire threat, burning regulations, road systems, or evacuation routes.
• The homeless are often difficult to reach with public safety information, including wildfire education and preparation information and active emergency situation alerts. There is a significant and growing homeless population in the Yreka Area. As reported in March of 2020 in the Siskiyou Daily News, “A “point in time” survey conducted in January (2020) 290
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revealed 244 homeless people in Siskiyou County. This is a 24% increase over 2018 survey results, according to a press release from the Siskiyou Homelessness Coalition. Although that constitutes less than 1% of the county’s resident population, homelessness was found to be concentrated along the Interstate 5 corridor, with the greatest numbers in Yreka, Weed and Mount Shasta”.
• Citizens with pets, service animals, and large domestic animals are also vulnerable populations when considering evacuation planning. Animals can become frightened and more difficult to manage during a wildfire. People have risked their lives and the lives of others to save their animals. They may be unwilling to evacuate or enter a shelter during an emergency without their animals, instead choosing to remain in harm’s way; and many emergency shelters and evacuation centers deny admission to pets for health and safety concerns (with the exception of service animals). Both owners and their animals can face suffering or death due to poor disaster planning.
3.3.2 Homes/Structures/Neighborhoods
Structure and property loss due to wildfire is noted in the Yreka Area’s historical records since the early 1900’s. In recent years, the destructive outcome of the 2018 Klamathon Fire and local threat posed by the 2020 Badger Fire were a sobering reality for area citizens. During the Klamathon blaze, over 1,511 people were forced to evacuate. The 2020 Badger Fire prompted evacuations within the Yreka Area, primarily in the Hawkinsville-Humbug vicinity, as it moved toward the city of Yreka proper.
Most housing in the Yreka Area consists of single-family homes on lots that vary widely in size. The greatest densities of homes are within or adjacent to the city of Yreka, allowing a wildfire to more easily spread from structure to structure. Once ignited, structure fires threaten adjacent buildings with intense radiant heat, convective heat, and the production of burning embers transported in the air to other structures and fuels.
The enactment of stringent building codes targeted at improving fire resistance has reduced potential loss of residential structures; however, new codes and policies does not completely eliminate the risk. Devastation in the path of northern California’s recent wildfires has resulted in unprecedented toll on homeowners, businesses and entire communities. Figure 2 depicts the number of structures destroyed by wildfire in California from 1989 through 2017. The numbers escalated yet further in 2018 and 2020 (updated graphic unavailable). 2018 Klamathon Fire,
Hornbrook area
Courtesy of P.Titus, Cal OES
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Figure 2. Structures Destroyed by California Wildfire 1987-2017
3.3.3 Critical Infrastructure and Municipal Facilities
Wildfires can cause significant damage to critical infrastructure and municipal facilities, resulting in substantial disruption and economic losses. The 2018 Klamathon Fire was a clear example as Interstate 5 and the Central Oregon and Pacific Railroad lines were closed. City water service was also problematic, hindering a quick
recovery.
Economic and financial losses can have long-term effects on a community’s vitality. It can take days, weeks, or months to repair critical infrastructure, restore services, and rebuild businesses following a wildfire. Taxpayers feel the squeeze of these repairs as each state typically reimburses the majority of costs incurred by the companies paying for the repairs (Diaz, 2012).
Roads
Areas outside of incorporated communities have limited road systems and, in some cases, unsafe options for access/egress. Road systems can quickly become congested during a wildfire as evacuations of the public and responding emergency services personnel compete for space on primary travel routes within and adjacent to communities. When I-5 was closed due to the Klamathon fire, the use of alternate routes on smaller road systems led to traffic congestion and collisions. In extreme cases, emergency personnel and equipment can be delayed or prevented from reaching their objective (as demonstrated during the 2019 Camp Fire). Specific impediments to be aware of and consider include narrow, winding or steep roads; vegetation 2018 Klamathon Fire - Interstate
5 Courtesy of Yreka CHP
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encroachment into roadways; gates, bridges, addresses not being clearly visible from roads; unlit roads and intersections; unlit street signage; and limited turnaround capabilities.
Utilities, Facilities, Services
Repairing and/or replacing critical infrastructure and restoring basic services after a disaster is a top priority for both public and private agencies and utility companies. Damage to electric power, satellite and cable communications, roadways, railroads, water district assets, and fire and police facilities can impact hospitals, stores, schools and other public services. Agencies and companies incur significant repair, restoration, and rehabilitation costs.
Pacific Power is the Yreka Area’s primary electricity provider. Helpful power related safety references for planning and preparation in a wildfire emergency and information about their Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) program are provided on the Pacific Power website.
Water resources
Rivers, lakes, ponds, tanks, and wells compose a network of water sources that supply the Yreka Area, representing a key infrastructure element. During a wildfire emergency this water source network becomes a critical factor for suppression personnel in conducting safe and effective operations, including evacuation assistance. Community discussions about specific area water resource issues must involve the local fire suppression representatives as well as community leaders.
3.3.4 Natural and Historic Resources
The range of impacts on natural and historic resources from wildfire can vary from no effect, to temporary alteration, to major damage and/or complete destruction. The following provides a general description of these resources and their importance.
Natural Resources
Natural resources are of high value to the Yreka Area. They support citizens economically, culturally and simply for the joy of the extensive beauty added to daily lives. The Yreka Area’s setting is unique as it is nestled at the north end of Shasta Valley abutted by mountainous terrain on three sides.
Historically, gold was a sought-after resource. Most of the gold mined in this county has been from placers, the largest of which are along the Salmon, Scott, and Klamath Rivers.
Considerable production also
came from scattered lode
deposits in the Humbug, Yreka,
Fort Jones, Cherry Creek, and
Cottonwood areas. There are over 4,000 mines in the Yreka vicinity, of which approximately 200 are still active.
Timber and forest resource management have been prevalent activities for roughly a century in this area. Production activities have been central to community livelihood for decades.
Livestock, Yreka area
Courtesy of Zillow
Shasta River
Courtesy of California Trout
Powerline Corridor
Weed/Yreka Area
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The sub-watersheds within the Yreka Area are dominated by montane chaparral and black oak stands in the lower portions transitioning to coniferous forests with rise in elevation. This area is home to a network of creeks that feed the Shasta River which joins with the Klamath River water system, one of the state’s priceless water sources. This water system is key to the agriculture industry and supports both salmon and steelhead trout. Native wildlife includes mule deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, cougar, black bear, and river otters. Open grassland valley areas between the mountain ranges allow for substantial grazing opportunities that support the cattle and livestock industry.
Natural resources damaged by wildfire can take years to recover and require significant and unique restoration activities. Additionally, post-fire events such as flooding can create significant damage to watersheds and additional damage to habitat. Subsequent impacts may also include an increase in invasive species and erosion. Finding a balance with community wildfire protection planning and protection of natural resources is a goal of this plan.
Historic Resources
Historic resources are an important value to the community. They include archaeological sites and historic sites, buildings, structures, and landscapes. Some of these resources are listed and preserved through historical preservation society sponsorships, grants and museums; but many exist unprotected and somewhat unknown, having withstood the true test of time.
Wildfires can pose a serious threat to these resources unless proactive mitigations are planned. Under the National Historic Preservation Act, protection of known archaeological resources must occur during all fire suppression and fuel treatment activities. Fire protection planning should include awareness and understanding of the inherent hazards and risks that wildfire poses to historic and cultural values.
3.3.5 Recreation Amenities/Facilities
The Yreka Area has abundant outdoor recreation amenities and facilities including extensive trail systems, river/water sports, world class fishing, nearby skiing, mountain biking, as well as public parks.
The impacts of wildfires to recreational opportunities include the loss and/or degradation of recreation facilities and related structures; trail damage due to post-fire flooding and slides; destruction of scenic values, wildlife viewing experiences, and water quality; and reduced spending by visitors in local businesses. Closures due to wildfire activity or post-fire resource damage can limit or eliminate recreational opportunities to visitors and the community.
Large wildfire events within the last decade, were a significant deterrent to visitors as recreation and businesses suffered financial losses during the peak summer tourism season. The brown smoke-filled skies prevailed nearly all summer long, as large destructive fires throughout the north state affected air quality from early July to October. Wildfire smoke made being outdoors unhealthy and uncomfortable, causing cancellation or postponement of outdoor sporting and social events.
Yreka Preservation Hall
Courtesy of ‘Yreka History’
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Wildland Urban
Interface
The line, area, or zone
where structures and other
human development meet
or intermingle with
undeveloped wildland or
vegetation fuels.
(NWCG, 2019)
3.4 COMMUNITY AT RISK (CAR)
To help protect people and property from potential catastrophic wildfire, the 2000 National Fire Plan (NFP) identified communities in the wildland-urban-interface (WUI) within the vicinity of Federal lands that were at high risk of damage and/or loss from wildfire. These high-risk communities were identified in the Federal Register in 2001 (National Archives and Records Administration Federal Register, 2001). This list was extended by the states in 2003. In California, CAL FIRE has the responsibility of managing this list, and uses three main factors to determine which additional communities are at risk: 1) high fuel hazard, 2) probability of a fire, and 3) proximity of intermingled wildland fuels with urban environments.
The NFP specifically directs funding for projects designed to reduce wildfire risks to communities and restore ecological health on Federal lands. Yreka was designated as a CAR and listed in the Federal Register in 2001.
3.4.1 Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
The Healthy Forest Restoration Act (HFRA) has an established process for developing a WUI boundary, delineating where wildfire could potentially impact a community. For the Yreka Area, the boundary identification task was accomplished in the 2013 version CWPP.
Adhering to CWPP guidance, it is incumbent upon the local Fire Departments, Fire Safe Councils (FSCs) and community citizens to periodically review, define and if needed, update the WUI boundary. During this CWPP update process, interagency
coordination provided input and confirmed decisions regarding a newly delineated Threat Zone surrounding the previously defined WUI boundary.
3.5 FIRE PROTECTION
The Yreka Area’s fire protection duties and responsibilities are fulfilled by combined forces at state and local levels, each with a specific set of operating procedures within their responsibility area for pre-fire and fire suppression related activities. Personnel at each level provide support for fire suppression, advanced life support, emergency medical services, technical rescue, and hazardous material response services. Neighboring federal wildland firefighting resources are available for reinforcement or second alarm support, even though they have no direct responsibilities within the Yreka Area.
As noted in Section 2.1, the CFMA is an important policy agreement essential to understanding the interaction of respective agencies in their roles and responsibilities during an emergent wildfire response. Table 2 provides key CFMA definitions relevant to this CWPP. 295
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Table 2. Key Definitions in the California Fire Management Agreement (CFMA)
KEY DEFINITIONS IN THE CFMA
Direct Protection Areas (DPAs) Intermingled and adjacent lands delineated by boundaries regardless of jurisdictional agency.
Wildfire protection in these areas are negotiated,
created and agreed to by the administrative units of
either the Federal Agencies or the State.
Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) Areas for which Federal Agencies are responsible for wildland fire protection under various federal
laws.
State Responsibility Area (SRA) Sometimes called State and Private lands, these are areas for which the State is responsible for wildland
fire protection under California Public Resources
Code Sections 4125 and 4127.
Local Responsibility Areas (LRA) Lands in which a local government agency is responsible for all fire protection. These lands are
not part of the CFMA.
3.5.1 Wildfire Direct Protection Areas (DPA)
The vast majority of the Yreka Area’s wildland protection responsibility is under state (CAL FIRE) or State Responsibility Area (SRA) authority. The City of Yreka is designated as a Local Responsibility Area with CAL FIRE assist. This organization of protection resources provides expedient emergency response to communities using the ‘closest resource concept’ (committing the closest available appropriate resources, regardless of ownership). • SRA | FRA
Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) address wildland fire protection and structure defense to ensure consistency with what is provided by the CFMA. The vast majority of the Yreka Area wildland protection responsibility is under CAL FIRE authority, specifically within Battalion 2 (Shasta Valley) of CAL FIRE’s Siskiyou Unit. • LRA
Wildland fire protection responsibility for lands outside of SRA and FRA are considered LRA and are not part of the CFMA. The CFMA participating agencies are not jurisdictionally or financially responsible for wildland or other fire protection on these lands. Cost share agreements may document costs to local government agencies that are charged with protection of LRA). The Yreka City Administrative area is designated an LRA.
3.5.2 Yreka Area Suppression Resource Information
FEDERAL: The Klamath National Forest (KNF) Headquarters Office is located in the City of Yreka; however, this agency is are not directly responsible for suppression actions in the Yreka Area. On an ‘initial attack’ (IA) wildfire emergency response, KNF will provide mutual aid and air resources.
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STATE: The Yreka Area’s protection is provided by Battalion 2 (Shasta Valley), one of the four Battalions in CAL FIRE’s Siskiyou Unit organization. Primary suppression resources in Battalion 2 include 1-Battalion Chief; 4-Type 3 engines; 1-Dozer; 1-Defensible Space Inspector; 1-Lookout.
LOCAL: The Yreka Area’s local fire protection is covered by the Yreka Fire Department (YFD) and South Yreka Fire Protection District (SYFPD). Currently, these departments are largely staffed by volunteers. YFD is governed by Yreka City Council and SYFPD is governed by an elected board of directors. Each station has one to three engines ready to respond on a daily basis. Table 3 is a list of local suppression resources. Fluctuations in resource numbers depend on availability of personnel and equipment. CAL FIRE reciprocates emergency services using Mutual Aid and Automatic Aid Agreements.
Table 3. Local suppression resource information
Greater Yreka Area – Local Fire Protection Resources
Yreka Fire Department South Yreka Fire Protection District Equipment (Type, Gallons, Identifier) Equipment (Type, Gallons, Identifier) Engine, Type 1 | 500 gal | E412 Engine, Type 1 | 500 gal | E612 Engine Type 1, 75’ ladder | 300 gal | T-423 Engine, Type 1 | 500 gal | E610 Engine, Type 3, 4x4 | 500 gal | E416 Engine, Type 1 | 2000 gal | E611 Engine, Type 6, CAF system | 186 gal | E410 Engine, Type 3, 4x4 | 500 gal | E615 Water tender, Type 1 | ETA June 2021 Engine, Type 3, 4x4 | 500 gal | E614 Utility with hand tools, no water | U451 Watertender, Type 1 | 400 gal | WT 630 Personnel Personnel (18 fire personnel on roster)
5 Company Officers 1 Chief Officer, Type 1 Incident Commander 13 Fire-fighters 5 Company Officers
3 Student fire-fighters (variable availablity) 12 Fire-fighter 1 crew personnel 297
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SECTION 4. DEFINING THE WILDFIRE SITUATION
Wildfire is inevitable and the probability of a catastrophic one occurring within or adjacent to Yreka Area communities is dependent on a chain of events that include fire ignition, fire weather, fire behavior, suppression actions taken, and the interaction of these factors. Each year firefighters from cooperating agencies combine efforts to contain most wildfires to less than ten acres. A rapid and aggressive fire suppression response from the air and ground, favorable weather and fuels conditions, timely fire reporting, and/or good access to wildfires by fire suppression resources all contribute to success in suppressing these wildfires. However, when an ignition occurs under one or a combination of the following circumstances, then it has the potential to escape the best efforts of fire suppression resources:
• Critical fire weather and fuel conditions
• Area firefighting resources committed to fighting simultaneous wildfires elsewhere in the county or state
• Limited or non-existent safe access for fire suppression resources into fire vicinity When conducting a science-based wildfire analysis, key factors to consider are fire ecology, climate, and area fire history in conjunction with WUI proximity.
4.1 FIRE ECOLOGY
Fire ecology is a scientific discipline concerned with natural processes involving fire in an ecosystem. The study includes interrelationships
between living organisms, their environments, and
fire. The Yreka Area is situated in the Southern
Cascade Bioregion (mid-eastern Siskiyou County).
The physical geography of a bioregion is foundational
to the ecology of an area, largely affecting the other
elements that comprise an ecosystem. The Yreka
Area’s diverse environment is mirrored in the range of
wildfire behavior outputs. The following descriptions
broadly define key ecological aspects which influence
wildland fire and affect incumbent communities.
Conifer Forests
Conifer forests dominate the mid-montane zone. These stands are often intermixed with woodlands and shrublands. Stand composition is directly influenced by elevation, slope aspect, soil moisture conditions and substrate (Griffin 1967). Most of the more common conifer species, including ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana), Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi), and white fir (Abies concolor), survive Bioregion (biological-geographical
region): A major regional ecological
community characterized by
distinctive life forms and principal
plant and animal species. There are 9
bioregions defined in California.
Fire in California’s Ecosystems, 2nd Ed.
(2018)
Mixed Conifer forest
Courtesy of Klamathtribes.org
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frequent surface fires of low–moderate intensity when mature.
Deciduous Hardwoods
In the lower montane zone and alluvial valley areas, oak woodland stands often overtop a grass-shrub understory. In the vicinity of the Yreka Area, the mid-montane zone often consists of a subcanopy of deciduous hardwoods beneath or intermingled with a mixed conifer overstory. Stand composition is influenced by elevation, slope aspect, soil moisture conditions, substrate and fire history.
Most of the common deciduous hardwoods, including California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), big-leaf maple (Acer
macrophyllum), Pacific dogwood (Cornus nuttallii), and the evergreen canyon live oak (Quercus chrysolepis) are able to survive low-intensity surface fires and sprout vigorously when top-killed. Canyon live oak and California black oak are considered sensitive to moderate-high intensity fire. Under typical weather conditions, fire severity is often lower in oak woodlands.
Shrub/Montane Chaparral
In the Yreka Area, forest cover is often interrupted by stands of montane chaparral. Shrub species dominance
varies with substrate, soils, and other conditions. The lower and mid-montane zone is characterized by a
complex and diverse intermixing of vegetation and a
diversity of fire regimes.
Many of the species are
adapted for seasonal and
larger episodic droughts.
Dense stands of shrubs
dominated by Brewer oak
(Quercus garryana var. breweri) - also known as Oregon white oak - are common and often support a diverse association of woody species. Other commonly occurring shrubs include
greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula), California-lilac or deer brush (Ceanothus integerrimus). Once a wildfire becomes well established in this fuel type it is more likely to be a high intensity event. These more common shrubs also tend to sprout vigorously after being top-killed by wildfire. Recurring fire plays a key role in the maintenance of these shrub communities by inhibiting succession from shrubs to trees (Nagel and Taylor 2005; Lauvaux et al. 2016).
Ponderosa Pine – Black Oak
Lower elevation slopes
Courtesy of USDA PSW GTR-256
Shrub - Humbug Creek
Courtesy of Realtor.com
Fire Regime
Description of the patterns of fire
occurrences, frequency, size,
severity, and sometimes
vegetation and fire effects as well,
in a given area or ecosystem.
NWGC Glossary, 2019
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Grasses/Forbs
Lower elevations are dominated by grasslands, shrublands, and woodlands. Due to its early-season growth, cheat grass can outcompete native grasses, forbs, and shrubs by reducing moisture and nutrients in surface soils (Norton et al. 2004). Annual grasses and forbs such as cheat grass, medusa head (Elymus caput-medusae), tumble mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum), and the native tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata) have successfully invaded and resulted in a shift of shrub steppe communities throughout the region to annual grasslands. Once established, cheat grass alters fire regimes by creating continuous fine fuels that promote frequent, high-severity fires (Zouhar 2003). Successive short-interval fires can lead to extensive loss of shrub cover and dominance by cheat grass.
4.2 CLIMATE
The Yreka Area is categorized as a Mediterranean climate. It is characterized by the typical precipitation pattern of dry and warm summer months with moisture occurring in the late winter and spring. Generally, increasing elevation results in decreased temperatures and increased annual precipitation, with most precipitation falling as snow in higher elevations.
Shasta Valley is one of the drier locations located in the rain shadow of the Klamath range.
Critical fire weather occurs with frontal passages and associated high wind / low humidity scenarios. Summer thunderstorms are often the source of lightning-ignited fires; they also account for 12-19% of total annual precipitation (Fire in California Ecosystems, 2018).
4.2.1 Weather Systems and Fire
Three types of fire weather conditions that occur during fire season are important in the southern Cascades and Klamath Mountains (Hull et al. 1966): (1) Pacific High—Postfrontal (Postfrontal); (2) Pacific High—Prefrontal (Prefrontal); and (3) Subtropical High Aloft (Subtropical High).
• Postfrontal conditions occur when high pressure follows the passage of a cold front and causes strong winds from the north and northeast (termed “foehn winds”) on the east side of the Klamath range. Temperatures rise and humidity decreases under these conditions. As fire season lengthens without measurable precipitation, concern centers on wildfires starting during these exceptionally windy, low relative humidity and dry fuels situations. The State has experienced many such fires in recent history: Camp (Paradise), Tubbs (Santa Rosa), Zogg (Redding area).
• A Prefrontal scenario occurs when the southern, dry tail of a cold front crosses the area and generates strong southwest or west winds. Winds are the key fire weather factor in this condition, offsetting dropping temperatures and higher humidity. • Subtropical High conditions occur when the region is under the influence of high pressure that causes temperatures to rise and humidity to drop.
Shasta Valley Grasslands
Courtesy of Yreka News
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4.2.2 Climate Change
Climate change has affected California for decades with observations including increases in average temperatures, more hot days, fewer cold nights, a lengthening of the growing season, less winter precipitation falling as snow, snowmelt and rainwater running off sooner in the year, and longer periods of drought (see Figure 4). As a result, fire seasons are prolonged and continue to increase stress on the state’s infrastructure, water supplies, and natural resources (California Fire Plan, 2018).
The increasing number of large fires combined with the increasing proportion of high-severity burn is occurring during a period of rapid global climatic change. This trend, combined with a warming climate and longer fire seasons, may serve as a catalyst to more permanent shifts in vegetation from forests to shrublands (Collins and Skinner, 2014; Lauvaux et al., 2016). Human actions such as fire suppression and growing WUI areas, combined with the shift in climate, have further altered historic fire regimes.
Figure 3. Climate data; lengthening fire season
Source: NASA Goddard Institute for Space Science, 2020
4.2.3 Drought
The most recent drought period in California (beginning in approximately 2011) was one of the worst in the past century with significant impacts including fierce wildfires, water shortages and staggering agricultural losses. The dryness in California is only part of a longer-term drought 302
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trend across most of the Western United States, one that bio-climatologist Park Williams said is notable because "more area in the West has persistently been in drought during the past 15 years than in any other 15-year period since the 1150s and 1160s." (Doyle Rice, USA Today Sept 2014).
The substantial increase in fire size and severity is an effect of the extended drought. As depicted in Figure 4, during 2020’s unprecedented wildfire season, the Yreka area was one of the most drought prone areas of the entire state.
Figure 4. California drought conditions - late summer 2020 (Yreka Area indicated by ) Recent drought related wildfire trends
Drought-related fire behavior in 2018 resulted in some of California’s first “megafires”. The Carr Fire ravished Redding suburbs and burned 229,651 acres; and the Mendocino Complex Fire burned 459,123 acres, up to that point the largest fire in state history. In November, the devastating Camp fire (Paradise, CA) destroyed a record-breaking number of homes and structures, decimating the entire town.
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What transpired in the summer of 2020 was simply beyond comprehension. A record-setting year of wildfires burned across the state, burning more area than ever measured during the modern era of wildfire management and record keeping. By the end of the year, 9,639 fires had burned 4,397,809 acres (CAL FIRE 2021) - more than 4% of the state's roughly 100 million acres of land - making 2020 the largest wildfire season recorded in California's modern history.
The August Complex fire has been described as the first "gigafire," as the area burned exceeded 1 million acres.
4.2.4 Tree Mortality
When forest density is high under drought conditions, competition for water and nutrients is amplified. Trees in this weakened condition are less effective at defending themselves from bark beetles and other pests.
Overgrown forests, years of drought and bark beetles have created a situation where millions of trees throughout California are dead or dying. Data collection in April 2017 revealed 850,000 acres throughout Siskiyou County and adjacent to the Yreka Area as having some degree of tree mortality, with over 76,000 acres designated as having high to extreme tree mortality.
4.3 AREA FIRE HISTORY
Figure 5 depicts a graphic representation of the Yreka Area’s fire history. Current trends of increasing fire size and intensity emphasize the importance of considering the past while moving forward on coordinated strategic planning. Recent wildfires have threatened the Yreka Area in multiple cases, yet the area has not experienced a substantially destructive wildfire in over 55 years. In theory, the absence of fire in an area adds to an increased probability of wildfire occurrence. Section 5.5 shows recent wildfire events that directly threatened the area and provides potential results under adverse conditions to utilize for community preparations.
Conifer Mortality
Courtesy of Siskiyou County, Tree
Mortality Task Force
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Figure 5. Yreka Area Fire History
Note: Depicted are large fires including those equal to or greater than 100 acres. 305
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Historic
Most areas of the Southern Cascades region experienced a fire frequency decline at approximately the beginning of organized fire suppression (early 1900’s). Even then, rural residents would often continue burning to maintain forage for livestock. The first recorded organized fire protection in wildland areas was by the Central Pacific Railroad in 1898 which supported mounted patrols to suppress fires in the McCloud flats east of Mount Shasta (Morford 1984).
Twentieth Century
Changes in fire occurrence dictate fire regime change and accompany change in landscape vegetation patterns. Intermittent patterns of vegetation have been replaced by more continuous formations and smaller openings in a matrix of denser forests (Skinner 1995a). The annual maximum fire size and total area burned have been increasing since the onset of fire suppression in the early twentieth century (Miller, et al. 2012).
The larger the fire, the larger the maximum high-severity burn patches (Miller, et al. 2012). This pattern is related, in part, to higher quantities and more continuous, homogeneous fuels caused by accumulation during the fire-suppression period.
Twenty-first Century
In the early 21st century, fires have been bigger, more communities have burned, and firefighters have continued to die. This situation has become a crisis and led to the coinage of the term megafire for fires in excess of 100,000 acres (Pyne, 2017). The increasing number of large fires combined with the increasing proportion of high-severity burn is occurring during a period of rapid global climatic change.
Figure 6 depicts the extraordinarily rapid increasing trend in California’s wildfire acreage over the last 4 decades. Seven of the top 10 most destructive fires in California’s history have occurred since 2015, and in 2020 there were a total of 9,917 incidents which burned an unprecedented 4,257,863 estimated acres, caused 33 fatalities, and damaged or destroyed 10,488 structures. This dramatic fire season was driven in part by an on-going drought coupled with an extreme heat wave and lightning storms.
Figure 6. Wildfire size trend
Source: CAL FIRE, 2021
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Table 4 and Table 5 list California’s Top 20 Largest and Top 20 Most Destructive wildfires.
Fifteen of the twenty largest wildfires and nineteen of the twenty most destructive wildfires have occurred in the 21st Century (CAL FIRE, January 15, 2019).
Table 4. Top 20 Largest California Wildfires
Table 5. Top 20 Most Destructive California Wildfires
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The Future
The rapid increase in the rate of warming in California and other parts of the West since the start of the new century is a sharp reminder that we can’t count on the future changing as slowly as the past.
Jon Keeley, a research scientist with the United States Geological Survey, noted that the major, multi-year drought that hit California between 2011 and 2019 killed off an immense amount of vegetation in the state. He acknowledges that climate change “almost certainly” exacerbates fire-friendly conditions in California, but says that’s only part of the story (PBS 2020).
One thing that remains constant is the fact that humans are responsible for the vast majority of the blazes that occur every year. Keeley argues that the role of human activity should be emphasized when it comes to addressing root causes of massive wildfires, and points to both the practice of fire suppression and California’s increasing population as primary factors.
Regarding the 2020 fire events in northern California, Keeley states: “The bottom line is this is a multifactor problem. It’s not just climate change, it’s not just the drought, it’s not just dieback.
It’s management activities that have suppressed fires for over a century — a lot of things going on. The way I see the current situation in California, this is the perfect storm. Everything is coming together at once.”
4.4 YREKA AREA WILDLAND FIRE ENVIRONMENT
Countryman, a renowned wildland fire researcher, defines the fire environment as “the conditions, influences and modifying forces that control fire behavior” (Countryman, 1972).
Wildland fire behavior responds to the interaction of fuels, topography and weather. These three factors affect the likelihood of a fire starting, the speed, direction and intensity of the fire, and the resistance to firefighting control efforts. This section is general in scope and describes an overview of the wildland fire environment surrounding the Yreka Area.
4.4.1 Fuels
Vegetation is the primary fuel source for wildfires and is the foundational factor in modeling fire hazard (although many human-made sources also become fuel, including structures and ornamental vegetation). All contribute to the fire environment and can significantly affect Fire Behavior (see Section 4.4.4).
Over the last several decades, much of the wildland forest area fuels have grown densely overstocked, causing unhealthy conditions which can produce high severity fires. The interface between the communities and forest is potentially hazardous during wildfires as modeled fire intensity is often greatest in this zone.
Many communities have incorporated areas of natural vegetation often termed “Open Space” in their plans. However, limited wildland fuels management in these Open Space areas pose problems that affect community resilience with respect to wildfire. From a wildfire protection perspective, these areas have the potential to produce wildfires and/or are threats to communities. Open Spaces occur in many shapes, from an island of open space to a ribbon of 308
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open space extending into the community similar to a wick or fuse. Examples of open space lands within communities (Fennesy, 2014) include:
• Habitat conservation land
• Natural vegetation parklands
• Watersheds held by a public entity
• Land that is not developable that is covered with natural vegetation • Power line corridors
Any fuel source in wildlands surrounding a community or in open space within a community directly influences wildfire behavior. The physical properties of wildland fuels are defined by a set of characteristics.
Fuel Characteristics
Primary fuel characteristics that affect wildland fire behavior include fuel type, fuel moisture content, fuel loading (the amount of fuel expressed as tons/acre), chemical content, horizontal continuity, and vertical arrangement. Each of these characteristics contributes to various fire behavior processes. Understanding the association between fuel characteristics and fire behavior helps facilitate the design of effective fuel treatment strategies. • Fuel Types/Fuel Models
Fuel types are broken into specific fuel models that describe the physical properties of vegetation that support wildfire. Each specific fuel model has associated burning characteristics. Reduction or removal of vegetation modifies the fuel model and fire behavior on the landscape (Scott, J.H. and Burgan, 2005). Yreka Area Fuel Models are discussed in detail in Section 5.2.1.
• Fuel Moisture
Fuel moisture is a dynamic variable controlled by seasonal and daily variations in the weather. The moisture of living and dead fuel directly influences wildland fire behavior.
Lower moisture = higher flammability; higher moisture = lower flammability.
Dead fuels act like a sponge absorbing or giving up
moisture to the air and ground that surrounds the fuel.
This exchange of moisture with the environment (air or
ground/surface) changes the fuel moisture content.
Smaller diameter fuels such as dry grasses exchange moisture quite rapidly. Table 6 displays the rate of exchange of moisture between dead fuel and the environment.
Timelag is the time required to reach equilibrium with surrounding environment (Andrews, 2008).
Manzanita: dead and live fuels
Courtesy of J. Titus
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Table 6. Dead Fuel Moisture and Timelag Relationship to Fuel Size Diameter Class Timelag Fuel Description
0 – 0.25” 1-hour Grasses, forbs
0.25 – 1.0” 10-hour Small sticks and branches
1.0 – 3.0” 100-hour Larger branches, small logs
3.0” and greater 1000-hour Larger logs
Live fuel moisture is the moisture in living, growing vegetation. Internal physiological mechanisms and external influences regulate live moisture through rainfall, drought, aspect, elevation, and seasonal drying patterns. Typically, live fuel moistures are highest in the spring and early summer and lowest in late summer and winter.
Agencies conduct live fuel moisture sampling and data analyses. As an example, Figure 7 displays current, average and low fuel moisture data for Greenleaf Manzanita from the Greenhorn, Yreka area (US Forest Service National Fuel Moisture Database).
Figure 7. Example Fuel Moisture Data
• Fuel Loadings
Fuel loadings vary greatly by fuel types. Generally, grasslands produce fuel loadings between 1 to 5 tons per acre, brush species may produce 10 to 50+ tons per acre, and timberland loadings can range from 10 up to 150+ tons per acre. Fuel loading correlates to fire intensity with heavier fuel loads releasing more heat energy lighter fuel loads. • Horizontal Continuity
The horizontal continuity of fuels (‘fuel bed’) describes the uniformity or patchiness of fuels across the landscape and affects the ability of a fire to spread. Within the Yreka Area, fuel continuity is occasionally disrupted by road systems and neighborhoods; however, many roadways lack adequate fuel clearance, thereby limiting an adequate break of continuous fuel beds. Even in a broken/discontinuous fuel bed, the presence of wind or steep slopes, can cause embers and/or radiant heat to advance the wildfire front. The predominant fuel types in the Yreka Area are receptive to flaming or glowing embers (firebrands), resulting in a high probability of spot fire occurrence. 310
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• Vertical Arrangement
Vertically arranged fuels are those that can carry fire burning in surface fuels into the shrub canopy, then into (crowns) of taller trees. A continuous vertical fuel bed is known as “ladder fuels”.
• Chemical Properties
Chemical properties of fuel are the presence or absence of volatile substances such as oils, resins, wax, and pitch. Evergreen coniferous species are resinous and quickly combustible in the wildfire environment. Chaparral species (such as sages) also have higher concentrations of volatile chemical compounds.
4.4.2 Weather
Weather is the most variable and least predictable element of the wildland fire environment.
Important components of fire weather are temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, wind, and atmospheric stability, each of which has the potential to increase or retard wildfire spread and intensity.
The difference between weather and climate is a measure of time. Weather is atmospheric conditions over a short period of time, and climate is how the atmosphere "behaves" over relatively long periods of time.
Local weather factors affect stages of the wildfire process from ignition phase, to flaming propagation phase, to the cool-down phase as it dies out. On-site weather elements (temperature, relative humidity, precipitation, and winds) are constantly monitored in a wildfire management operation and play a key role in strategy and tactics.
Frontal passages and associated wind events create fire weather alert situations (fire weather watch/red flag warning). During these wind events, dry season conditions (defined by low relative humidity, dry fuels, heat and low humidity recovery) produce a recipe for rapid wildfire growth.
Problematic Weather Scenarios
During the fire season, general weather conditions consist of light to moderate winds, hot temperatures, low humidity and poor night-time humidity recovery. A wildfire ignition can rapidly transition from a surface to a crown fire and spread by spotting ignitions well ahead of the main fire. These conditions often cause considerable resistance to containment by firefighting resources.
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Extreme “red flag” weather conditions are a common
occurrence in the Yreka Area throughout summer and
fall, and can continue into winter. Two of the more
common triggers of these conditions are:
1) A forecasted dry lightning-strike event (without
precipitation). These events occur primarily over higher elevations and mountainous terrain. They can be
accompanied by strong erratic updraft and downdraft
winds, creating conditions for short-term, rapid flare-ups in behavior. Once these storms abate, multiple new
wildfire ignitions are commonly discovered. This scenario is common over the local mountain ranges. Figure 8
illustrates a recent occurrence of a two-day lightning strike event in Northern California.
Figure 8. Lightning Strike Map, Northern California Area, August 9-10, 2019 Source: National Weather Service Sacramento
2) Winds associated with frontal passages and atmospheric pressure gradient changes. This weather condition is the most common red flag causal factor throughout the fire season and can become extended in duration, ranging from several hours to multiple days. When combined with low fuel moisture conditions, the dry air mass and strong gusty winds can cause wildfires to quickly become explosive in behavior and characteristics.
4.4.3 Topography
Topography is the configuration of the earth’s surface including its relief and the position of its natural and human-made features. It is the most stable of the elements in the fire environment and plays an important role in wildfire spread. These topography factors include slope, aspect, A Red Flag Warning is issued
for weather events which may
result in extreme fire behavior that
will occur within 24 hours. It is
the highest alert.
A Fire Weather Watch is issued
when weather conditions could
exist in the next 12-72 hours.
(NWS / CAL FIRE)
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terrain or land features, and elevation. Topography modifies general weather by channeling wind, creating thermal belts, producing orographic (pertaining to upwelling slopes) thunderstorms, and contributing to Foehn (or Northerly) winds.
Of all the topographic features, the steepness of slope is the most influential on fire behavior.
A basic fire science principle is the fact that fire will burn faster uphill as flames can easily reach more unburned fuel in front of the fire. Radiant heat pre-heats the fuel in front of the fire, making the fuel even more flammable, as illustrated in Figure 9.
Figure 9. Effect of slope on fire spread
4.4.4 Fire Behavior Characteristics
Fire behavior characteristics describe how a fire will
burn, where it burns, how fast it spreads, and the
amount of energy it releases.
The diversity of fuels, topography and weather across
the Yreka Area exhibits a fire environment that supports a full spectrum of fire behavior. The following are
general concepts to help understand fire behavior aspects. Broad categories of the types of wildland fire observed on the landscape include:
• Surface fires: Fire burning in material at ground level including low vegetation such as grasses, low shrubs, small trees, and woody debris on the soil surface. • Torching fires: The burning of the foliage of a single tree or a small group of trees, from the bottom up.
• Crown fires: Fire burning in the tops of trees and tall shrubs or brush. The classification of crown fires include passive, active, and independent. • Spotting: Occurs when wind, convection, or gravity transports firebrands outside the main perimeter of the fire. A “spot fire” develops and grows if a firebrand lands on a receptive fuel-bed. In this analysis the primary characteristics utilized to measure fire’s behavior are quantified in terms of:
Fire Behavior (FB): The manner
in which a fire reacts to the
influences of fuel, weather, and
topography.
(NWCG, 2019)
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➢ Rate of Spread (ROS): Rate of forward spread of the flaming front, often measured in chains per hour (Ch/hr.). Chain is a unit of length equal to 66 feet; 80 chains = 1 mile.
➢ Fire Line Intensity (FLI): The rate of heat release per unit time per unit length of fire front, expressed as (BTU/ft./sec).
➢ Flame Length (FL): The average distance from the base of the flame to its highest point. FL is the standard field measurement related to FLI.
Wildfire spread rates and intensities are distinguished by fuels that are actively burning, and adjectives used to describe fire behavior are quantifiably categorized by ROS and FL (Table 7).
Table 7. Adjective Ratings for Fire Behavior Characteristics Adjective Class ROS (Ch/Hr) FL (ft)
Very Low 0 – 2 0 - 1
Low 2 – 5 1 - 4
Moderate 5 - 20 4 – 8
High 20 - 50 8 – 12
Very High 50 - 150 12 – 25
Extreme >150 >25
The concepts of wildfire science that have been introduced in this section are the foundation for the assessment work outlined in Section 5, which will produce tools for community protection planning.
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SECTION 5. WILDFIRE ASSESSMENT
An analysis of wildfire potential utilizes established assessment methods and scientifically accepted fire models. The following assessment is 1) a derivative of analysis work completed by CAL FIRE in their Fire and Resource Assessment Program (FRAP) and 2) a more focused analysis utilizing local weather data and targeted vegetation/fuels information. The focused analysis was undertaken using the U.S. Forest Service Wildland Fire Decision Support System (WFDSS) and the Short-term Fire Behavior and FS-Pro (Fire Spread Probability Model) subsystems.
This section begins by using higher-level analyses available from the Siskiyou County CWPP to convey elements of Wildland Fire Hazard Severity and the components that define it (Fuel Models, Fuel Rank, and Wildland Fire Threat).
It continues by focusing down to the Yreka Area level to convey elements of wildfire hazards and risks (Risk and Burn Probability and Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity). These data then enable even further analysis to assist in identifying areas that are problematic for first responders and in providing information that can inform decisions on areas for targeted priority projects (see Part II. Planning Areas).
This section concludes with assessments on two local recent wildfires which are modeled to show potential risk factors based on outcomes utilizing science-based scenarios This evaluation provides perspective for how these fires may have behaved and spread had they started under very different, yet highly likely, circumstances.
5.1 WILDLAND FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
PRC (Public Resources Code) 4201-4204 and Government Code 51175-89 direct CAL FIRE to map areas of significant fire hazards based on fuels, terrain, weather, and other relevant factors. These zones, referred to as Fire Hazard Severity Zones, aid in defining the application of various mitigation strategies to reduce risk associated with wildland fires. Fire models provide a quantitative basis for rating fire danger and predicting fire behavior. These foundational modeling concepts continue to be the basis of current wildfire prediction work.
Fire Hazard Severity is an assessment of the threats or potential impacts arising from wildland fire. The Fire Hazard Severity rating system is a way to measure or model physical fire behavior so that potential wildfire damage can be predicted (FRAP, CAL FIRE, 2008). Wildfire behavior outputs include the speed that it moves, the amount of heat it produces, and importantly, the firebrands it sends ahead of the flaming front. This assessment is used on private lands per State law, applicable to SRA lands, and utilized/referenced in LRA areas as well.
5.1.1 Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs), as approved by CAL FIRE and required by law, use data and models that describe fire development patterns and estimated behavior characteristics based on potential fuels over a 30 to 50 year time horizon (FRAP, CAL FIRE, 2008). CAL FIRE is in the process of reviewing and updating information as a result of the past several years of severe wildfire impacts on the state.
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CAL FIRE is required by law (PRC 4789) to assess California’s susceptibility to wildland fire events on private lands. Updates to state data are underway. Recent large devastating fire seasons have prompted a refocus on statewide analyses. The data used for this CWPP come from the Siskiyou County CWPP (published in May of 2019) which was derived from a CAL FIRE update which occurred in 2010. Ongoing and updated data are available on the Office of the State Fire Marshall website.
FHSZs provide the basis for mitigation strategies to reduce wildland fire risks to structures.
These zones also correlate to building code requirements designed to reduce structure ignition potential in WUI. They also provide criteria utilized by the insurance industry in the evaluation process for both home coverage policies and cases involving loss from wildfire. This state level FHSZ analysis does not cover the Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) landscape. Figure 10 depicts the Yreka Area’s wildfire hazard severity ratings for both SRA and LRA. Descriptions of source information for the FHSZs are as follows:
FHSZ - State Responsibility Area (SRA): PRC 4201-4204 directed CAL FIRE to map fire hazard within SRAs. The data were adopted in November 2007 and updated in 2008. There are three categories required for SRA lands: Moderate, High and Very High.
FHSZ - Local Responsibility Area (LRA): This map includes a geographic information system (GIS) dataset that depicts final CAL FIRE recommendations for Very High FHSZs within LRAs. In 2008, the California Building Commission adopted California Building Code Chapter 7A requiring new buildings in areas of Very High FHSZs to use ignition resistant construction methods and materials.
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Figure 10. Fire Hazard Severity Zones for SRA and LRA – Yreka Area Note: Hillside shading does not indicate a difference in FHSZ classification. 317
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5.2 COMPONENTS OF FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY
Fuel rank is the foundation of the CAL FIRE’s Fire Severity modeling depicted in Figure xx above. Fire hazard levels are represented by vegetation/fuels in relation to the energy output when it burns. Vegetation is further classified into “fuel profiles” (grouping of burnable material that tends to burn in a similar manner).
This Fuel Rank data models wildfire potential on the landscape and represents fire hazard. The model methodology assigns ranks based on expected fire behavior using combinations of vegetative fuels and topography under adverse severity level weather conditions (high wind speed, low humidity, and high temperature).
The following three sections introduce new terminology and concepts; the figures associated with them are on the three pages below the narrative.
5.2.1 Fuel Models
Vegetation species of an area are referred to as “fuel types”. Fuel type data is coarsely mapped and available in state-level and national-level databases. Fire researchers take this data and use the most common fuels for any specific area to predict primary fire behavior, which results in “Fuel Models” (FM) for that area. Yreka Area Fuel Models are depicted in Figure 11.
5.2.2 Fuel Rank
As an example of how fuel models affect fire behavior, grass dominant fuel models will spread fifteen times faster than fuels burning in a timber or shrub understory (beneath a canopy). Figure 12 displays Fuel Rank data for the Yreka Area. This Fuel Rank data models wildfire potential on the landscape and represents fire hazard. The model methodology assigns ranks based on expected fire behavior using combinations of vegetative fuels and topography under adverse severity level weather conditions (high wind speed, low humidity, and high temperature).
5.2.3 Wildland Fire Threat
Wildland Fire Threat is a combination of two factors: 1) fire frequency, or the likelihood of a given area burning, and 2) potential fire behavior (hazard). These two factors are combined to create four Fire Threat classes. Fire threat is used to estimate the potential for impacts (risk of a wildfire) on various assets. (FRAP Forest and Range 2003 Assessment on-line technical report “Trends in Wildland Fire”). Figure 13 depicts the Yreka Area’s Wildland Fire Threat.
Fuel Model (FM): Simulated
fuel complex for which all fuel
descriptors required for the
solution of a mathematical rate
of spread model have been
specified.
(NWCG, 2019)
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Figure 11. Fuel Models – Yreka Area
# Acres / % Acres of Primary Fuel Types – Yreka Area
Grass GrassShrubShrub Timber
Litter
Timber
Understory
NonBurnableGrand Total
# Acres 27,634 21,171 10,357 18,145 17,476 11,909 106,691 % Acres 25.9% 19.8% 9.7% 17% 16.4% 11.2% 100%
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Figure 12. Fuel Rank – Yreka Area
FUEL RANK CATEGORIES BY ACRES AND PERCENT ACRES
Low-NonBurnable Moderate High Very High Grand Total
# Acres / % Acres 1,053 / 2.0% 13,980 / 26.0% 9,902 / 18.5% 28,777 / 53.6% 53,712 / 100% 320
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Figure 13. Wildland Fire Threat - Yreka Area
Wildland Fire Threat by # / Acres and % Acres
Low-NonBurnable Moderate High Very High Grand Total
# Acres / % Acres 1,052 / 2% 6,944 / 13% 14,049 / 16% 31,661 / 59% 53,706 / 100% 321
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5.3 RISK AND BURN PROBABILITY
Burn probability is used to display the potential for an area’s vegetation to burn. Historical fire events aid in reviewing where fires have occurred and how they burned. Burn probability adds the dimension of seeing where fire is likely to burn given random ignitions across the landscape.
Wildland fire ignitions are categorized as natural or human caused. As a whole, lightning is the primary natural source of large wildfires as they
frequently occur in isolated remote areas and can
occur at a rate that overwhelms the number of
firefighting resources available.
Human caused fires are frequently started in lower
elevations and areas of high human occupancy or
use. These ignitions are more likely to start at the
base or lower portion of slopes (i.e., roadsides,
stream or river corridors, hiking trails, or railway
corridors) and often within or adjacent to
community structures or neighborhoods. These
wildfires are typically suppressed quickly, due to
accessibility. However, in recent years lower slope
WUI ignitions are rapidly turning into deadly and/or
highly damaging wildfires; far too often experienced
in California’s expanding WUI environment.
Randomized Wildfire Ignitions
To develop burn probability models, 25,000 randomly-placed ignitions were analyzed across the Yreka Area, indicating an overall picture of the area’s susceptibility to fire. Fires were permitted to burn for two burning periods with no suppression actions. These ignitions were then modeled for two ends of the fire season spectrum (Early Fire Season and Late Fire Season), defined below and used for several comparative analyses and figures throughout the remainder of this CWPP.
Wildfire Hazard: A physical situation
(fuels, weather, or topography) with
potential for causing harm or damage as
a result of wildland fire (Scott and
Reinhardt, 2001)
Wildfire Risk: The chance of wildfire
starting as determined by the presence
and activity of a causative agent, i.e.,
lightning, equipment use, smoking,
campfires, debris burning, railroads,
power lines, incendiary or arson (Morris,
2000)
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Early Fire Season compared to Late Fire Season
The fire season can be defined by four primary fire behavior/fire danger periods: low/moderate, high, very high, and very high/extreme. The four periods are defined by historic weather conditions broken into percentile classes. For example, if the 97th percentile of temperature is 100 degrees, this means 97% of days analyzed are equal to or cooler than 100 degrees.
Conversely, only 3 days had a temperature at or above 100 degrees. Percentile weather conditions were analyzed based on the historical fire season (May 1st to October 31st) over a 10-year period (2008 to 2017). For this CWPP, only the following two fire behavior/danger periods were used for analyses outputs; they were deemed the most relevant given the changes to the fire season wrought by drought and weather conditions noted earlier.
Burn Probability
Burn probability is calculated by dividing the number of times an area (pixel) burns by the total number of simulations. Therefore, an area that burned two times (out of four) has a 50% probability of burning, whereas an area that burned three times has a 75% burn probability.
Burn probability modelling results support: a) reducing hazardous fuels in select areas, b) the need for homeowners to ensure defensible space and home hardening, and c) the need for aggressive initial attack suppression by firefighting agencies.
Burn Probability - Early Fire Season
Early in the fire season, fuels predominant in the Yreka Area are not as burnable. Grass is typically not yet dry. Brush is typically in growing stage with ample moisture. Modeling early season fire confirms that fires are not likely to grow large and are easier to Early Fire Season
(60th Percentile Weather)
----------
Corresponds to “high fire danger
periods”
----------
60th percentile weather conditions are the
point when suppression efforts start to
become difficult due to an area’s
propensity to burn beginning to increase.
Late Fire Season
(97th Percentile Weather)
----------
Corresponds to “very high/extreme fire
danger periods”
----------
97th percentile weather conditions are
increasingly common as fire seasons are
becoming longer, hotter and drier. These
conditions occur late summer through
late fall and are characterized by hotter,
more quickly advancing wildfires, with
greater probabilities of severe wildfires.
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contain. The average size of the modeled fires was 8.47 acres, and the maximum size was 28 acres.
Burn Probability - Late Fire Season
As the fire season progresses through the late summer and into fall, fuels increase in their flammability due to increased heat and lower humidity. As such, fires will burn more aggressively, become larger, and require more firefighting resources for containment. The results of the 25,000 modeled ignitions provide strong data supporting the importance of improving home defenses and for aggressive initial attack suppression actions. The following section further supports this conclusion with identifiable areas of concern. The average size of the fires modeled was 2,134 acres, and the maximum size was 16,224 acres.
For the Yreka Area, burn probabilities for early and late fire season were analyzed and the results are depicted in Figure 14 and Figure 15. The darker reds indicate a greater probability for an area to burn.
Fire sizes were categorized by a fire size classification system used by all wildland fire agencies (National Interagency Fire Center).
Fact: 64% of Yreka Area’s burnable areas are comprised of grass, grass-shrub, and shrub. 324
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Figure 14. Burn Probability – Early Fire Season
Number of Modeled Fires by Fire Size Class: Early Fire Season Class A:
0 to .25
acres
Class B:
.25 to 10
acres
Class C:
10 t0 100
acres
Class D:
100 to 300
acres
Class E:
300 to
1,000 acres
Class F:
1,000 to
5,000 acres
Class G:
5,000 plus
acres
Number
of Fires
25,000 /
100%
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Figure 15. Burn Probability – Late Fire Season
Number of Modeled Fires by Fire Size Class: Late Fire Season Class A:
0 to .25
acres
Class B:
.25 to 10
acres
Class C:
10 t0 100
acres
Class D:
100 to 300
acres
Class E:
300 to
1,000 acres
Class F:
1,000 to
5,000 acres
Class G:
5,000 plus
acres
# of Fires
/ % Fires 0 / 0% 171 / 0.7% 178 / 0.7% 485 / 1.9% 7,393 / 29.6% 14,774 /
59%
1,999 /
8.0%
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5.4 INITIAL ATTACK SUPPRESSION OPPORTUNITY
5.4.1 Fireline Intensity (Flame Length)
Firefighters assess fireline intensity (heat at flaming front) by flame length (FL). Longer flame lengths increase heat intensity and therefore suppression task difficulty. Table 8 contains a wildfire control and suppression guide based on flame length that has been established by research and practitioners, and Figure 16 and Figure 17 model and contrast typical FL conditions for the Yreka Area during Early Fire Season and Late Fire Season.
Table 8. Fire Suppression Interpretations based on FL and FLI
5.4.2 Rate of Spread
Another key factor is how fast a fire travels, which directly affects fire suppression resource capability to contain or slow a wildfire’s advance. Wildfire rate of spread (ROS) is expressed in chains per hour (ch/hr); a chain is 66 feet. Figure 18 and Figure 19 model and contrast typical ROS conditions for the Yreka Area during Early Fire Season and Late Fire Season.
5.4.3 Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity
Flame length and rate of spread are brought together in the Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity Model (IASO). Simply stated, if a wildfire is too hot and advancing too quickly it can be difficult to impossible to contain until conditions or circumstances change. Figure 20 and Figure 21 depict Early Fire Season and Late Fire Season comparisons in suppression likelihood.
As the colors trend from green/yellow towards orange/red, resistance to containment increases.
Below the figure, a table provides the total number of acres, percentage of acres, and number of structures for each containment category (i.e., non-burnable, containable, unlikely to contain). Location of structures is also included, but are difficult to discern at the Yreka Area level; Section 5.4.4 below describes additional analysis undertaken at the Planning Area level to make structure location more clear.
5.4.4 Structures and Wildfire Suppression Concerns
To arrive at additional actionable data for each Planning Area, analysis was prepared utilizing a structure location layer superimposed onto the (IASO) methodology, resulting in “Structures at Risk” maps. This level of analysis enables the discernment of areas of special consideration for area residents and landowners. Microsoft’s U.S. Building Footprint product (Microsoft 2018) was utilized to provide a sense of structure location and better understand potential threats from 327
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hazardous fuels and wildfire damage. See Part 6. Action Plan, along with IASO and Structures at Risk maps per Planning Area, for opportunities for mitigation work adjacent to structures. 328
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Figure 16. Flame Length – Early Fire Season Figure 17. Flame Length – Late Fire Season
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Figure 18. Rate of Spread – Late Fire Season Figure 19. Rate of Spread – Late Fire Season 330
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Figure 20. Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity – Early Fire Season Initial Attack Probability of Containment by # of Acres / % Acres / # of Structures - Early Fire Season Not
Modeled Can
Contain
Likely to
Contain
Might
Contain
Not likely
to
Contain
Cannot
Contain
Total
# Acres /
% Acres
5,420 / 9% 31,635 /
54%
5,871 / 7% 2,936 / 14% 4,068 / 5% 8,423 / 10% 58,353
# of
Structures
3,686 2,136 30 1 2 651 6,506
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Figure 21. Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity – Late Fire Season Note a more than fourfold increase in the number of acres in orange and red compared to Early Fire Season Initial Attack Probability of Containment by # Acres / % Acres / # of Structures - Late Fire Season Not
Modeled
Can
Contain
Likely to
Contain
Might
Contain
Not likely
to Contain
Cannot
Contain
Total
Acres / %
Acres
5,420 /
9%
8,235 /
14%
0 5,406 / 9% 22,795 /
39%
16,497 /
28%
58,353
No. of
Structures
3,686 627 0 299 1,240 654 6,506
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5.5 RECENT LOCAL WILDFIRES UNDER VARIOUS CONDITIONS
5.5.1 Background
Wildfire modeling provides a dramatic illustration of how actual fires could have behaved - with potentially much greater impacts - had they occurred at different times of the fire season and under different weather conditions. These models provide another strong argument for being aware and prepared. Two recent human-caused wildfires in and around the Yreka Area – the King and Grade Fires - were modeled under four unique (but common for the area) fire season scenarios. In the model, the fires are permitted to burn without suppression for two burn periods to evaluate burnability of vegetation and assess effects and vulnerability of areas.
The fires were modeled without suppression actions for the following reasons:
1) Suppression actions are situational, consisting of numerous human and environmental variables that cannot be adequately modeled.
2) Observing unsuppressed wildfire spread can be an instructional awareness tool to help fire managers strategize for potential worst-case scenarios, i.e., when fire suppression resources are unavailable.
Key parameters in the models include:
1) Weather: The Brazie Remote Automated Weather Station (RAWS) was used for all weather modeling. This RAWS data best characterizes fire season parameters for the local area that can applied to the historic fires used for this exercise. 2) Fuels Models and Terrain: The Wildfire Decision Support System (WFDSS) populates the scenarios with all forty available standard fuels models and applies terrain conditions as they exist.
The fires were modeled under four weather / time of season conditions as described in Table 9.
The red lines in the figures below illustrate the paths of easiest and/or most probable travel and the resulting fire perimeters.
Table 9. Four common weather / time of season conditions for the Yreka Area Condition Description
ACTUAL Weather data for the day of the incidents was used to display what the fires would have done had there been no suppression efforts.
LATE
SUMMER
This period is characterized by increased dryness of fuels. Modelling parameters included wind direction primarily out of the southwest and winds aloft at 25 miles per hour (mph). A total of ten burn hours (over two 5-hour periods) was used.
MID-TOLATE FALL
California is experiencing prolonged fire seasons. Without the “normal” historical rains that typically came by late fall, it is not unusual to go until early November before significant precipitation slows or ends the fire season. Without rain or an increase in relative humidity, risk of a fire start is increased, and ignitions are potentially exposed to winds from the north/northeast (“Foehn” winds). Foehn winds are strong and typically bring very low single digits relative humidity, often with warm temperatures.
Modelling parameters included Foehn winds out of the northeast at 40 mph. Due to shorter days, the burn period is reduced to a total of eight hours (over two 4-hour).
STRONG
WESTERLY
WIND
The Yreka area sometimes experiences frontal passages that bring a strong westerly wind flow from the mountains to the west. There are historical fires that have burned under these conditions. This scenario maintained the increased fuels dryness of the Late Summer model but applied a 25 mph wind directly out of the west. A total of ten burn hours (over two 5-hour periods) was used.
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5.5.2 King Fire
The King Fire occurred June 26, 2017 at about 12:30pm in an area above the Burger King and the College of the Siskiyous’ Yreka Campus. It burned about 19 acres.
Figure 22. King Fire – ACTUAL
Figure 23. King Fire – LATE SUMMER
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Figure 24. King Fire – MID TO LATE FALL
Figure 25. King Fire – STRONG WESTERLY WIND
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5.5.2 Grade Fire
The Grade Fire began on August 24, 2016 at about 2:55pm. This fire burned as close to a very high fire risk/behavior condition as possible. The fire burned 710 acres and destroyed five residences two miles north of the City of Yreka.
Figure 26. Grade Fire – ACTUAL CONDITIONS
Figure 27. Grade Fire – LATE SUMMER
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Figure 28. Grade Fire – MID TO LATE FALL
Figure 29. Grade Fire – STRONG WESTERLY WIND
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SECTION 6. ACTION PLAN
This section provides specific information and actionable, achievable guidelines and tools to be proactively used by citizens and fire protection agencies alike. Additional supporting templates and checklists for tracking progress against goals are provided in Appendix A. Actionable Items and Appendix B. Home Hardening and Defensible Space.
6.1 COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS
A challenge for Yreka Area communities is maximizing awareness of the wildfire threat and generating sufficient interest to encourage participation in preparedness activities that effect change at the individual and community level. Communication about preparedness actions is necessary to engage citizens before an event escalates.
Preparedness includes a range of actions including community education, reducing structure ignitibility, fuels mitigation, and evacuation preparedness. Several local, state and national preparedness programs are readily available, and citizens are urged to engage with the actions and recommendations contained within them.
6.1.1 Wildfire Preparedness Programs
Listos California
Listos (“Ready” in Spanish) is a community disaster preparedness program initiated by the State Office of Emergency Services. Following devastation in the wake of the last several wildfire seasons, a State Auditor’s Report found that the state and OES were not sufficiently prepared for disasters, in particular the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations. This led to a new statewide program targeted at educating these populations for disaster readiness (including for wildfires).
Disaster 2-1-1
Disaster 2-1-1 in Siskiyou County is a free information and referral service activated by Siskiyou County OES with support from United Way of Northern California to support the community in times of disaster. It connects community members to information about critical disaster related services. It is ONLY available during an active incident of disaster and utilizes both bilingual call specialists and a phone-based translation service.
Ready for Wildfire
This is California’s (CAL FIRE) primary set of tools for wildfire prevention and preparedness.
Prevention: One Less Spark - One Less Wildfire
An action-based platform that highlights the fact that most wildfires in California are caused by people and establishes why fire agencies need the public’s help to prevent them.
Preparedness: Ready, Set, Go!
A wealth of information and checklists to help residents and families take practical and achievable steps for defensible space, home hardening, and more. 339
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Firewise
Firewise is national level program that teaches people how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together and take actions now to prevent future losses.
Yreka Area Fire Safe Council
The Yreka Area Fire Safe Council (YAFSC) was formed in 2006 by property owners interested in protecting their properties and the surrounding area from catastrophic wildfire. This group was responsible for bringing together landowners and management agencies to participate in the initial development of Yreka Area CWPP, signed in 2013. This Wildfire Protection Plan is considered by the Fire Safe Council to be a “living document” that will continue to evolve as stakeholders make adjustments based on future project and wildfire prevention experiences, as presented in this 2021 updated version.
Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County (FSCSC)
The Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County is a non-profit community organization formed in 2003 that provides support for wildfire information, education, preparation and planning activities, community fuels/vegetation management projects, fund raising, and neighborhood assistance.
FSCSC provides hands-on guidance and assistance to any community interested in pre-fire planning and project implementation activities.
Fire Danger Ratings
At a national level, the fire protection agencies provide daily updates on their website to inform residents, visitors and businesses of the fire danger rating forecasts so they can modify their outdoor activities to help reduce the threat of wildfire ignitions. These ratings and brief explanation are available at:
6.1.2 Area Notification Systems
Code RED Emergency Alert System
Siskiyou County has instituted a rapid emergency notification service called CodeRED. CodeRED is an emergency notification service by which public safety authorities can notify residents and businesses by telephone or cellular phone about emergency situations. The system is capable of sending messages to specific neighborhoods, an entire community or the entire county. The emergency messages can be distributed at a rate of 1,000 calls per minute. CodeRED engages a unique internet mapping process for geographic targeting of calls, coupled with a high-speed telephone calling system capable of delivering customized pre-recorded emergency messages directly to homes and businesses, live individuals and answering machines.
Register with Code Red Download the CodeRed Mobile Alert App
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Online and Social Network Resources
There are multiple social network avenues for acquiring information on emergent wildfire and/or evacuation situations. These networks are commonly referenced to keep citizens and interested parties up to date on events, advisories, and alerts. Primary notification entities include:
• Siskiyou County Scanner
• Siskiyou Alerts (Fire and Emergency)
• Siskiyou County Grapevine
• Siskiyou County Fire Chiefs Association Facebook
• Yreka Area Fire Safe Council Website
• Yreka Area Fire Safe Council Facebook
• Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County Website
• Fire Safe Council of Siskiyou County Facebook
• Siskiyou County Sheriff Facebook
• Siskiyou County Sheriff Twitter
• CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Website
• CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Facebook
• CAL FIRE Siskiyou Unit Twitter
• Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services Website
• Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services Facebook • CHP Yreka Area Website
• CHP Yreka Area Facebook
• CHP Yreka Area Twitter
• Klamath National Forest
• 211 NorCal
Radio Stations and Communication Broadcast Systems
To hear emergency broadcasts on AM, individuals may need to listen from a battery powered portable radio or car radio. FM stations also broadcast emergency events but are limited to localized vicinities. During an emergency, all radio networks (AM and FM) will broadcast out with notable alert tones (Emergency Broadcast System) and provide critical information including information sources such as agency website, social networks or phone numbers.
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emergency responder dialog in an evolving event. It is important to understand that the scanner tool is one-way communication only (a person cannot to talk/transmit out to others).
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also has an alert radio broadcast system in place. Their Emergency Alert System (EAS) covers multiple extreme weather conditions and other alerts/events, including wildfire.
The following list includes information for area radio and communication broadcast systems:
• AM-1610: Utilized for Highway Emergency situations
• NOAA-NWS: Emergency Alert System coverage and code information o Code information
• Radio Stations (can query by specific location)
• Example scanner tools/applications:
o Broadcastify
o Scanner Radio (Fire and Police)
Other Media Outlets
Local media including television and newsprint have provisions for email and/or text messaging contact information and are notified as soon as possible on all emergency events. They have also been provided with contact information for wildfire event Public Information Officers as well. Contact information here includes primary newspapers with countywide/multiple community coverage and TV stations providing coverage of emergency events. • Siskiyou Daily News Website
• Siskiyou Daily News Facebook
• Mount Shasta News Website
• Mount Shasta News Facebook
• KOBI-5 News (NBC) - Medford, Klamath Falls – Website
• KOBI-5 News (NBC) - Medford, Klamath Falls – Facebook • KRCR News Channel 7 (ABC) – Redding – Website
• KRCR News Channel 7 (ABC) – Redding – Facebook
• KDRV Newswatch 12 (ABC) – Medford – Website
• KDRV Newswatch 12 (ABC) – Medford – Facebook
• KTVL News Channel 10 (CBS) – Medford
6.1.3 Emergency Services
An initial wildfire response will draw from the local community’s interagency emergency responders. If the event escalates, more resources will respond from adjacent communities and 342
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counties. As size or complexity increases, additional state and national level resources will respond.
City of Yreka Emergency Information
The City of Yreka website provides an Emergency Information link. This includes readily available resources that address: 1) Disaster Relief Guidance (e.g., Listos), 2) Public Works Emergencies, 3) Local Conditions (e.g., weather and roads), 4) Emergency Notifications, 5) Other Agencies and Resources and 6) Wildfire Information Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services (OES)
Mission statement: Siskiyou County Office of Emergency Services (OES) is committed to the protection of lives, health, and property of Siskiyou County residents when disaster strikes. OES strives to accomplish this goal by maintaining a state of readiness utilizing the four phases of emergency management: Preparedness, Response, Recovery, and Mitigation.
There are two positions, a Director and Deputy Director. In a wildfire emergency, they provide a coordination role assisting in emergency planning and organization among the multiple emergency response agencies and entities throughout the county. The OES Website contains an updated (2020) reference Siskiyou County Emergency Preparedness Guidebook which provides local information sources for emergency planning and preparation tasks.
American Red Cross of Gold Country Region
The Yreka Area resides in the Northeastern California Chapter of the Gold Country Region which covers 14 counties.
The Gold Country Region seeks to help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to natural and human-caused disasters through the immediate mobilization of people and resources and the provision of community, workplace, and school-based training. In addition to disaster relief, the Region delivers Community-Disaster Education, First Aid/CPR, and other types of life-saving health & safety training to thousands of people across our region to help people prevent, prepare, and respond to emergencies.
The Red Cross website provides information and tools to assist in emergency and disaster relief preparation for the Gold Country Region.
They also have information via social media (@ARCGoldCountry).
American Red Cross Office Contact Information
• Local/Siskiyou: 1000 S. Main St., Yreka CA. 96097; 530-842-4476 • Regional/Headquarters: 1565 Exposition Blvd., Sacramento CA. 95815; 916-993-7070 Animal Disaster Evacuation
Local agencies have limited resources, so pre-planning for safe evacuation of pets and livestock is essential. Below are links for specific guidance and planning. • Pet Emergency Checklist
• Livestock Disaster Preparedness Guidelines
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6.2 VALUES PROTECTION ACTIONS
A primary goal of any CWPP is to enable and facilitate the development of community action plans tailored to ensure protection of the community’s principal values (see Section 3.3 for the Yreka Area’s stated priorities for values protection). This section details specific considerations and actions for values protection.
6.2.1 Strengthen Life Safety
As stated earlier, the Yreka Area’s top Values Protection priority is life safety. When a wildland fire moves into a WUI, fire threat levels escalate, triggering an elevated emergency response which directly correlates to imminent danger posed to human lives in the vicinity.
Hazardous conditions can limit safe access by fire personnel and inhibit their ability to take suppression actions. California wildfires in 2017, 2018 and 2020 impinged on the WUI with disastrous effect, and illustrate profound survival warnings:
1) Property owners need to evacuate when directed to do so. 2) WUI structures and assets need resilience to withstand wildfire on their own.
Firefighting forces responding to an incident begin an assessment or “triage” as they approach the scene. This initial triage consists of quick, concise decisions based on critical safety factors and intended to manage or mitigate the level of risk for safe engagement in suppression actions. Elements essential to both citizen and firefighter life safety in WUI scene operations include adequate route clearance (hazard fuels and power lines) for access and egress; structure/improvement characteristics to decrease vulnerability to fire; hazardous material issues; adequate water sources; and adequate defensible space.
Both firefighters and citizens should understand the critical importance of safe separation concepts. Research clearly shows that the added flammability and heat indices of burning structures, onsite utilities, combustibles and other hazardous fuels in and around structures significantly increase fire intensities that threaten life safety of firefighters and property owners.
Each citizen’s local knowledge of what comprises a safe distance can also be critical during a rapid evacuation situation. The element of safe distances directly correlates to evacuation situations (see Section 6.4). Additional Safety Zone Research information is available here.
6.2.2 Reduce Home/Structure and Access Ignitability
Overview
There simply are not enough fire engines or fire personnel to protect every home, structure and access route in the Yreka Area during a wildfire emergency. Many WUI residences in the area are not safe for firefighters to engage in structure protection. Property owners are responsible Property owners hold primary responsibility to ensure that their properties can withstand wildfire, and are mandated by law to reduce structure vulnerability and provide defensible space in many portions of the Yreka Area.
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for safe clearance before a wildfire occurrence. Even the required 100-foot minimum defensible space around structures may not be sufficient for life safety, as clearly evident in the severe WUI wildfire events of northern California during 2017-2018 and 2020 fire seasons.
Wildfire structure resilience in the Yreka Area’s WUI is largely contingent upon susceptibility to ignition, even if firefighters are present. Most actions to reduce the ignition potential of a structure are associated directly with the structure itself, from its foundation to a distance of between 100 to 200 feet from the structure. In some cases, achieving resilience will involve treatment actions beyond 200 feet due to structure location on a slope, terrain steepness, tendency for high winds, vegetation due to density, and expected fire behavior.
Structure composition and defensible space are equally important factors in home ignitions.
There are multiple sources providing homeowner specifications and guidance in mitigation actions.
*Note: This section addresses structure and structure access treatments/protection. Roadway access treatments/protection is covered in detail in the Section 6.3.
Figure 30 was developed by creating “zones of concern” that extend 300 feet beyond structures where either red or orange shading in the Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity maps (see Figures 20 and 21) highlighted areas of concern. In figure 30, the red and orange polygons indicate the following:
• Red Polygons: These are zones at greatest risk for the longest period of time during the fire season. Fire modeling indicated that these areas were in “Not-Likely-to-Contain” and “Cannot Contain” areas in both early and late fire season scenarios. • Orange Polygons: Modeling identified structures in these areas that will become at higher risk later in the summer and into the fall before the first rains.
The following are recommended actions for these areas:
1. Homeowners should perform all of their home hardening and defensible space work as identified in later in this section and in Appendix B. This work should be carried out as soon as possible starting in early spring for areas with red polygons, followed by areas with orange polygons as the next highest priority.
2. Agencies, responsible parties and community members should identify priority areas for treatment and work outside their immediate defensible space.
Figure 30 also highlights primary arterial roads of concern. These road or road segments traverse zones where Burn Probability (see Figures 14 and 15) is mostly red indicating an area that modeling indicates wants to burn. These road segments also run through zones that are either identified as “Not-Likely-to-Contain” and “Cannot Contain” areas. Additional feeder or secondary roads identified as a concern may be found in Appendix D, Figure D.1. Actions to consider are found in Sections 6.3.1 and 6.3.2.
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Figure 30. Structures Potentially at Risk and Primary Arterial Roads of Concern 346
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Home Hardening
During a wildfire, homes can be threatened by 1) wind-blown embers, 2) radiant heat, and 3) direct flame contact. In wildfire events, 60-90% of home loss is due to embers. Embers can originate from an approaching wildfire or small parts of nearby burning vegetation and construction materials. A home composed of and maintained with updated fire-resistant components will significantly decrease the probability of embers igniting upon contact with the home.
There are many things a homeowner can do to harden
a home, and this web site is a primary source for
detailed information. Taking the necessary measures
can increase its likelihood of survival when wildfire
strikes. These can range from the simple to the more
complex. Every homeowner should assess and prepare their home for wildfire readiness. Ask a fire professional for help determining what you should do. It can be as simple as cleaning the leaves from your eaves or roof, replacing vents or plugging gaps in your roof, or replacing siding with a material rated for fire resistance. This recently released Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide (University of Nevada/USDA, 2020) is an excellent detailed “do it yourself” source of information, as are these Home Hardening Guidelines (UC Cooperative Extension: Fire in California).
Defensible Space
In the Yreka Area’s SRA lands, defensible space is mandated by statute (PRC 4291), and CAL FIRE regularly conducts homeowner inspections and facilitates enforcement. Similar inspection guidelines can also be utilized within the LRA/city
boundary.
Creating defensible space is essential to both
protecting life safety and reducing structure ignitibility.
Having defensible space provides a buffer that is
needed to slow or stop the spread of wildfire and
allows for safe suppression operations. An excellent
resource is available at this CAL FIRE web site. These
Defensible Space Guidelines (UC Cooperative Extension: Fire in California) are also very useful.
Defensible space actions should be applied to property infrastructure as well as homes/structures (e.g., water infrastructure such as water tanks, water lines, water storage pumps and pump housing structures).
Defensible Space Zones – A Refined Look
The severity and scope of catastrophic wildfire
events in California in recent years has prompted
fire managers and researchers to refine the
foundational 2-zone concept (specified in California
PRC 4291’s Defensible Space Law). This closer
Defensible Space: The buffer you
create between a building on your
property and the grass, trees, shrubs,
or any wildland area that surrounds
it.
Home Hardening: Making a home
less susceptible to embers or heat.
Defensible Space Zones: Recent fire
events and research underscore that a
third zone - the 0-5 foot zone - is proving
to be a critical area for fire treatments.
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look defines imperative protection measures in the critical zone directly adjacent to the home, typically defined as 0-5 feet. The added guidance supplements the defensible space law with critical and feasible homeowner protection actions and parallels concepts recommended by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). The following three figures are examples of this refined zone concept.
Figure 31. Example: From Oak Hill, CA Fire Safe Council Figure 32. Example: From Live Oak Wildfire Solutions
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Figure 33. Example: From National Fire Protection Association Firewise Home Ignition Zone (HIZ)
The HIZ tool has been utilized nationally (NFPA, 2015). Within this 200-foot area, there are three zones, depicted in Figure XX with descriptions following the graphic:
Immediate: 0-5 feet; Intermediate: 5-30 feet; Extended: 30-100+ feet Mitigating risk within the HIZ is important and requires a joint effort if a neighbor’s residence is closer than the full 200-foot area. Properly maintained HIZ activity affects the survivability of a neighbor’s home. The Defensible Space and Home Ignition Zone concepts when applied to other improvements in the community can enhance their survivability as well. Figure 31 below lists the mitigation actions that will improve protection of life safety and enhance the survivability of structures in the community.
Home Hardening and Defensible Space actions are among the more achievable and direct impacts that property and homeowners have under their control, and are critical for the safety and well-being of our communities. Figure 31 provides an example checklist, and more details area in Appendix A.
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Figure 31. Structure Mitigation Action Checklist List {see Appendix A for a printable version}
6.2.3 Sustain Natural and Cultural Resources
These assets should be managed with the same guidelines and tools as followed to protect other values. Pre-fire preventative measures at small and large property scales can reduce wildfire severity outcomes. Reducing wildfire impacts on natural and cultural resources is 350
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primarily accomplished through fuel treatment implementation and, when structures are present, with standard “home” hardening and defensible space tactics. Solutions include collaborative actions by agencies and community members, proactively addressing fuels reduction on individual properties and adjacent wildland areas.
Many historical cultural and/or natural resources have been identified, mapped and registered with specific protection mitigation requirements. During a wildfire event, standard operation practices include employing protection measures in suppression strategy. The standard use of Recommended Best Management Practices (see Section 6.3.3) minimizes impacts to cultural and natural resources.
6.3 FUELS MITIGATION ACTIONS
A science-based strategy provides clear direction and rational for planned manipulation of vegetation/fuels to modify potential fire behavior and its effects. The primary objectives of fuels mitigation are to reduce wildfire intensity, fire spread, and severity of fire effects (NPS, 2004). Foremost in strategic fuels planning is to enable safe ingress and access along primary community roadways. Structure hardening, defensible space work, and emergency preparedness activities well before a wildfire event, are also imperative tactics in this strategy.
Utilizing this strategy as a basis for treatment actions will greatly influence the safety and wellbeing of Yreka Area citizens and reduce potential community losses through increased efficiency and safety of firefighting resources.
Actions to address primary fuel treatments vary in design and specifications as determined by neighborhood conditions, fuel types, accessibility and adjacent properties.
6.3.1 Hazard Fuel Treatments
Fuel treatment guidelines give neighborhoods maximum flexibility to carry out current and future hazard reduction projects. Greater detail can be found in Part II. Planning Areas. These treatments should be planned and developed strategically utilizing fire science from assessment outcomes explained in Section 5 of this plan.
Roadside Treatments (Fuel Breaks and Road Access)
Roadside fuel reduction is considered a priority treatment along with home hardening and defensible space. These treatment actions moderate fire intensity adjacent to roads and driveways thereby providing safer operational space for firefighters, improving access/egress for firefighting equipment, and providing safer evacuation routes for residents and visitors during a wildfire. Roadside or driveway fuel treatments width/height may vary depending on fuel type and terrain.
Throughout the Yreka Area, primary travel routes (arterial roads) are regularly maintained by local, county or state agency Westside Yreka
Courtesy of Point2 Realty
Roadside fuel treatment: pretreatment, left-side; posttreatment, right-side. 351
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personnel and equipment. Roadway fuel reduction treatments (roadsides and medians) should be applied to all public and private road systems.
Generally, these treatments are designed to remove fuels in a zone pattern of specified width, around or along an area of concern or a prominent feature. Examples may include but are not limited to ridge-top features, water sources and recreation areas. This strategy reduces highly ignitable fuels adjacent to a feature, which act as a wick or ‘ladder’ for rapid wildfire spread.
Fuel Treatment Units
Specified areas designated for hazard fuel reduction are referred to as Fuel Treatment Units (FTUs). These treatments may consist of non-developed land and/or private property with wildland or maintained vegetation. FTU location and size varies with vegetation type and treatment objectives. These units require careful planning and coordination with surrounding landowners and agency administrators. In many cases, a treatment area could be accomplished using multiple types of treatment alternatives; rarely is there a ‘one-size-fits-all’ option.
Fuel reduction activities are strategically located to break up the vertical and/or horizontal continuity of the fuel bed. If an FTU includes an area of specific value or concern, the treatment adjacent to the specified value will have a more intensive focused treatment prescription.
The fuel treatment information presented in Table 10 and Table 11 provide guidance to individual property owners and collaborative partners for implementation.
Fuel Treatment Maintenance
Recurring maintenance is a necessary step in any project ensuring continued viability of the initial wildfire hazard mitigation feature. Site specific annual vegetation growth and regrowth will determine the frequency of fuel treatment maintenance required to remain effective in reducing potential wildfire severity characteristics.
There does not currently exist a database that records all of the work that has been done in the Yreka Area. Funding is being pursued to compile all of the work that agencies, including non-profits, have accomplished.
Vacant Parcels
Current Siskiyou County wildfire defensible space regulation codes only apply to properties with a habitable structure, utilizing the State’s PRC 4291 policy. The City of Yreka Code 9.47.020 Public nuisances designated: “Any combustible refuse or waste or any material growing or placed upon a street, sidewalk or private property within the city which, by reason of its size, manner of growth, placement, or location, constitutes a fire hazard to a building, improvement, crop or other property or, when dry, will in reasonable probability constitute a fire hazard”.
The County is considering a regulation to address vacant parcels and defensible space. For new projects, check with a CAL FIRE or a local fire department representative for updates.
6.3.2 Prioritization of Fuel Treatments
A fuel mitigation strategy also provides the foundation for a treatment prioritization process. 352
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Prioritizing community fuel reduction projects will guide citizens in decisions for both planning and implementation stages.
Prioritization should follow these basic premises:
1. Close proximity to dwellings or infrastructure. The fire modeling results (in Section Chapter 5) are factored into the prioritization process. ‘Very-High’ category hazard/threat areas and close proximity to residences receive a higher priority.
Strategically located fuel treatments in extended WUI zones are also of high priority as these can reduce a wildfire advancing into neighborhoods.
2. Roadside fuel reduction treatments for all areas. Safe access is a necessity for life safety protection during community evacuation. It is imperative to plan and prioritize for longterm viability of existing treatments along key roads and high public use areas across the Yreka Area.
3. Close proximity to dwellings or infrastructure. The fire modeling results (in Section Chapter 5) are factored into the prioritization process. ‘Very-High’ category hazard/threat areas and close proximity to residences receive a higher priority.
Strategically located fuel treatments in extended WUI zones are also of high priority as these can reduce a wildfire advancing into neighborhoods.
4. Fuel Treatments Units in WUI areas as funding and resources become available. For each PA, identified ‘High Priority’ Fuel Treatment Units (FTUs) are of greatest concern by Initial Attack (IA) firefighting units. Utilizing the Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity mapping analysis in Section 5.4., areas displaying a higher quantity of “not likely to contain” and “cannot contain” acreage are assigned a higher priority for treatment. Greater detail for specific locations can be found in Part II: PAs.
Figure 32 shows the Yreka Area’s high priority fuel treatment units for consideration in strategic planning. These areas were identified during the analysis process as being areas of concern throughout the entire fire season.
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Figure 32. First Order Actionable Items – Area Treatments and Fuel Break Opportunities 354
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6.3.3 Fuel Treatment Levels and Prescriptive Guidelines Treatment prescriptive guidelines vary by intensity of fuel reduction. The intensity level is determined by the vegetation type, topography, and may be limited by sensitive habitats, historical and cultural sites, soil, watercourses, proximity to structures and roads. Treatment intensity is designated by the amount of vegetation reduction required to meet site-specific hazard reduction goals (e.g., high intensity treatments generally remove a greater volume of fuel than does a low intensity treatment). The goal is to modify potential fire behavior, thereby reduce the wildfire impacts on community assets.
Fuel treatment planning must follow local and state regulations with a common objective of reducing potential fire intensity, rate of spread, and severity of fire effects. It is important to understand that the hazard mitigation work can be costly and prone to limitations such as budget, environmental, property owner authorization, and workforce constraints.
The following tables summarize treatment prescription specifications for Roadside and Driveway Fuel Treatments (Table 10) and Fuel Treatment Units (Table 11). These are minimum guidelines. The more area treated creates more resilience in a wildfire environment. 355
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Table 10. Roadside and Driveway Fuel Treatment Prescriptive Guidelines* Location → Primary Zone (A)
(up to 50’)
(distance varies with terrain and accessibility)
Secondary Zone (B)
(50’ – 100’)
(distance varies with terrain and accessibility)
Fuel Type
Grass/ Forbs Reduce fuel depth to 4 inches. Treatment may not be needed.
Surface dead/down
material
(primarily correlated with
tree and chaparral
overstory)
Remove all large (>3-inches diameter) dead/down material. Remove up to 75 percent of >3” diameter dead/down material.
Chaparral/Shrub Remove all chaparral vegetation within this zone. Remove up to 75 percent of chaparral vegetation. An open stand characteristic up to 40 feet spacing. Allow for intermittent small pockets or clumps of chaparral/shrubs. Small, less dense pockets/clumps of chaparral remaining should be healthy younggrowth stage maintaining less volatile species composition and limbed to 1/3 height of chaparral/shrub crown.
Chipped or masticated material may be “blown” back onto the slope where feasible to enhance soil coverage.
Trees Overstory
(without chaparral/shrub
understory)
Limb all trees to 6-feet or ½ of the live crown in this zone, whichever is less. Trim branches protruding over the
roadway or driveway to a minimum height of 13-feet 6
inches. Thin trees leaving crown spacing up to 20-feet.
Same treatment as Zone A; may decrease crown spacing to 10 feet in tree overstory.
Trees Overstory
(with chaparral/shrub
understory)
Thinning specifications, same as Trees Overstory (without understory), but remove all understory chaparral/shrubs below trees in this zone.
Same treatment as Zone A leaving occasional small, less dense chaparral/ shrub clumps and pockets in openings without canopy is acceptable.
*Treatment is subject to local standards that may be in effect for individual communities. 357
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Table 11. Fuel Treatment Unit Prescriptive Guidelines*
Location → Primary Defense Zone (A)
(0 – 30’)
Fuel Reduction Zone (B)
(30’ – 100’)
Fuel Reduction Zone (C)
(100’ – 200’)
Fuel Type Based on PRC-4291 and HIZ Recommendations Based on Firefighter Safety Grass/ Forbs Reduce fuel depth to 4 inches. Same treatment as (A); longer grass in isolated open areas is acceptable.
Treatment may not be needed.
Surface Dead/Down
Material
(primarily correlated with
tree and chaparral
overstory)
Reduce the amount of dead/down
materials.
Reduce dead/down flammable material to
< 3” depth; and < 5 tons/acre in noncontiguous isolated logs acceptable.
Reduce heavier pockets of dead/down
flammable material to < 5” depth; < 5-7
tons/acre in isolated logs acceptable.
Chaparral/Shrub Remove all chaparral. Individual ornamental shrubs should be spaced generally 2x shrub
height.
Remove up to 75 percent of chaparral
vegetation. Allow for intermittent small
pockets or clumps of chaparral/shrubs.
Pockets and clumps of chaparral remaining
should be healthy young- growth stage
and limbed to 1/3 height of
chaparral/shrub crown.
Less intensive brush removal with up to 30
foot for spacing of pockets and clumps of
chaparral and shrubs. The remaining
pockets and clumps of chaparral should be
healthy and at the young-growth stage;
and limbed to 1/3 height of
chaparral/shrub crown.
Trees Overstory
(without chaparral/shrub
understory)
Thin trees leaving at 10-foot to 20-foot
crown spacing (based on slope, tree size
and type); limb/prune lower branches 6-feet
above grade level, or lower 1/3 of tree
height on smaller trees.
Thin trees leaving approximately 10-foot
crown spacing (based on slope, tree size
and type); limb/prune lower branches 6-
feet up, or lower 1/3 of tree height on
smaller trees and removing all broken
limbs and dead material.
Thin trees leaving approximately 10-foot
crown spacing (based on slope, tree size
and type); Limb and prune lower branches
of larger trees up to 6-feet and removing
all broken limbs and dead material.
Trees Overstory
(with chaparral/shrub
understory)
Thinning specifications are the same as
Trees Overstory without Chaparral/shrub
understory in Zone A.
Understory: remove chaparral; limb/prune
ornamental shrubs to 1/3 of shrub height.
Thinning specifications are the same as
Trees Overstory without Chaparral/shrub
understory in Zone B.
Understory: occasional small, less dense
chaparral/shrub and small tree clumps and
pockets in openings without canopy and
small trees in openings (non-canopy) are
acceptable.
Thinning specifications are the same as
Trees Overstory without chaparral/shrub
understory in Zone C.
Understory specifications are the same as
Chaparral/shrub in Zone C except the
pockets and clumps are limited to tree
openings (non-canopy).
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Implementation Restrictions for Fuel Treatment levels
There are several potential limitations and/or restrictions on Roadside and Fuel Treatment Units, including:
• A California Environmental Policy Act (CEQA) analysis may be required prior to implementation of site-specific projects. If the project is funded by a federal agency, then National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) procedures may also be required. • Masticated material along roads, recreation trails, and recreation sites should not exceed 6-inches in depth.
• Burn piles will be up to 4’ x 4’ x 4’ to assure the burn patch will recover. • Visually sensitive area considerations: boundaries between treatment levels can maintain free-form shapes and feathered edges that replicate natural patterns and profiles in surrounding landscape; avoid straight lines by scalloping and feathering along edges of vegetation. The feathering effect includes undulating edges horizontally and diverse heights of the brush retained on site.
• Precautions should be taken to prevent scarring of trees by equipment. • Signs should be posted warning the public of potential hazards during fuel treatment activities.
Sensitive plant and animal species
• Locations where sensitive plant species are found should be flagged and avoided or, if the density of species makes avoiding unfeasible, the area must be excluded from the treatment. Flagging and avoiding these plants will prevent damage from foot and vehicle traffic.
• In some locations a limited operating period for vegetation treatments must be observed in suitable nesting habitat. This timing is species specific, and an agency specialist will need to be consulted during planning phases.
Noxious Weeds
• To limit the spread and establishment of invasive plant species (e.g., noxious weeds) into project areas, all off-road heavy equipment used during project implementation should be washed free of noxious weeds and seeds or invasive exotic weeds and seeds before entering project areas. If any equipment works in an area where weeds occur, it is important to ensure that it be washed (especially the undercarriage), to remove weed propagules prior to entering other work locations that are free of weeds and prior to leaving the project area.
• All equipment staging areas and burn pile areas will be located away from known areas Fuel treatment implementation restrictions must be considered on a site specific/project level basis; beginning in the planning phases of project development. 359
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with noxious weed occurrences.
Cultural Resources
• Any known cultural resources within the proposed project area will be protected. If any sensitive cultural resources are found, a qualified Archaeologist will be notified.
Soil and Watershed
• Every effort should be made to minimize damage to surface soil structure and to reduce potential for erosion and sediment transport to drainages due to fuel management activities.
• Mechanical equipment use on slopes greater than 35 percent is not advised with following exception: Mastication can occur on slopes greater than 35 percent where the equipment is operating on slopes less than 30 percent and accessing steeper slopes with a boom arm.
• Chipped or masticated material may be “blown” back onto the slope where feasible to enhance soil coverage.
Recommended Best Management Practices
• All riparian areas and wetlands should be marked on project area maps. • Use of heavy equipment is not permitted in sensitive areas. Equipment with low ground pressure coefficients is less likely to cause soil disturbance. • Known landslide and unstable areas should be avoided for safety reasons and because vegetation treatment activities may result in increased potential for mass wasting and sediment delivery to stream courses.
• Heavy equipment should not work on slopes greater than 35 percent. Movement of any heavy equipment across slopes should be minimized. Heavy equipment will not be used in riparian areas.
• To protect streams and stream courses, the following actions are advised:
o Streamside Management Zone (SMZ) courses must be identified and flagged prior to any type of project implementation that will involve equipment use. o Location and method of stream course crossing should be identified prior to fuel reduction activities to protect the stream course. Permit may be needed depending on potential impact to water quality.
o Contractor shall repair all damage to a stream course, including banks and channels, to the extent feasible.
o Project vegetation debris shall be removed from the stream course as needed to maintain or enhance hydrology or fisheries.
o Water bars and other erosion control structures will be located so as to prevent water and sediment from being channeled into stream courses and to dissipate 360
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concentrated flows.
o No servicing or refueling of equipment will occur on site in identified sensitive areas.
Operators must contain and remove residues, waste oil, engine coolants, and other harmful materials from all worksites. Spill containment will be established prior to any on-site servicing or refueling.
6.3.4 Fuel Treatments
Fuel treatment types are generally described by the method of vegetation modification – mechanical, manual, prescribed fire, biological (grazing), and herbicide treatments. The following are brief descriptions of common fuel treatment implementation methods per fuel treatment type.
Mechanical: This treatment is generally associated with larger fuel treatment areas where the cost of contracting industrial machinery can be offset by rapidly treating larger portions of the landscape. Mechanical treatments can also be effective for linear treatments such as roadsides.
Common methods include:
• Mowing of grasses, weeds and low shrubs lowers the vertical component of light flashy fuels, leaves debris in place, and thereby reduces exposure to wind allowing more moisture absorption from the soil. Mowing in a larger area is typically accomplished using:
o a commercial size mower where the operator rides atop the equipment o a mower is dragged behind a vehicle or piece of equipment o the familiar push-type gasoline-powered mower
• Mastication is the mechanical grinding, crushing,
shredding, chipping, and chopping of fuel and leaving
debris in place. This treatment is used primarily in stands of chaparral shrub, mixed shrub, and trees or slash and
vegetation. Mastication rearranges and produces a less
flammable configuration for hazardous fuels by rearranging vertically oriented fuels into horizontally oriented fuels through cutting and chipping of standing vegetation and allowing moisture absorption from the soil. Several types of machinery have the capacity to do this mastication work.
Examples include:
o feller-bunchers or skidders modified with a masticating head o tractors pulling a mower/masticating head
o excavators with a masticating head on their boom dozers with masticator-type capability
o innovative custom machines with masticating capabilities, including smaller “skid steer” type equipment with variable type attachment heads • Commercial and Pre-Commercial Thinning of trees and shrubs is used as a treatment to modify the fuel structure in stands of trees and shrubs/brush that consist of a dense understory. Thinning a stand reduces ladder fuel and/or crown fuel South Mount Shasta Area
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continuity. A thinning treatment can provide economic returns, possibly producing some commercial products that should involve a Registered Professional Forester to develop thinning prescription guidelines. In most cases, thinning is only effective as a fuel management technique when the fine surface fuels are also reduced (Agee, J., Skinner, C., 2005).
A thinning prescription generally uses spatial distance between crowns and diameter limit for trees removed. An adequate thinning treatment should include specific guidance for treating the residue slash material, discussed subsequently. Equipment involved in various stages of thinning include:
o feller-buncher
o rubber tired or tracked skidder
o cable yarder
o chainsaws
o landing equipment such as forwarder, cutter, peeler, and chipper
• Slash treatment may include removal, chipping, mastication, or piling and burning. It is an important final step in a thin treatment but can also be a primary fuel reduction treatment in a timbered area that has not been thinned. Mechanical slash treatment equipment is similar to that used in a mastication option and may include:
o feller-bunchers or skidders modified with a masticating head o small dozer or masticating type machine
o excavators with a masticating head on their boom
o innovative custom machines with masticating capabilities o chipping equipment to chip debris/material and spread onsite or hauled offsite Manual: This process utilizes human labor to manually cut and remove or rearrange fuel.
Thinning, pruning and clearing of fuel are among the most common methods. Fuels treated manually are either chipped into a less flammable state (similar to mastication), removed from the site by a vehicle, or piled for burning at a later date when weather conditions preclude fire from spreading across the landscape. Manual fuel treatments are more precise than mechanical treatments and can address hazardous fuel conditions without having a significant impact on visual, cultural, or biological resources.
• Hand Thinning or removal of the smaller (typically non-merchantable sized) trees and shrubs is used as a treatment to modify the understory fuel structure in timbered stands with dense understory tree and shrub growth.
o Hand saws or gas-powered chain saws
o Small axe type tool
o Shears or other cutting tools for very small diameter trees/shrubs • Limbing or Pruning of larger trees
o Pole saw (gas or hand powered)
o Hand saws or gas-powered chain saws
WUI Property Thinning
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o Shears or other cutting tools
o Long-handle lopper tools
o Pruning shears
• Cutting, Hoeing or Raking of surface shrubs, slash and debris o Heavy duty hoe (e.g., McCleod type tool)
o Rock rake or heavy duty rake
• Handpiling
o Surface slash, limb wood and debris are piled by personnel • Weed-whacking of grasses and low-growing shrubs
o Cordless, electric or gas-powered weed whacker
o Rake with scraping/cutting edge (e.g., McCloud type tool) Prescribed Fire: Under appropriate weather conditions prescribed fire can rapidly eliminate fuel. Under carefully designated environmental prescriptions, fire can be applied as a treatment with or without manual or mechanical prefire fuel mitigation activities. However, within WUI zones, fire treatment is usually limited to use in conjunction with a piling and burning of slash operation. Pile burning is a cost-effective way to address the elimination of hazardous fuel. The slash/debris piling procedures follow specific guidance including pile size and location on a given site. The pile burning step takes place in cool moist winter conditions and must adhere to regulations per CAL FIRE and air regulators due to possible negative impacts to air quality.
Larger area burning requires additional level in permitting. Implementation of burning will have an elevated level of complexity and oversight by trained personnel. An approved burn plan and smoke management plan must be on file with the administering agency. Factors such as slope steepness, accessibility, proximity to other homes/property, smoke impacts, and ability to meet area burn prescriptions are a few associated complications. Complexity issues in prescribed burning operations are associated with risk, cost and feasibility to conduct operations in a safe and timely manner while achieving effective hazard reduction outcomes.
Biological: This treatment involves the use of domestic livestock grazing or browsing to reduce surface fuel loads and can be very effective. Grazing can reduce costs correlated with hand and mechanical treatments. Treatment location is restricted due to access, fencing requirements, transportation costs and transport of water from sources to the site.
Goats are the typical animal of choice for grazing within communities. Containment of these animals within a fuel treatment unit assures that they eat only the target vegetation. There are many other issues and considerations to become familiar with before utilizing this method of treatment.
Herbicide: This treatment type involves a broad or hand-applied chemical to kill live vegetation. A source for current information on this method is the Siskiyou County Agriculture Department Resource Protection website.
Disposal of greenwaste/fuels: This can be a difficult task in neighborhoods for many citizens. It should be a topic of discussion within each local community and include conversation Pile Burning
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with local fire department and agency personnel. In some cases, current efforts are underway for alternative offsite drop areas at scheduled intervals.
6.3.5 Existing Fuel Reduction Activities
The Yreka Area has completed numerous projects through a combination of roadside and treatment activities including enhanced structure protection projects (i.e., water storage structures, signage, and defensible space). These efforts need to be expanded to improve safety for fire apparatus access/egress and life safety of citizens and firefighters along all primary evacuation routes and key high use areas within all neighborhoods.
6.4 WILDFIRE EVACUATION ACTIONS
Evacuations save lives and allow responding personnel to focus on the emergency at hand.
Wildland fire emergencies in recent years across northern California have reinforced the importance of the message stated foremost in CAL FIRE’s Evacuation Tips:
“Please evacuate promptly when requested!”
It is the responsibility of each and every Yreka Area citizen to become educated and adopt measures to build resiliency in their hometowns and neighborhoods. Knowledge, mitigation actions and pre-planning are key components to survival.
The "Ready, Set, Go” suite of preparedness tools is a user friendly and informative set of tools to help citizens learn and prepare themselves, their families and neighborhoods for living in a wildfire environment.
Everyone should have a plan in place (the “Set” step of preparedness).
In an official evacuation request, the procedural terms ‘Evacuation Warning’ or ‘Evacuation Order’ are used to describe the alert level, defined as follows (Siskiyou County OES, 2018):
• Evacuation Order: Movement of community members out of a defined area due to an immediate threat to life and property from an emergency incident. An Evacuation Order should be used when there is potential or actual threat to civilian life within 1 to 2 hours or when the IC deems it necessary to protect civilians.
• Evacuation Warning: Alerting of community members in a defined area of a potential threat to life and property from an emergency incident. An Evacuation Warning may be issued when the potential or actual threat to civilian life is more than 2 hours away.
All evacuation instructions provided by officials should be followed immediately for your safety and for the safety of first responders (CAL FIRE Evacuation Tips, 2019).
A list of Actionable Items can be found in Appendix A.
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The lead time required to conduct mass evacuations during a wildfire event can be very short and immediate. During extreme conditions (i.e., in Butte County’s 2018 Camp Fire), evacuation routes were quickly overwhelmed forcing residents to abandon vehicles. Applied communitywide proactive tactics can reduce this mayhem. Success in community and/or multineighborhood evacuation necessitates pre-planning and practice to accommodate a safe exit strategy.
6.4.1 General Evacuation Process
Siskiyou County’s Sheriff Department is the responsible party to authorize implementation of an evacuation order. During a wildfire emergency, the
Sheriff Department’s decision to evacuate an area will
be conducted in coordination with appropriate local,
state and federal fire protection agencies and an
Incident Commander.
In some cases, individual communities have identified
“Temporary Refuge Areas” or designated areas to
move into and temporarily stage during wildfire
evacuations. Citizens should check with their local fire department/FSC representatives to learn their routes
and any designated staging areas.
Siskiyou County also has several locations that may be designated “evacuation shelter sites”, available to families, elderly, invalid adults, and animals during an emergency. These include public facilities such as fairgrounds, schools, and parks (County of Siskiyou, California, Emergency Operations Plan, 2018).
Fire Protection Agencies
Local, state and federal agencies participate in yearly drills and training and work in conjunction with the Office of Emergency Services (OES) for planning possible evacuation needs. These agencies follow responsibility protocol provided in interagency mutual agreements and regularly revisit the Wildland Fire Emergency Operations Plan, which defines initial attack, operational needs, and training. OES’s Countywide Hazard Mitigation Plan, includes evacuation planning, which encompasses roles and regulations of all the agencies that maintain responsibility in an emergency situation.
California law authorizes officers to restrict access to any area where a menace to public health or safety exists due to a calamity such as flood, storm, fire, earthquake, explosion, accident or other disaster. Refusal to comply is a misdemeanor. (Penal Code 409.5)
There is not a ‘ONE-SIZE-FITSALL’ process for wildfire evacuation procedures. Survival depends on
prompt and mindful actions. Success
depends on the ability to retain
composure and grasp ‘Situational
Awareness’ before taking action.
LEARNING and PLANNING
AHEAD are key factors.
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During Evacuation
• Emergency responder agencies will work with law enforcement on decisions regarding the need to be evacuated and the timing. Emergency responders will do their best to notify occupants.
• Law enforcement agencies are responsible for carrying out evacuations and enforcing security in evacuated areas.
• Representatives of local communities will work closely with emergency service agencies to ensure that local needs are communicated
• The Red Cross and/or Siskiyou County Human Services will establish shelters where people can go during the evacuation.
• Law enforcement will control traffic flow and maintain access for emergency equipment.
They may utilize workers from CalTrans, local public works departments, the Sheriff’s Posse, fire departments or mutual aid Law Enforcement Officers from other jurisdictions.
Emergency Response Communication
(See Section 6.1.2 Area Notification Systems for details and website information) Emergency responses are made based on a closest resource basis and each agency plans for and adjusts equipment based on time of year and anticipated needs. Additionally, some neighborhoods have established pre-planned emergency communication networks.
When a wildfire emergency requires evacuation, the Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Department and Fire Department will employ all communication methods to notify and alert individuals.
However, as experienced in the rapid wildfire events of 2017 and 2018 throughout California, communication systems can become overwhelmed. Therefore, all citizens must keep up their awareness of the dynamic situation. Proactive evacuation response remains the best option, especially when transportation responsibility includes dependent people and/or animals.
Emergency communication includes but is not limited to:
• Code RED
• Emergency Alert System (EAS) supported by the National Weather Service broadcast ❑ NOAA Weather Radio 162.5
❑ Local Radio Stations
• Radio and television announcements
• Exterior electro/mechanical sirens (in some communities) • Door-to-door notifications
• Social media, such as Twitter and Facebook
Countywide Emergency and Law Enforcement Telephone Contacts include:
• Call 911 for emergency.
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• Alternative emergency number (Sheriff’s dispatch) for fire, medical, or law enforcement:
530-841-2900 or 1-800-404-2911
• Sheriff’s Office non-emergency: 530-842-8301
For Emergency Communication details see Section 6.1
6.4.2 Evacuation Routes
The goal of an evacuation route is safe exit to a safer location.
When not faced with pending emergency, every resident should identify and become familiar with preferred evacuation routes as well as learn potential alternative routes if fire behavior and/or road conditions require a change. Predetermine a safe place to stay during the emergency. Identify the main roads out of the area and review viable options to gain safe access to them. While reviewing potential routes, it is important to consider and visualize others exiting the area in addition to incoming emergency vehicles, all on the same roads.
See PART II. Planning Areas for specific evacuation route guidance
6.4.3 Potential Issues with Evacuation
• Residents, business-owners and tourists/visitors may not have established preparedness plans.
• Individuals may choose to not evacuate, but instead stay and defend their properties or to shelter in place until the fire danger passes. These decisions can put their life safety, as well as that of emergency personnel, at risk.
• Individuals may be slow to leave their homes due to last-minute defensive preparations or to packing personal items, thereby jeopardizing life safety by fleeing fires in a panic.
Vulnerable populations and/or individuals with limited mobility may be less likely to be aware of or be able to respond to evacuation orders (see Section 2.2.1 for details).
6.4.4 Public Health Emergency Preparedness | Vulnerable/Fragile Population Siskiyou County’s Department of Health and Human Services provides a website link to Public Health Emergency Response Preparedness. This site provides a list of resources to assist in planning and preparing for potential emergency situations. Included is an important preplanning document: ‘Registration Request for Access and Function Needs Individuals’.
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This is an important tool that can provide for assistance to a medically fragile or incapacitated individual during an emergency. In a rapid wildfire event situation, this registration process enables advance action by emergency response personnel to assist in evacuation of these people.
6.4.5 Compromised Evacuation Situations
The ability to live resiliently in a fire prone environment calls for employing proactive mitigation actions, learning survival skills, and planning for worst case wildfire scenarios. • Foremost in all evacuation situations: Listen to emergency alert instructions including those from the CodeRED emergency alert system and from law enforcement. It is highly recommended to have a battery-operated AM/FM radio included in your evacuation kit. • Rethink viable evacuation route (aka, ‘escape route’): it is imperative that the route out is safe for travel and leads to a known safer location.
• Stay informed about daily road construction or roadblocks: road projects often occur in summer months, and roadblocks or limited travel on primary travel/evacuation routes may be problematic.
• Learn and practice alternate evacuation routes: primary routes may not be viable if they are blocked due to congestion or unsafe due to wildfire spread. 1) Temporary Refuge Areas and Survivability Factors
Location of potentially survivable locations could become a significant factor if an evacuation route is compromised. Residents should be educated that utilizing this option should ONLY BE IN A LAST RESORT DECISION to survive, and familiarity with potential sites and routes should be part of their pre-planning actions. Nearby temporary refuge locations may include:
• Water bodies and water courses of a size and depth that will provide ample protection and where trees and debris cannot fall on top of you.
• Large open green grass fields such as ball fields and large open parks. • Large dirt fields such as well grazed or manicured (low height and density vegetated) agriculture ground.
• Large open parking lots away from trees, structures and other cars ➢ GENERAL TIPS TO SURVIVE IN TEMPORARY REFUGE AREA:
❑ Notify 911 and a friend; inform them of your location ❑ Stay calm; keep young children or dependents close to you ❑ If out of vehicle, stay low to the ground; if in dirt, dig an indentation (i.e., foxhole style) ❑ Protect airways with dry cotton material
❑ Stay watchful of flying debris
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2) Temporary Refuge / Shelter in Place
*** Utilizing this option should be A LAST RESORT DECISION to survive*** IF YOUR ARE FORCED TO SHELTER IN PLACE – FOLLOWING ARE GENERAL SITUATIONAL GUIDELINES:
While in your vehicle –
❑ Stay calm
❑ Park your vehicle in an area clear of vegetation
❑ Close all vehicle windows and vents
❑ Cover yourself with wool blanket or jacket
❑ Lie on vehicle floor
❑ Use your cell phone to advise officials – 911
While on foot –
❑ Stay calm
❑ Go to an area clear of vegetation, a ditch or depression if possible (or a body of water in open area)
❑ Lie face down, cover up
❑ Use your cell phone to advise officials – 911
While in your home –
❑ Stay calm, keep your family together
❑ Call 911 and inform authorities of your location
❑ Fill sinks and tubs with cold water
❑ Keep doors and windows closed, but UNLOCKED
❑ Stay inside your house
❑ Stay away from outside walls and windows
❑ Note – it will get hot in the house, but it is much hotter, and more dangerous outside After the fire passes, and if it is safe, check the following areas for fire – ❑ The roof and house exterior
❑ Under decks and inside your attic
❑ Your yard for burning trees, woodpiles, etc.
❑ Extinguish embers and sparks
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SECTION 7. FISCAL RESOURCES
A primary benefit of a Community Wildfire Protection Plan is to help qualify for grants and other potential financial resources. Limited fiscal resources budgetary constraints may make it difficult to address every need and implement all projects identified in a local CWPP. Timeframes associated with grants and other funding sources do not necessarily align with those of high priority projects. The YAFSC and other grant requestors will have a helpful new tool in their toolbox to help in project prioritization; a list of identified Actionable Items. This GYA tool supports the CWPP goals and can fulfill grant objectives in a timely manner as opportunities arise.
7.1 POTENTIAL GRANT FUNDING SOURCES
There are numerous opportunities for federal, state, and local grants. Several specific grant sources are summarized below.
Fire Service Grants and Funding (AFG)
Provides direct assistance on a competitive basis to fire departments of a State or tribal nation for protecting the health and safety of the public and firefighting personnel against fire and firerelated hazards.
Fire Service Grants and Funding (AFGP)
Through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFGP), career and volunteer fire departments and other eligible organizations can receive funding through three different grants to enhance a fire department’s organization’s ability to protect the health, safety of the public and protect the health of first responders, and increase or maintain the number of trained, "front-line" firefighters available in communities.
Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) was created to provide funding directly to fire departments and volunteer firefighter interest organizations to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, "front line" firefighters available in their communities. The goal of SAFER is to enhance the local fire departments' abilities to comply with staffing, response and operational standards established by the NFPA (NFPA 1710 and/or NFPA 1720).
Fire Prevention and Safety Grants (FP&S)
The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) and support projects that enhance the safety of the public and firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal of this grant program is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. In 2005, Congress reauthorized funding for FP&S and expanded the eligible uses of funds to include Firefighter Safety Research and Development.
Pre-Disaster Mitigation Grant Program (PDM)
The PDM Program, authorized by Section 203 of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, is designed to assist States, territories, federally recognized tribes, and local communities in implementing a sustained pre-disaster natural hazard mitigation 371
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program. The goal is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures from future hazard events, while also reducing reliance on Federal funding in future disasters. This program awards planning and project grants and provides opportunities for raising public awareness about reducing future losses before disaster strikes.
PDM grants are funded annually by Congressional appropriations and are awarded on a nationally competitive basis.
Resource Advisory Committee
A Secure Rural Schools Resource Act Advisory Committee (RAC) provides recommendations to the Forest Service on the development and implementation of special projects on federal lands as most recently reauthorized under the Secure Rural Schools Act and Community SelfDetermination Act in Public Law 115-141. Each RAC consists of 15 people representing varied interests and areas of expertise, who work collaboratively to improve working relationships among community members and national forest personnel.
Since its’ creation, the RAC has helped fund numerous projects in Siskiyou County. Projects recommended by the RAC include trails reconstruction and maintenance projects, fish passage and waterway restoration, community wildfire fuels reduction efforts, conservation education programs, and noxious weed reduction efforts. All RAC projects must show a clear benefit to public lands. Many of the projects are located on National Forest lands in Siskiyou County, but a majority occurs on private lands.
Secure Rural Schools RACs were first established under the “Secure Rural School and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-393).
California Climate Investments
Forest Health Grants
• Project activities may include
o Reforestation
o Fuel Reduction and Prescribed Fire
o Pest Management
o Biomass Utilization
o Others
Information available at the CAL FIRE website.
Fire Prevention Grants
• Project activities may include:
o Hazardous Fuel Reduction
o Vegetation clearance in critical locations to reduce wildfire intensity and rate of spread.
o Creation or maintenance of fuel breaks in strategic locations, as identified in CAL FIRE Unit Fire Plans, a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, or similar strategic planning document.
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o Creation of community-level fire prevention programs, such as community chipping days, roadside chipping, and green waste bin programs. o Selective tree removal (thinning) to improve forest health to withstand wildfire. o Modification of vegetation adjacent to roads to provide for safer ingress and egress of evacuating residents and responding emergency personnel. o Reduction of fuel loading around critical firefighting infrastructure, including, but no limited to, fire hydrants, water drafting locations, and staging areas. o Purchase of fuel modification equipment not to exceed $100,000. o Removal of dead and dying trees that pose a threat to public health and safety, and meet the following characteristics:
▪ Dead and dying trees must be greater than 10 inches in diameter and 20 feet in height
▪ Dead and dying trees must be reasonably accessible by equipment/machinery
▪ Dead and dying trees within 300 feet of permanent structures that pose a structural threat to the residence (this does not include movable or temporary sheds, outbuildings, or carports)
▪ Dead and dying trees within 300 feet of serviceable roadways that pose a structural threat to roadways or public or private infrastructure ▪ Dead or dying trees must be removed from existing fuel breaks or from Tier 2 high hazard zones
o Fire Prevention Education:
o Workshops, meetings, materials creation, and other educational activities with the purpose of increasing knowledge and awareness of information that could be used to reduce the total number of wildland fire and acres burned. o Fire Prevention Planning:
o Wildfire risk or related mapping.
o Creation of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP). o Development of evacuation plans.
o Creation or updates to wildfire mitigation plans.
Information available at the CAL FIRE website.
California Fire Safe Council - Grant Clearinghouse Program State Fire Assistance Grants (SFA)
These grants were established in the Cooperative Forestry Assistance Act of 1978 and are given to state forest fire protection organizations to improve fire protection on non-federal lands.
They are provided on a 50-50 cost share basis and focus on several areas – 1) hazardous fuels treatments, 2) training for local firefighters, 3) creating fire-adapted communities, 4) fund two competitive processes to address high priority projects and landscapes in State Forest Action Plans, and 5) the purchase, maintenance, and rehabilitation of firefighting equipment for state forestry agencies.
SFA/WUI Grants
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California Office of Emergency Services (OES) Grants
Check the California OES grants website periodically for updates to available grant information.
Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG)
This program was authorized by the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000. It provides for mitigation, management, and control of fires that threaten destruction that would constitute a major disaster. The purpose is to provide supplemental federal assistance to states and local governments to fight fires burning on public (non-federal) or privately owned forest or grassland.
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SECTION 8. MONITORING
The implementation of an agreed-upon monitoring schedule for this CWPP is an important task in future years.
8.1 CWPP MONITORING
A CWPP’s strength depends on collaboration, its relevance, and the ability to engage citizens in wildfire preparation and protection actions going forward. The monitoring step in the CWPP implementation process is an essential collaborative tool that effectively combines experience and resources for continued success moving into the future. A monitoring schedule will ensure that the plan meets necessary currency in policy, strategy and resources.
Citizens, agencies and all participants who contributed in the CWPP development process should continue the progression of collaborative planning and adapt strategies based on lessons learned over time. All entities involved will benefit from reviewing successes and challenges that evolve with perpetual change while living in a wildland fire environment. In the course of implementing actions, participants in all roles learn what does and does not work. These experiences are often critical steps in identifying potential strategic or tactical changes needed in a CWPP revision.
The YAFSC will provide a leadership role, accepting responsibility to initiate a periodic collaborative review of this CWPP at (i.e.) 5-year intervals to ensure its relevance. Significant changes in policy, budget, and/or environmental conditions may warrant a more frequent review.
8.2 FUEL TREATMENT MONITORING
Community level project monitoring and evaluation of fuel treatments establishes baseline data to draw on, for decisions about maintenance treatment schedules as well as determining whether there is a need to modify fuel treatment prescriptive guidelines. Organized monitoring records are also important when pursuing funding from outside sources.
Monitoring and evaluation of a fuel treatment establishes baseline data for decisions about maintenance treatment schedules and determining the need for modifying fuel treatment prescriptive guidelines. The primary aspects to consider in a fuel treatment-monitoring program are the type of evaluation, equipment needed, and monitoring intervals.
Example Monitoring Option:
Simple Visual Quantitative Monitoring Program
The following is an example of the equipment needed in a basic visual and qualitative data collection monitoring/evaluation process:
▪ Map of Fuel Treatment Units (FTU) or Fuel Break (FB) project with Treatment Sites ▪ Prescription table and information on known treatments/sites ▪ Clipboard with field notebook or writing pad
▪ Pen/pencil
▪ GPS location device
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▪ Tape measure
▪ Digital Camera
Procedures to follow in this type monitoring/evaluation fuel treatment site visit include:
▪ Accurate project location on a map
▪ Start a Project Log: entry in project specific notepad/book o Date of treatment
o Site FTU or FB name and corresponding number
o GPS coordinates
o Fuel type
o Treatment method used
▪ Take measurements of current growth heights (in grasses) or distances between sprouts in shrubs and seedling-trees.
▪ Take photos; GPS mark the photo site; optionally mark the plot site with, e.g., brightly painted rebar stakes, aluminum tag on nearby tree).
This information should be saved in a project file and should be compiled in an electronic file system accessible to appropriate YAFSC representative.
The recommended interval for site monitoring may fluctuate with site variables such as fuel types, rainfall amounts, or other needs. It is important to understand that a fuel treatment monitoring interval is not the same as that in treatment maintenance. For instance, the maintenance interval of grass/forbs may be 3 times in a year whereas a monitoring visit may only be once. In the early stages of an established fuel treatment (timber, shrub or mixed fuel type, other than grass), an annual visit to the site for the first 3 to 5 years is recommended.
This annual interval may likely be reduced in the out years depending on vegetation growth rates etc.
Developing a simple yet comprehensive monitoring and evaluation process is an important element of the fuels strategy component of a CWPP. The stored information is part of the project record database, which is helpful for:
1) Validating fuel treatment management strategies
2) Historical perspective of fuel treatments
3) Various educational forums
4) Providing important validation data for ongoing and future grant application processes. 376
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PART II. Planning Areas (1-10)
1. Hawkinsville
2. East Yreka
3. Central Yreka
4. West Yreka
5. The Pines
6. Schulmeyer Gulch
7. Cram Gulch and Guys Gulch
8. City of Yreka (Incorporated Area)
9. South Yreka Fire Protective District (FPD)
10. Threat Zone
Information provided in each Planning Area (PA) contains wildfire assessment products specific to each planning area. The information may be referenced and further refined for utilization in fire planning, project work, or for requesting grant funding. 377
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1. Hawkinsville
General Overview/Description
Hawkinsville is an unincorporated community that lies at the heart of this PA. It is located about two miles (3.2 km) north of Yreka and is 2,490 feet (759 m) above sea level. State Route 263 dissects the PA.
It is about 6,945 acres in size.
The upper reaches are
topographically defined by
Badger Mountain to the north
at 5,019 feet in elevation,
falling to 2,403 feet above
sea level (ASL) immediately
below Badger Mountain at the
confluence of Yreka Creek
and Shasta River.
Three drainages dominate the
area: Long Gulch running in a
west to east orientation;
Canal Gulch which runs east
to west at its upper reaches
and then in a northwest to
southeast aspect; and Rocky
Gulch, which runs in a
northwest to southeast
direction. Yreka Creek
dominates the lowest aspects
of the area.
Figure PA1.1. Map of the Hawkinsville Planning Area
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Wildland Fire Environment
The 2016 Grade Fire and subsequent 2020 Badger fire demonstrated the extreme volatility of the Hawkinsville PA. The Badger Fire burned 557 acres on Badger Mountain Road and Hawkinsville Humbug Road within sight of the city of Yreka, prompting evacuation orders and warnings. The fire was caused by a vehicle. On August 24, 2016, the Grade Fire ignited near Hawkinsville just two miles north of the city. It started due to an insufficient residential electrical connection during an extreme north wind event. It burned 710 acres and destroyed five structures.
The higher elevations are mixed conifer and oak woodlands. The remainder (approximately 75%) is covered by grass, shrub, or a grass/shrub mix (Figure PA1.2, Fuel Models). These fuel types are subject to very rapid spread rates during hot, dry summer months, making this PA especially vulnerable as the fire season progresses through summer and into fall. The upper reaches of Rocky Gulch and much of the surrounding ridges fall within the vicinity of high burn probabilities in a wildfire ignition (Figures PA1.3 and PA1.4, Burn Probability).
Wind-driven wildfires are the most significant weather concern and are further discussed in the Fire Behavior section below. Additional key risks of fire starts include the Highway 263 corridor, I-5 corridor, and lightning storms. The western half of the PA is also a very popular place to shoot firearms.
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Figure PA1.2. Fuel Models
Acres / % Acres of Primary Fuel Types – Hawkinsville
Acres % Acres
Grass 629 9.1%
Grass/Shrub 1,577 22.7%
Shrub 3,111 44.8%
Timber Litter 1,372 15%
Timber Understory 817 11.8%
Slash/Blowdown 0 0%
Non-modeled 207 3.0%
Total 6,945 100%
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Analysis of Expected Fire Behavior
Wildfires respond to weather, fuels (vegetation), and topography. Wind - primarily due to downdrafts from lightning storms or strong prevailing winds - is the most critical weather factor influencing fire behavior. Fuels are typically lighter and fires can be more easily suppressed especially in the lower and mid-slope areas of this PA earlier in the fire season. As the fire season progresses, wildfires become more problematic as summer temperatures increase and fuel moistures decrease.
Figures PA1.3, PA1.4, PA1.5 and PA1.6 and their data tables are unique to this PA and were derived from flame length and rate of spread analyses and for two distinct (early and late) fire season situations (see Section 5 for a methodology overview and definitions).
The outcomes were considered for two distinct but equally important fire characteristics:
1. Burn Probability
Figures PA1.3 and PA1.4 illustrate Burn Probability, providing an assessment of what areas and which types of fuels are likely to burn provided an ignition. The darker red a shaded area is, the more likely it is to burn. This is important information to determine where hazardous fuel mitigation may need to be focused.
One of the outputs from the Burn Probability modeling is the size of the modeled fires after two burning periods. This knowledge aids in understanding how fires want to burn and to what extent they might burn.
• Early Fire Season (60th percentile weather)
The largest fire modeled during early fire season simulations was 26 acres. The average fire size was 10.5 acres.
• Late Fire Season (97th percentile weather)
The largest fire modeled during late summer burned 16,225 acres. The largest area burned within the PA was 5,866 acres. Average acres for the simulation 4,615 and average acres within the PA 1,354 acres burned.
Wildfires burn across PA boundaries and simply expand in size and scope wherever burnable material exists. A fire that starts close to one PA boundary may predominantly burn into an adjoining area. When referring below to the “largest” fire burned, this is the total size across all PA boundaries. When “within” the PA, this is the total acres burned within the PA boundary.
2. Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity
Figures PA1.5 and PA1.6 display the outputs from the Initial Attack Suppression Opportunity modeling. This map combines predicted fireline intensity (flame length) and the rate of fire spread data, providing a more detailed and comprehensive view of potential safety concerns, problem fire hazard areas, and access issues. This tool can be useful to first responders to identify and address area-specific levels of suppression difficulty prior to an emergency. It can also be used by property owners to identify areas where actionable items 382
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can be targeted for home hardening/defensible space work and/or targeted hazardous fuels reduction work.
Areas in green are where wildfires are likely to be contained, with areas in red indicating areas of increased suppression difficulty. Areas that present themselves as red early in the season will be of concern throughout the entire season. These areas are a focus for hazard fuels mitigation work as they increase wildfire risk for a longer period of time.
Areas in gray are where: 1) structures are present in a dense enough fashion that no burnable fuel model could be assigned, or 2) areas that will not burn, e.g., irrigated fields, pavement, etc. Recent fire events across California have shown that areas within the gray can still burn; the closer to the WUI, the more vigilance is required. 383
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Figure PA1.3. Burn Probability - Early Fire Season Figure PA1.4. Burn Probability - Late Fire Season Number of Modeled Fires by Fire Size Class Early Fire Season Late Fire Season Size Class in Acres Class A:
0 to .25
Class B:
.25 to 10
Class C:
10 t0 100
Class D: 100
to 300
Class E: 300
to 1K
Class F:
1K to 5K
Class G:
5K +plus Total
# of Fires / % Fires 378 / 58% 271 / 42% 649 / 100%
# of Fires / % Fires 2 / 0% 215 / 13% 805 / 50% 597 / 37% 1,621 / 100% 385
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Figure PA1.5. Suppression Opportunity - Early Fire Season Figure PA1.6. Suppression Opportunity - Late Fire Season
Number of Modeled Fires by Fire Size Class Early Fire Season Late Fire Season Not Modeled Can Contain Likely to
Contain Might Contain Not Likely to Contain Cannot Contain Total # Acres / % Acres 207 / 3.0% 2,698 / 38.8% 569 / 8.2% 216 / 3.1% 351 / 5.1% 2,904 / 41.8% 6,945 / 100% No. of Structures 37 67 0 0 0 197 301
# Acres / % Acres 207 / 3.0% 353 / 5.1% 0 / 0% 565 / 8.1% 2,282 / 32.9% 3,537 / 50.9% 6,945 / 100% No. of Structures 37 14 0 3 49 198 301
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Outcomes/Results
The above analyses provided outputs that were further used to conduct a proximity analysis of structures within 180 feet of IASO map areas with extremely high resistance to control. The results of this work are found in Figures PA1.7 and PA1.8. These tools are for utilization by property owners and local agencies in continued dialogue about where work should be focused, with a goal of potentially accelerating hazard fuel reduction activities within the PA. An annual review of the following items is recommended: 1) local initiatives for fuel treatment, 2) annual actions to protect residential homes and neighborhoods by creating defensible space, and 3) changes such as fires or other actions, that may have modified onsite fuels since the prior review.
1. Structures Potentially at Risk
Figure PA1.7 was developed by creating Zones of Concern that extend 300 feet beyond identified structures.
• Red Polygons: Areas within the red polygons are zones that are at greatest risk for the longest period of time during the fire season. Fire modeling indicated that these areas were in modeled “Not-Likely-to-Contain” and “Cannot Contain” areas. • Orange Polygons: These are areas identified that will become more at risk later in the summer and into the fall before the first rains.
Property owners should perform all of their structure hardening and defensible space work as identified in Section 6 and Appendix A. This work should be carried out as soon as possible starting in early spring for areas with red polygons, followed by areas with orange polygons as the next highest priority.
Agencies, responsible parties and community members should identify priority areas for treatment and work outside their immediate defensible space.
2. Priority Areas/Roads for Hazardous Fuels Mitigation
Figure PA1.8 was developed by overlaying the Burn Probability analysis and Initial Attack Suppression Modeling outputs and suggests the following key priorities for treatments:
1. Roads/Infrastructure (areas detailed in Figure PA1.7)
2. Areas where Structures are highlighted by red polygons
3. Fuel Break along ridge between Hawkinsville/Humbug Rd and Long Gulch Rd. 387
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Figure PA1.7. Structures Potentially at Risk and Primary Arterial Roads of Concern Structures Potentially at Risk
Late Season Only Early and Late Season
No. of Structures 2 234
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Figure PA1.8. Priority Areas for Hazardous Fuels Mitigation 389
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#1 = Access-ingress/egress are among the highest priority safety elements in a wildfire emergency.
✓ Roadbed width and adequate pullouts
✓ Roadside vegetation clearance
✓ Roadside power-pole and power line clearance
✓ Signing of existing residence(s) on side roads
✓ Clear marking of fire hydrant/water sources
Wildfire Protection Resources
There are no local fire suppression resources within this PA. CAL FIRE has wildfire suppression responsibility for the area. The nearest CAL FIRE stations are in Yreka and Hornbrook. The Yreka, South Yreka, Montague, and Grenada Fire Departments would respond under mutual aid agreements.
Primary concerns and challenges faced by protection forces Contact information for local fire protection services
State Resources (CAL FIRE)
▪ CAL FIRE Yreka Station
1809 Fairlane Rd, Yreka, CA 96097 | (530) 842-4359
▪ CAL FIRE Hornbrook Station
14638 Bradley Henley Rd, Hornbrook, CA 96044 | (530) 475-3582 Local Community & Volunteer Resources
▪ Yreka Fire Department
401 W. Miner St, Yreka, CA 96097 | (530) 841-2383
▪ South Yreka Fire Protection District
3420 Easy St. Yreka, CA 96097 | (530) 842-1477
▪ Montague Fire Department
121 South 10th St, Montague, CA 96064 | (530) 459-5343
▪ Grenada Fire Protection District
6055 4th Ave, Grenada, CA | (530) 436-2200
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2. East Yreka
General Overview/Description
The East Yreka PA lies to the east of I-5 and is about 11,615 acres in size. The PA is dissected by a range of hills: Butcher
Hill in the north at an
elevation of 3,248 feet above
sea level and, to the south,
Kilgore Hill which lies at 3,707
feet above sea level. The
lowest point in the PA is
approximately 2,645 feet above
sea level where Yreka Creek
flows under the freeway
overpass.