COMMENTARY
September 5, 2007
Partnerships Key to Regional Fire Defense
As printed in the San Diego Daily Transcript on Sept. 5, 2007
By Supervisor Pam Slater-Price, Third District
Wildfires - a single word that worries so many.
Seems as though the San Diego region either spends time preparing for the next wildfire or fighting the latest one.
As Santa Barbara County fights fires to the north, we watch with anxiety knowing our turn will come. Many conversations swirl around our own fire protection abilities in urban areas.
But believe it or not – a good fire-fighting strategy to save area homes begins with partnerships.
The County does not have a fire department and we do not operate any stations. So we formed partnerships that benefit all residents in San Diego County.
The County of San Diego invests $8.53 million annually into these partnerships for fire protection.
Regardless of where you live, wildfires can move through acres of land to reach your home.
The Cedar fire in 2003 proved that. As the largest wildfire in California history, we lost 15 precious lives and 4,847 structures across 273,000 acres.
The fire started east of Ramona. Within 16 hours, it was burning hundreds of homes in Scripps Ranch - within the City of San Diego – 30 miles from origin.
Fires need fuel. And the backcountry areas have had nearly four years to refill the supply.
Yet the part-time and volunteer fire stations in those communities historically get the least money and training. Those days are gone.
Over the past three years, the county Board of Supervisors voted to outfit rural fire agencies with new fire engines, water-tender trucks, and two new helicopter tankers.
Then, we expended resources to train those stations. Through cooperative agreements, the County has partnered in training career and volunteer firefighters, and helicopter pilots.
In all, 18 jurisdictions with 42 fire stations manned by career and volunteer staff fall under current County cooperative contracts. Of those 18 jurisdictions, 11 are strictly volunteer agencies.
By this time next year, these stations will have a year of experience with the new equipment – from De Luz to Descanso.
The County has forged other partnerships.
Contracts with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection have been strengthened to provide year-round firefighters and assets to the backcountry.
We also work closer with federal fire agencies and the military, and we have a more complete mutual aid program. We further supported these efforts by eradicating dead and dying trees in the rural areas.
Communication was another problem during the Cedar fire.
As a member of the County Board of Supervisors, I voted recently to pay $200,000 for a new Emergency Alert System. The system notifies residents countywide by phone, e-mail and text message of a potential danger.
Also, an inter-agency communication hole was exposed. My legislation passed soon after the fire switched fire and safety agencies to a uniform 800-Mhz communication system to speed up and improve coordinated response.
Still, we must remain vigilant to avoid wildfires. Residents should follow no-burn orders, and put out cigarettes safely regardless of the season. My newly adopted legislation bans smoking in all county parks to reduce these risks.
The threat of wildfire to the region and my district is great.
High-fire risk areas, such as Scripps Ranch, Rancho Penasquitos, Escondido, Tierrasanta and others must be protected. The County fire protection efforts complement urban fire departments – offering a regional safeguard.
If we learn from history, we will prepare for the worst and put our efforts toward the front lines in hopes for the best. Money and time well served for public safety is money and time well spent for everyone.
Supervisor Pam Slater-Price represents the County’s Third District. Visit her Web site at www.pamslater.com.
