EDITORIAL: WILDFIRES--IS SAN DIEGO NOW BETTER PREPARED?

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By Vince Wallgren, Jr.

As the 2009 autumn sun saps the moisture from most inland San Diego County vegetation; and with yet another Santa Ana condition just a high pressure weather system away, it begs the question: Following the ’03 and ’07 wildfires, what steps has government taken to ensure a similar future event does not result in the same devastation of property and loss of life?

The good news: The San Diego County Board of Supervisors -- with Chairwoman and 2nd District Supervisor Dianne Jacob taking a pro-active lead role -- has produced two pointed and meaningful legislative initiatives. The first of these (6/17/08) addresses the all-important need for the county to be authorized the deploying of aviation fire-fighting assets after sundown. The second initiative (4/07/09) suggests the need for a consultant to produce a Deployment Study to assess the county’s fire and emergency medical services.

 

The not-so-good news: Regardless how brilliant, logical and common sense the solutions at the local level might be, every strategy, tactic and logistic procedure evolving therefrom is subject to oversight and approval by both CAL FIRE and the U. S. Forest Service. Given these agencies’ rather dubious performance as the duly appointed leaders of all California wildfire fighting efforts, the especially weak first responder tactics and inexplicable obstructionism displayed during both the ’03 and ’07 fires, CAL FIRE’s numerically inadequate, aging (‘50s & ‘60s vintage) and prohibitively expensive to maintain air tanker fleet, the current precarious state of California’s economy and the likely budget cuts to the state’s emergency services -- these all strongly suggest that: (a) San Diego County’s exposure to a repeat of past mistakes is very real; and, (b) the county Board of Supervisors would do well to plan accordingly.

 

Planning accordingly, however, is easier said than done. Entrenched bureaucracies and the status quo are significant obstacles to overcome. But the burning question facing the residents of San Diego County is: In all debates surrounding the issue of fighting wildfires, what takes precedence: (a) Conforming to status quo regulatory dogma? or, (b) ensuring the county is properly equipped to carry out their responsibility to protect and serve it’s people, their homes, and this beautiful area’s wondrous natural resources?

 

Rhetoric aside, the stark reality is that Option (b) is the only course of action, and while this will ultimately prove to be a hotly contested course of action, the sense of urgency of this situation suggests to first get the job done and then let the political and legal chips fall where they may. Yes, the immediate political risks are omnipresent, but they pale in comparison to doing nothing and, as a consequence, having to carry a guilt-ridden conscience for a lifetime.

 

To the San Diego County Board of Supervisors and the consulting firm promulgating the above cited Deployment Study, the following suggestions are presented for your joint consideration.

 

The absolute highest priority should be to identify the equipment, manpower and procedural requirements needed to establish, support and deploy a fast, highly effective, airborne first responder wildfire fighting capability.

 

Execute the findings of Paragraph 1. as soon as possible.


A cost-effective solution

Were one to develop a list of specifications that constitute the ideal “first responder” airframe, it would be difficult to find a better fit than the Olney, Texas manufactured Air Tractor AT-802F SEAT (single engine air tanker). Equipped with floats, the aircraft assumes the mantra of “Fire Boss” and is capable of delivering 13,000 US Gallons per hour -- when the distance between the fire and a lake or reservoir is 5 miles. Carrying fuel sufficient to continue firefighting for 2.7 Hours, it is thereby capable of delivering 35,200 US Gallons of water during the course of one mission; while using an on-board computer controlled firegate to execute precise drops.

 

A brief synopsis, with revealing reviews of this amazing aircraft’s first responder capabilities, can be found here. A major value-added benefit is both the Fire Boss’s acquisition (about $1.6 million per new aircraft) and maintenance costs are literally infinitesimal when compared to helicopters, CAL FIRE’s S-2s, and CL-215/415 Water Bombers.

 

Conclusion

 

When a wildfire event has it’s start in San Diego’s East County, chances are it will be on either state or federal controlled land. But wildfires know no boundaries; and the concept that an agency in either Sacramento or Washington should hold sway as to the methods and resources used to fight fires in San Diego County’s back yard borders on insanity. The topography of most East County lands make it near impossible for truck mounted fire crews to attack a wildfire before it has time to spread. Thus, the critical nature of implementing first responder procedures that allow for local command and control of a cost-effective airborne firefighting capability is nothing less than a moral imperative.

Vince Wallgren, Jr. is a retired U. S. Navy Aviation Support Equipment Technician Chief Petty Officer who resides in La Mesa with his beautiful and gracious bride of forty-five years. He is the proud father of four wonderful children and the doting grandfather of eight dutifully spoiled grandkids.

 

The opinions in this editorial reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine.  If you wish to submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.

 


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