SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY RELEASES MASTER PLAN
By Nadin Abbott; photo by Jeff Holtz
August 18, 2013 (San Diego)—The San Diego County Fire Authority has released a Master Strategic Plan for the next five years. The plan became effective on July 1, 2013 and will remain such until June 30, 2018. You can read the plan here: http://bosagenda.sdcounty.ca.gov/agendadocs/doc?id=09010e9680174b28.
The plan has several important highlights, some of which have come to pass already. One of the most important aspects of the plan is the advanced command and control system, bringing high speed wireless Internet to all 30 backcountry fire stations. This allows for better response times, as well as better situational awareness when a fire does start.
This system was brought on line on August 14 and depends on a backbone of high end data technology at the University of California, San Diego as well as wireless communications. This is called the Area for Situational Awareness for Public Safety Network (ASAPnet.)
This is the first stage in the San Diego County Fire Authority SDCFA moving into the third phase of creating a County Fire Service.
The second hybrid phase included the dissolution of five County Fire Service Areas: Mt Laguna, Palomar Mountain, Boulevard, Campo and San Pasqual.
The third phase will reorganize Pine Valley and San Diego Rural Fire into the service.
The County Fire Authority will serve the unincorporated areas. The plan notes that “a majority of the unincorporated County’s land, in excess of 90%, is either open space or underdeveloped.”
What is also significant is the substantial outlay in both money and resources that the County Fire Authority intends to spend in upgrading both equipment and stations. Among the stations to be upgraded, (and according to Donna Tisdale they have started digging the well for it) is the Boulevard Fire Station. She pointed out to ECM that this is the parcel the community wanted for a community center, but the Fire Authority took control of it.
The plan has moved now to the third phase and dissolution of local volunteer fire departments is being pushed forward, under the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO.)
The Rural Fire Protection District, for instance, has been told by the County it must dissolve and join the County Authority, or the County will stop all funding- - $300,000 -- for fire protection of district residents. Residents at a meeting last week in Harbison Canyon voiced concerns over the County's tactics and indicated they have little choice but to see their district dissolved.
ECM asked the County several important questions.
First, we noted that the Master Plan claims no expectation of growth in the rural areas of East County, despite the fact that multiple industrial wind projects are proposed. We asked the County what plans there are for fighting fires at these energy projects and whether a force specializing in electrical fires would be provided.
Second, we noted that this year already has had many more fires than usual. We asked if allowances have been made to provide staffing for increased fire season length due to climate change, since some experts now predict fire seasons year-round.
Third, we asked what the expected growth in the urban-rural interface is due to urban sprawl and how will this be dealt with in increased personnel needs and water needs.
Fourth, phase III and LAFCO dissolution of districts such as the San Diego Rural Fire District are now eminent, with district residents told if they opt not to join the County Fire Authority, all County funding for volunteer firefighting operations will cease. So we asked what the near term effects in service will be for residents.
Fifth, we asked what resiliencies and redundancies have been built into the new broadband system in case of a major earthquake or other disaster that could potentially cause system failures of the transmission backbone.
The County’s response dodged key concerns, raising far more questions than answers.
Sarah Gordon, Communications Officer for the Public Safety Group, told ECM over e-mail that:
“The Fire Master Plan outlines our projected funding, staffing and technology needs over the next five years, including Amador agreements for increased staffing beyond what the state provides in State Responsibility Areas. Should the needs of a particular community change due to residential or industrial growth, the Fire Authority would study those needs and update its plans and approach as appropriate, including seeking the necessary Board authorization to address any new needs. The Fire Master Plan is a living document, and can be updated as needed. The County Fire Authority currently supports Rural with funding, personnel and training, and equipment. Residents should notice no change in service as it moves through LAFCO dissolution.”