SAN DIEGO COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY RELEASES MASTER PLAN

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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.”

 


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Comments

I can answer your questions Nadin

Its not surprising you did not get a straight answer out of the SDCFA. As the vast majority of their 18 bureaucrats have no fire service experience they probably did not understand your questions. The motto for the SDCFA should be …We are the SDCFA. We blow smoke up your ____ ( fill in the blank ). By FY 2017-18 they are planning to have 27 bureaucrats in the SDCFA. ( Appendix H of the “plan” )  Next year they are adding funding for one additional stipend firefighter per station per shift (page 79). Lets see current average staffing of 0 plus 1 = 1. But that’s a story for further down the page.

 

Now lets all read along to the SDCFA Plan and answer Nadin's questions. Don’t forget to read between the lines

“First, we noted that the Master Plan claims no expectation of growth in the rural areas of East County…” If you remember the new revised County General Plan has converted the existing residential zoning to one house per 40 acres. Problem solved. No growth. All you need is a fire station for each mega industrial complex. ( A little tongue in cheek but not far from the truth?)

“Second, we noted that this year already has had many more fires than usual.” Do not be alarmed. The SDCFA is here.

“Third, we asked what the expected growth in the urban-rural interface is due to urban sprawl…”  See answer to question one.

“Fourth, phase III and LAFCO dissolution of districts such as the San Diego Rural Fire District are now eminent..” Not really. I am sure the SDCFA has scared Rural into going along. Which is great if you live in Jamul or Lake Morena where Cal Fire fighters man the stations. Everywhere else in Rural is another story, later.

“Fifth, we asked what resiliencies and redundancies have been built into the new broadband system…” Broadband? The HPWREN system to the fire stations is 1.5 to 2 Mbs. In this day and age that’s dialup. As to why is it there? Two simple reasons, to fill out all the paperwork the SDCFA has setup and provide internet access for the volunteers, who are sitting in the stations, maybe, as they do not have the credentials to drive all the shiny new fire trucks and water tenders the County has purchased.  THE SYSTEM HAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH “..allows for better response times, as well as better situational awareness when a fire does start..”

Now to the implied questions….

“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.”

1) Everything on the internet about fires is usually wrong or old information. If you are not monitoring fire traffic on the radio you are unaware.

2) The fancy rip and run printers are not even installed yet! Months after the HPWREN system has been installed.

3) You do not need rip and run printers. Listen to your dispatch. If not that look at the County pager on your belt and read the information, still in English only, on the screen. If all else fails call dispatch and ask them where your call is. ( Those of you who listen to the fire radio traffic on scanners know this.) The pager system has been in use for over 20 years. It has excellent coverage all the way to Yuma. It’s on the 800 public service radio system that is backed up by propane generators and earthquake to magnitude 7.5 hardened sites. The HPWREN system is a University research project not a public service hardened system.

4) As to command and control. That’s the biggest smoke up your ___ (fill in the blank), BS the County has been throwing around since the beginning. Their first propaganda video feathered a Sheriff Lieutenant telling the camera a couple of hikers..” would have died..” if it were not for the coordination put in place by the SDCFA. That’s a bold faced lie and I am sure he knew it. Sheriff and fire have been talking to each other on the radio for decades. Since the late 70’s the Incident Command System (ICS) has established very specific command and control procedures between units involved and agencies at any incident of any size. The eastern area fire stations dispatch was unified under Cal Fire Dispatch before the SDCFA existed. They are taking credit for something that already existed.

And finally…..

The most important point missed by all the SDCFA propaganda is, to put out a fire, or respond to a medical aid, YOU MUST HAVE TRAINED FIREFIGHTERS!

How important is that to the SDCFA. It’s priority item SIX in their new plan. If you have been following the posts on this website publication you will know the number of 450 to 550 “reserves” thrown out by the SDCFA is smoke and mirrors. If you subtract the paid firefighters from Cal Fire, the “reserves” who dropped out right after their training, and the people who seem to never available there are maybe 150. At any one time you will be lucky to have 50 actually available to pull a shift. A few Fridays ago there were 10 volunteer stations dark, no staff in the stations. All of them were in Supervisor Jacob’s district. Unusual? No, normal. The SDCFA answer. They are going to train 25 “reserves” at a time at the Heartland Fire Academy. Six month course = 50 new “reserves” in 12 months. Ya, that will really put a dent in the problem.

 

Anybody else angry yet?