report on mitigation efforts for fire risks associated with dry weather 02-04-14.pdf

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CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEACouncil Report

February 4 2014Honorable ayor and Members of the City CouncilJason Stilwell, City AdministratorGaudenz Panholzer, Fire ChiefReport on mitigation efforts for f ire risks associated with dry weatherconditions

Recommendation s): Accept report on mitigation efforts for fire risks associated with dryweather conditions

Executive Summary: While the dry weather pattern that has been in place into the winter months thisyear has created significant concerns, The Monterey Fire Department, incooperation with Carmel Police Department, the Carmel Forest and Beach staff,and other local agencies, has taken several steps to protect residents and visitors.We will continue to monitor conditions and the success of our efforts so that wecan adjust them as necessary.

Analysis/Discussion: With the unseasonable warm and dry weather comes a concern for increased wildfire risk. This was clearly evidenced with the Pfeifer Ridge fire that destroyednumerous homes in Big Sur in December. To deal with the increased risk, actionscan be taken on several fronts: prevention, reduction of potential severity, andresponse capacity.PreventionThe prevention of a fire is always the best way to reduce the risk of such anemergency. Wild land fires in urban areas are typically started with carelessactions by people and less frequently by intentional actions. Actions taken toprevent the occurrence of fires are as follows: Posting of No Smoking and Dangerous Fire Area signs at trai l entrances to

Mission Trails Park Enforcement of beach fire regulations Regular presence of Police and Fire vehicles/personnel in high risk areasReduction of Potential Fire Severity


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Fiscal Impact

If a fire were to start a good way to control the severity of the impact is to usefuel management to limit the growth and spread of the fire. To help with thiseffort the following actions were taken: Mowing of grassy areas in Mission Trails Park was completed in the spring of

2013; a consideration of using goats to perform this mowing was discussedand will be explored to facilitate vegetation management in the steepercanyon areas An inspection of mowed areas was completed jointly by staff from Fire, Police,and Forest and Beach on Thursday, January 23, where it was determined thelack of rain ha s produced no regrowth

A vegetation management informational flyer was produced and will bedistributed by fire personnel to residents whose properties border MissionTrails Park and Pescadero Canyon

A press release was prepared to remind residents to maintain a defensiblespace of 100 feet around their property.

Staff met with Scenic Road residents Kathy and Gary Bang on January 23regarding their concerns of f ire risk on bank bove the beach; some lowhanging vegetation was removed prior to this time by City staff; staffdetermined that no significant risk of fire exists with the remaining vegetation

Response CapacityIn order to adequately respond to any vegetation fires that may start, thefollowing actions have been taken: Monterey Fire personnel are being provided refresher wildland fire training

earlier than normal Monterey Fire s wildland fire engine remains available to respond CAL Fire has maintained staffing of their wildland fire engines and is in the

process of conducting an emergency re-hire of personnel to bring up staffinglevels both locally and State-wide

In addition to the specific wildland fi re risk mitigation actions, Police ChiefCalhoun is in the process of putting together a dry weather plan as an addition toCarmel s Emergency Operation Plan CEOP).The cost to install the fire danger and no smoking signs totaled $32.00materials and $452 labor; the fire educational flyers were less than$100.00.

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Budgeted yes/no)No

Previous CouncilAction/Decision History:

N A

Reviewed by rjity AdministratorAsst. City Admin. DPublic Safety Dir DCity Engineer D

Funding Source general fund, grant, state)General Fund Public ServicesPublic Safety

City Attorney D Administrative Services DDir of CP D Dir of Public Svcs DLibrary Dir D Other D


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100' DEFENSIBlE SPACE

The maximum size (Base diameter) or live branches thatmay be removed without a permit is four {4) inches.

Dead limbs should always be removed.Prior to trimming trees contact your Forestry Department at 831)620-2073

hy 1 FeetFollowing t hese m p le steps cand ramatica ll y increase t he c hance ofyou r home sur viv1ng a wi ldfireA Defensi ble Space of 100 feet aroundyour home is required by law.' Thegoal is to protect your home whileproviding a safe area for firefighters.

- Clearing an area of 30 feet immediatelysurrounding your home Is critical. Thisarea requires the greatest reduction inflammable vegetation.

-The fuel reduction zone in theremaining 70 feet (or to propert y line)will depend on the steepness ofyourproperty and the vegetation.Spacing between plants improves the chanceof stopping a wildfire before it destroys yourhome. You have two options in th isarea:0 Create horizontal and vertical spacingbetween plants. The amount ofspace willdepend on how steep the slope is and thesize of he plantsG Large trees do not have to be cut andremoved as long as all ofthe plantsbeneath them are removed. Thiseliminates a vertical "tire adder.

When clearing vegetation, use care whenoperating equipment such as lawn mowers.One small spark may start a fire; a stringtrimmer s much safer.Remove all build- up of needles andleaves from your roof and gutters. Keeptree limbs trimmed ,at least 10 feet fromany chimneys and remove dead limbsthat hang over your home or garage. Thelaw also requires a screen over your chimney outlet of not more than Y2 nch mesh.1. These reg ulat ions affect mo st of th e grass, brush, andtimbercovered private lands In the t te om e fire depart-mentjurlsdictions may ha ve addi tional requirements. Someactivities may requi re permits for uee remova l. Aso, someactivities may require special procedures fo r I threatened andendangered spedes lavoid ing e rosion, and 31 protectio n ofwo ler quality Check with local officials f In dou bt. Currentregulations allow an fnsurance company to requirl add itional

a r a n The area 10 be treated docs not extend beyond yourprope rly.

For more information contact theFire Prevention Office

831)646-3908


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CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA POLICE DEP RTMENTP 0 BOX 600, CARMEL, C 93921 PHONE: 831) 624-6403 FAX: 831) 624-4296

Michael Calhoun, Director ofPublic Safety

PRESS RELE SE(For release January 29, 2014. For further information, contact Michael Calhoun, Director of PublicSafety for Carmel, at 624-6403, or Gaudenz Panholzer, Monterey Fire Chief, at 646-3908.)

CITY OF CARMEL MONTEREY FIRE DEPARTMENT REMINDRESIDENTS OF GREAT NEED FOR DEFENSIBLE SPACE

s this winter has been particularly dry, Monterey Fire Department personnel arereminding local residents to maintain a defensible space of at least 100 feetaround their property, which is required by law.In the greater Carmel area, there is particularly concern with properties thatborder Mission Trails Park and Pescadero Canyon, and department personnel willbe distributing informational flyers in those areas.The City of Carmel-the-Sea contracts with the City of Monterey for FirePrevention services.The flyers describe possible life-saving tips, in detail, also including what to do toprotect homes and provide a safe area for firefighters in the event of a blaze.Since we all live within Carmel's urban forest, it is very important to take steps to

increase the home's likelihood of surviving a fire, said Mike Calhoun, Director ofPublic Safety for Carmel by-the-Sea.

The fire danger will be discussed at the Carmel City Council meeting of Tuesday,February 4, which begins at 4:30p m at Carmel City Hall.#

report on mitigation efforts for fire risks associated with dry weather 02-04-14.pdf

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