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New aerial fire protection agreement
more flexible, cost-effective
By Joe Naiman
The Alpine Sun
SAN DIEGO — In 2008 the San Diego
County Board of Supervisors approved a lease of two Superscooper
firefighting fixed-wing aircraft along with a tactical aircraft.
The $3 million lease covered the risky months of September,
October, and November.
This year the county supervisors approved a different
plan, which obtains aerial firefighting assets on a "call when
needed" basis. The supervisors' 5-0 vote May 12 is not only
expected to reduce the county's expenditure amount but would
also allow the aircraft to be available throughout the year.
"We'll have greater flexibility," said Supervisor
Dianne Jacob.
The 2008 lease was considered a pilot project. "That
was a good expenditure of money and did what we wanted it to
do," Jacob said.
In January 2009 the multijurisdictional Unified
Disaster Council appointed a subcommittee to review the pilot
project and provide input to the UDC — and eventually the Board
of Supervisors — regarding the best options for the region's
aerial fire protection. The subcommittee was headed by Ron Lane,
chairman of the County of San Diego's Office of Emergency
Services, and included several fire chiefs as well as county
Department of Planning and Land Use fire services coordinator
Ralph Steinhoff. The subcommittee met on February 9 and on March
24.
The subcommittee's consensus was that several options
available to the region should be explored and a "toolbox"
approach should be used. The consensus also included increasing
short-term capability during periods of highest risk.
Aerial resources identified for "call when needed"
availability include a Martin Mars air tanker scheduled to be
stationed at Lake Elsinore during the upcoming peak wildfire
season, Type 1 helicopters used by San Diego Gas & Electric to
install power poles, Type 2 helicopters, and a DC-7 owned by
Butler Aircraft. In addition to "call when needed" relationships
with owners and contractors which provide a streamlined process
to obtain aircraft as soon as possible after the start of a
wildfire, pre-positioning of such aircraft prior to a forecasted
major wind event can be accomplished by payment of stand-by
fees.
The stand-by fees as well as usage fees would only be
incurred if aircraft are used, and any leftover funding could be
carried over to future peak fire seasons.
"By using a 'call when needed' approach, we only spend
money on aerial assets when we need it the most," said
Supervisor Bill Horn.
"It's only pay as you use them. It's a good deal for
the county and it's a good deal for taxpayers," Jacob said.
The anticipated funding is not expected to exceed
$250,000.
"Money is tight everywhere," said Supervisor Pam
Slater-Price. "This is a very cost-effective and very organized
way to help with the problem."
The subcommittee included San Miguel Consolidated Fire
Protection fire chief Augie Ghio, who is also the chair of the
San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association. The proposal also had
the support of the San Diego County Fire Districts Association,
whose chair is Lakeside Fire Protection District fire chief Mark
Baker.
"It optimizes to the best of our financial abilities,"
Baker said.
The supervisors' motion directed the county's Chief
Administrative Officer to implement the Unified Disaster
Council's approved plan for supplemental aerial fire protection,
to include the funds to establish the program in the county's
2009-10 budget, and to work closely with the 18 incorporated
cities who are also part of the Unified Disaster Council to
obtain regional financial support.
Santa Barbara County's Jesusita Fire was still burning
when the supervisors' action took place. Its May 5 start
illustrated the vulnerability of a lease covering only the
riskiest months.
"It addresses our commitment to protect public safety,"
Supervisor Greg Cox said of the new arrangement. "It moves us
substantially in a safer direction within the economic realities
we're going to have to face."
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