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APG is presented with latest
Alpine Protection and Evacuation Plan
By Susan Hogoboom
The Alpine Sun
ALPINE — Alpine Planning Group members
were updated on the Alpine Protection and Evacuation Plan (APEP)
at the regular meeting held Thursday, Oct. 22. Each year, the
APG approves the local emergency plan.
Neville Connell, President of the Greater Alpine Fire
Safe Council (GAFSC) and chairman of the Public Safety
Subcommittee of the Alpine Revitalization Steering Committee,
which is overseen by Second District Supervisor Dianne Jacob,
presented the plan to the board members.
The update is done by members of the GAFSC Stakeholders
Committee, which includes the sheriff and a representative from
the Alpine Fire Department. APG member, Jennifer Martinez, now
coordinates the committee, seeing to it that the plan is
updated, taking over for member Jim Easterling.
“Jennifer’s job is of great responsibility,” said
Connell, adding that Martinez is doing a great job.
Amongst Martinez’s other responsibilities are serving on the
Alpine Public Safety Committee, organizing the stakeholders, and
communicating clearly with committee members for immediate
response to any emergency in Alpine.
The Stakeholder’s Committee is not the only committee
incorporated into APEP. The Finance Committee, in the event of
an emergency, would seek funding from sources. The Logistics
Committee identifies donor resources.
According to Connell, any citizen of Alpine may serve
on any of the committees.
Connell also wants the public to be aware of a plan
similar to APEP called the Alpine Community Wildfire Protection
Plan (CWPP). The Public Safety Subcommittee creates and updates
the CWPP, a plan that is required in order to receive federal
funding.
The plan addresses strategic local firebreaks and
buffers, defensible space around homes, education programs, and
home improvements including cleaning out gutters, storing
firewood away from houses, installing mesh leading into attics,
and installation of bird stops.
Federal grant money provides for fuel breaks, buffers,
education, and chipping. The GAFSC hopes to complete 200-feet
fuel break buffers by the end of winter in East Alpine, the
Victoria Loop, Alpine Heights, and the Crown Hills areas.
Education in local schools includes a fifth grade Fire
Safety Day and the Home Alone program, which targets Los Coches
and Joan Mac Queen Middle School sixth graders. Firefighters
give the students presentations at the events.
“A lot of their parents work and they could easily be
home alone when a fire breaks out,” said Connell.
Other awareness events include the Alpine Viejas Day
Parade, the Sage and Songbirds Festival, and the Alpine Fire
Station Open House, during which literature is distributed.
Kiwanis has also been helpful in providing free food to those
participating in the community chipping events.
GAFSC curbside chipping is held twice and month, and
community chipping is held twice a year. Members of the public
may bring products to be chipped and have the opportunity to
keep the mulch. Mulch not kept will be available to the public.
According to Connell, 210,000 cubic feet of brush has
already been chipped in curbside and community chipping
combined.
GAFSC is a non-profit organization and welcomes
donations. For more information, to invite the GAFSC to speak to
your community group, or to sign up for chipping programs, visit
www.greateralpinefsc.org. The APG will approve this
year’s APEP at a future meeting.
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the Editor
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