Hearing examines wildfire solutions
By: KATHY DAY - For the North County Times | ∞
SAN DIEGO ---- After a four-hour hearing aimed at ways to prevent catastrophic wildfires, state Sen. Christine Kehoe said Friday that she was more committed than ever to finding new revenue for firefighting and fire prevention.
Focused primarily on land that the state is responsible for protecting, the hearing focused on preventing and minimizing wildfire damage in existing and future housing areas.
Last month, Kehoe, D-San Diego, introduced a bill to create a one-time fee on new homes in the backcountry and a new annual fee on existing backcountry homes to pay for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection programs.
Now, she said, there are five bills on fire-related topics that will come before various committees beginning in April.
"I can tell the idea of raising fees for the life and death situations facing firefighters and fire prevention is a tough political challenge," Kehoe said after the meeting. She added that it can't be done just in Sacramento but will take a grass-roots effort.
Mark Newton from the state Legislative Analyst's Office, an independent agency that studies fiscal impacts of laws, said that without a fee or surcharge on insurance policies as suggested by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, the budget for CalFire will come up $45 million short.
The 2008-09 budget calls for $1.3 billion for fire protection, up from $1 billion a year ago, he said. The figure does not include fire prevention efforts or the fire marshal's office.
A fire protection fee, first enacted in 2003-04 and rescinded before it was collected, could fill the budget shortfall, he said.
Among the speakers were state and local fire officials, scientists and a land-use lawyer. Each agreed with what Jon Keeley, a research scientist with the U.S. Geological Survey and a professor at UCLA said: “We have the worst fire climate in the country.”
Keeley called for state officials to look at the role power lines play in starting fires and suggested placing lines underground in the most vulnerable areas. He also proposed building firewalls along major roadways where he said many fires start.
Also on his list was finding ways to reduce the impact of fires, such as requiring closed eaves to stop embers from getting into a structure, and zoning restrictions that limit where homes are built.
Most of the speakers questioned the need to extend requirements for clearing around homes to more than 100 feet of “defensible space.”
Land-use lawyer Cary Lowe of South Pasadena said he changed his perspective on how local zoning laws should be used and the need for fees after he toured fire-ravaged areas.
"I'm conflicted. I represent people trying to develop within the regulations," he said. "But with the changing conditions, we can't keep building as we have."
He urged the lawmakers to look at general plans, the blueprints for growth in cities and counties, as a starting point for developing new safety guidelines as has been done for earthquake and flood regulations.
Other speakers called for more money to be spent on researching fire behavior and mapping so that officials have more knowledge on which to base policies and decision.
"Fire doesn't behave by boundaries," said Max Moritz, co-director of the Center for Fire Research and Outreach at UC Berkeley.
The hearing was chaired by state Sen. Darrell Steinberg, D- Sacramento. Others attending were Dennis Hollingsworth, R-Temecula, and Mike Machado, D-Linden.
More Stories
Advertisement
Ask wrote on Mar 8, 2008 10:50 AM:Cal Fire needs to learn how to drive their tractors without ruining the forest.
Check out how much of Cleveland Forest is close, ALMOST ALL OF IT.
Cal Fire could not have ruined the roads more even if they tried!!!!
Reardon wrote on Mar 8, 2008 12:49 PM:We can never have enough firefighters to stem the tide of a raging wildfire -- but we can supplement those we have with already existing assets. It's not hard: 1)At the first sign of danger, put unmanned surveillance planes over the area 2) Mobilize the Air Force to transport crews and vehicles from unthreatened areas around the country 3) Ask for military volunteers from among the tens of thousands of young, fit local military for hand work in already burned areas 4) Get military planes in the air, with water dumps at the ready. 5) Deploy Construction Battalions into the back country to cut huge firebreaks in front of the wildfires. All of these already exist – and have been paid for. USE THEM!
What? wrote on Mar 8, 2008 1:45 PM:You can call it a fee, surcharge or anything else, it is still a tax!
Say What..?? wrote on Mar 8, 2008 8:37 PM: Any large fire incident requires a huge mobilzation of assets that are spread all over California and the Western United States, and usually while San Diego County is burning, so is alot of the rest of the State, spreading those assets to all incidences. And when the weather/winds are blowing the fires the way they have in 2003 and 2007, they make fighting these fires near impossible, when large embers are blowing and spreading hot spots hundreds of yards ahead of the main body of fire, placing hand crews ahead of these rapidly moving fire fronts is just setting up for greater loss of life....
Tanya wrote on May 21, 2008 2:37 PM:
Preventing Forest Fires
It is very important to prepare for both building fires and wild fires. Wild fires can be very dangerous, especially when you live in a forest area or anywhere near it. These fires are sometimes started by lightning or by accident. They can move very fast and burn many acres. Remember, if there is a wildfire near you and your family is told to evacuate -- go right away! Here are some of the things to be aware of:
• One of the most important things to remember is that your house should have a working smoke detector, a device designed to alarm when there is a fire. Look around your house to see if you have a smoke detector on every floor in the house, if you don’t , your house might not be as safe as it should be. Get help from a parent or adult to check if all of your smoke detectors are working. Also check to see if your family has a working fire extinguisher.
• Always be aware of weather forecasts. Now, weather forecasts are reliable for only a few days, and long-range forecasting is still unreliable. The amount of snowfall that occurs during the winter can indicate how dry the forests may be at the start of a fire season, but this usually changes after the spring rains. Still, keep a watch out on these fires!
• One of the most important things is to have a plan.Your family should have a fire plan of how to escape from your house if it is on fire.
• STAY LOW to the ground where the smoke is not so heavy.
• NEVER hide during a fire. Always get out. And once you are out, stay out.
• DO NOT go back for a toy. Tell an adult if there is a person left behind in the burning house.
“Intellectuals solve problems; geniuses PREVENT them.” Quoted by Albert Einstein
tanya wrote on May 21, 2008 2:38 PM:Preventing Forest Fires
It is very important to prepare for both building fires and wild fires. Wild fires can be very dangerous, especially when you live in a forest area or anywhere near it. These fires are sometimes started by lightning or by accident. They can move very fast and burn many acres. Remember, if there is a wildfire near you and your family is told to evacuate -- go right away! Here are some of the things to be aware of:
• One of the most important things to remember is that your house should have a working smoke detector, a device designed to alarm when there is a fire. Look around your house to see if you have a smoke detector on every floor in the house, if you don’t , your house might not be as safe as it should be. Get help from a parent or adult to check if all of your smoke detectors are working. Also check to see if your family has a working fire extinguisher.
• Always be aware of weather forecasts. Now, weather forecasts are reliable for only a few days, and long-range forecasting is still unreliable. The amount of snowfall that occurs during the winter can indicate how dry the forests may be at the start of a fire season, but this usually changes after the spring rains. Still, keep a watch out on these fires!
First name only. Comments including last names, contact addresses, e-mail addresses or phone numbers will be deleted. Attempts to misrepresent your identity or impersonate any person will not be approved. All comments are screened before they appear online, so please keep them brief. Comments reflect the views of those commenting and not necessarily those of the North County Times or its staff writers. Click here to view additional comment policies.
Today's Stories
Advertisement