Firefighting tactics a change in the wind? - Wildland Fire officials are considering a policy that would allow some people to stay and defend their homes rather than simply ordering neighborhoods evacuated.
There's a debate going on among California fire officials about whether residents whose homes are threatened in wildfires should be allowed to stay behind and defend their homes rather than evacuate because firefighters are overwhelmed. Top officials from fire agencies in seven Southern California counties started last fall to discuss moving toward an evacuation policy that makes allowances for people who want to try to save their homes.
Wednesday Firescope meeting: Stay and Defend tactic was briefly discussed, While no action was taken, board members stressed the plan will take some time to develop.
Fire chiefs in tinder-dry Southern California, faced with lean budgets while more people squeeze into the region, are starting to rethink long-standing policies on ordering mass evacuations in a wildfire, debating whether it may be wiser in some situations to let residents stay and defend their homes. "We don't have enough resources to put an engine at every house in harm's way," said Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper. "We figure, if people are going to stay, maybe they can become part of the solution."
This is not a program we say, 'Here,' and just put it on a piece of paper," said Ventura County Fire Chief Bob Roper. "This will take a long-term dedication."
Modeled after a concept in Australia, where homeowners in rural areas fight fires on their own, the program would teach people how to make their homes more fire-safe and how to save their property if firefighters are unable to respond. It also would be up to individual fire agencies to adopt the policy.
Fire officials who support the program said it's not meant to train people to replace firefighters, but rather to have them snuff out embers and other burning material that may land on a house before the flames arrive.
The ideal candidate for the program would be someone who is physically fit; has cleared brush from around their home; has a stucco-walled home with fire-resistant roof tiles; and who has decided prior to the fire on whether to leave or stay.
Not everyone is convinced such a program would work in their communities. The challenge for fire agencies will be providing a clear and pointed educational campaign so people aren't confused.
"My concern is expecting residents to react correctly in the extreme conditions of a wildfire, particularly a wind-driven firestorm, is asking too much, perhaps, and could lead to injury or worse," said Los Angeles County Fire Chief P. Michael Freeman said.
Freeman recalled a fire in 1996 in Malibu where several firefighters were burned by flames because a jittery resident who evacuated at the last-minute accidentally blocked a road that fire trucks were trying to access.
"If people stay, then lose confidence and they decide to evacuate when it's too late, then they are very vulnerable," Freeman said.
The paradigm shift comes just months after another round of major wildfires that ravaged neighborhoods from Santa Barbara to Orange County. Officials in Ventura and Orange counties said they have taken steps to inform the public about the new approach and want to create instructional materials.
But getting to change people's mindset might be too big of an obstacle for fire officials to overcome. During a fire in October in a tony gated community of Porter Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, a long line of cars crawled down a road because many residents waited until the last possible moment to get out of the neighborhood's only open exit.
"When we call for the evacuation order, we want you to go," said Ventura County fire Capt. Ron Oatman. "I think people don't realize the urgency until it happens in their backyard."
Ruben Grijalva, director of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said he would like to see how the policy change would work at a fire agency before endorsing it. Roper said outside of the meeting that the earliest his department could have the program in place would be sometime early next year.
Freeman said no two fires are the same and whatever decision is made by fire officials it shouldn't be a blanket approach.
"What might be good for one area, may not be good for 10 others," Freeman said. "One size does not fit all in this case."
More info:Calif fire officials mull over stay-defend policy - Mercury News - Link
Fire chiefs debate 'stay and defend' - LA Times - Link
Calif fire officials mull over stay-defend policy - SFgate.com - Link
In theory this sounds like a great idea to have homeowners defending their property but like many of our colleagues, we see potential problems with this plan. Is it wise to let people defend their homes with little training? Will the city or county supply them with some firefighting equipment? How will all this work?
ReplyDeleteWe believe what is needed are trained volunteer wildland firefighters to augment services during such situations instead of homeowners being put in harm's way. There are also private companies such as Advanced Fire in Canyon Country, CA who can assist. In fact there are several private companies out there that are there when needed.
The bottom line is that in this recession we are in and the State budget in shambles, this sets the stage for volunteer firefighters to spring into action. The unions need to get a grip and realize that there is no other choice. The State simply cannot afford more paid firefighters.
We will await the outcome and see how well this works.
Southern California FIRE & EMS
www.socalems.com
Capt. Ed Castillo, Dir. of EMS OPS.