PRE-FIRE PLANNING Pre-Attack Mapping by Fire Captain Greg Alex Pre-Fire Engineer / GIS Coordinator San Luis Obispo County
CWPP / UNIT FIRE PLAN Individual CAL FIRE Unit Fire Management Plans document assessments of the fire situation within each of CAL FIRE's 21 Units and six contract counties. The plans include stakeholder contributions and priorities, and identify strategic areas for pre-fire planning and fuel treatment as defined by the people who live and work with the local fire problem.
The Golden Hour of Emergency Response Planning and preparedness are crucial precursors to an actual wildfire response: The phrase golden hour is often used in wildfire situations to describe the opportunities for saving lives. First responders must get to the scene, size up the emergency, and deploy: life-saving opportunities exist primarily in the first hour of an emergency and decline rapidly thereafter.
INCIDENT PLANNING In wildfire response situations, the golden hour becomes critical as the tasks from planning and mitigation are applied in real-time. Incident commanders and wildfire managers must be able to quickly answer tons of questions.
BEFORE GIS The majority of pre-attack plans exist for large facilities, buildings, and commercial areas. These plans, typically gathered in mapbooks and provide intelligence on floor layouts, construction details, important hazards, safety information, response requirements, tactical recommendations, etc. that may be vital to establish a safe firefighting strategy
PRE-PLANNING WITH GIS In the last decade, geographic techniques have increased and been broadly applied to the fire service. Geographic information systems (GIS) have become a major tool for the fire service to improve preparedness, response and recovery to incidents. Quality spatial information is critical to effectively managing a dynamic incident where large numbers of public safety resources are deployed with various assignments. GIS techniques have made access to maps and imagery commonplace. However, the maps generally lack important details, particularly in WUI areas where wildland fires occur.
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN? Content Operation and Safety Briefing Information Mission / Command Organization Structure Defense Strategies Specific to planning area Construction Type Zoning type Communications Cell / Radio Quality of reception (identify poor coverage areas) Service / Support Air attack (Air to Ground frequencies) Logistical information
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN? Risk Management considerations Power lines / Pipelines / Known Local Hazards (asbestos) General Safety When to get out Ingress / Egress route safety Identify trigger points General Plan description Acres Fire History Objectives Life / Property General Command Considerations Land Ownership Incident Facilities / Incident Command Posts / Staging areas / Safe Refuse Areas / Safety Zones / Drop Points / Lookout sites
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN? Specific Command Considerations Demographics ( income level / single or multi family residential / primary or vacation homes) Structures (Address) Access (Gates / Bridges / Dirt Roads passable impassable / Engine type 1 or 3) Fuels Energy Release Component (pocket card) Typical Live to Dead Fuel Ratio Typical seasonal Fuel Moisture Expected Fire Behavior Topography Weather (Trends Daily and Seasonal) Water Sources Road Network
WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE PLAN? Evacuation Considerations / Road Closures Ingress / egress routing Control Points Evacuation Shelters Animal Evacuation Needs Public Information Officer Assignments Cooperating Agencies Recourse Request Recommendations Pre-positioning needs
OFFLINE APPLICATION Android, ios app
OTHER ALL RISK PLANS Other predictable natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and tsunamis use GISbased pre-incident maps also to aid with planning, response, and recovery. Tsunami Pre-Attack Plans Evacuation Plans Public Audience Tsunami Wildland Active Shooter Public Facilities Schools
WEB BASED FUTURE Currently, CALFIRE, is testing a Web-based, Next-generation Incident Command System (NICS) that utilizes real-time maps to display spatial information such as engine and firefighter locations, evacuation routes, wildfire lines, fuel breaks, and weather conditions. Similarly, the USFS is evaluating new technology and developing spatial information delivery on a mobile platform to support wildfire operations with the Interra Product.
NICS
OPEN STREET MAP
FUNDING Sources FireSafe Council County OES Cal Poly San Luis Obispo County Fire Department Production Costs $6000 - $7000 GIS Labor 300-400 Hours $3000 - $4000 Print Layout $3000 - $4000 Printing 1000 plans
QUESTIONS? Links FireAdaptiveCommunities.org Calfireslo.org PDF Maps OpenStreetMap.com MapBox.com