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C. 76
To: Contra Costa County Fire Protection District Board of Directors
From: Lewis T. Broschard III, Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District
Date: May  26, 2020
The Seal of Contra Costa County, CA
Contra
Costa
County
Subject: 2019 Update to Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On:   05/26/2020
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:

VOTE OF SUPERVISORS

AYE:
John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Diane Burgis, District III Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V Supervisor
Contact: Lewis Broschard, Fire Chief 925-941-3300 x1100
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED:     May  26, 2020
David Twa,
 
BY: , Deputy

 

RECOMMENDATION(S):

APPROVE the 2019 Update to the Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan.

FISCAL IMPACT:

There are no costs associated with the approval of the Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan. However, since most grants require these plans to be updated every five years, failure to update the document could preclude Contra Costa County and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District (District) from obtaining federal and state grants. To assure federal and state grant eligibility, the revised Wildfire Protection Plan must be approved this year.

BACKGROUND:

The first Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) began in 2009 by compiling existing documents; analyzing fire behavior potential; and collaborating with homeowners, representatives of special interest groups, and agency officials. In 2014, a Draft CWPP Update was developed through a similar area-wide planning effort.   
  
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
    The 2019 Update to the Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan was prepared by the Diablo Fire Safe Council in conjunction with the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District; Contra Costa County Fire Chiefs Association; CAL FIRE; Hills Emergency Forum; and Stakeholder Committee members.
    The CWPP provides an analysis of wildfire hazards and risks in the wildland-urban interface (WUI) in Contra Costa County, California. It follows the standards for CWPPs established by the federal Healthy Forest Restoration Act, including:
    1. Identifying and prioritizing fuel reduction opportunities across the county (see Section 3 Fire Hazard and Risk in the Wildland Urban Interface and Section 5: Prioritizing Fuel Reduction Vegetation Management Treatments)
    2. Addressing structural ignitability (see Section 6: Prioritized Treatment of Structural Ignitability); and
    3. Collaborating with stakeholders (see Section 2.2: The Planning Process and Stakeholders).
    The goal of the CWPP is to reduce hazard through increased information and education about wildfires, hazardous fuels reduction, actions to reduce structure ignitability, and other recommendations to assist emergency preparedness and fire suppression efforts. Most importantly, the CWPP facilitates coordinated fire management actions.   
      
    The CWPP recommends five priority actions:
    1. Collaborative Partnerships for Public Communications – Expand collaborative partnerships beyond traditional partners to find common goals related to wildfire safety, employ many solutions, improve public communication, and reach multiple audiences.
    2. Evacuation Planning and Communication – Assist community groups to develop neighborhood evacuation action plans through collaboration with fire departments, emergency services, and other organizations.
    3. Hazardous Fuel Load Management Balanced with Biological Resource Protection – This priority includes geographically based fuel reduction projects. Goals are to Increase awareness of environmental sensitivities and permitting requirements; and explore assumptions of what we can do in terms of fire suppression and pre-fire fuel treatments (e.g., critical habitat recovery projects, regulatory agencies as partners, and types of studies).
    4. Defensible Space Programs – Expand defensible space programs for property owners in high fire hazard areas in Contra Costa County.
    5. Home Hardening – Develop education and training related to retrofit of existing homes and structures to improve their survivability.

    CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:

    If the 2019 Update to the Contra Costa County Wildfire Protection Plan is not approved, the outdated 2014 Wildfire Protection Plan will continue to be the guiding document. Since many grants at the state and federal level require that Wildfire Protection Plans are updated every five years, Contra Costa County and District access to grant opportunities could be limited.

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