Grand Jury Ready? Aim? Fire! Grand Jury Response Beatriz Flores Fri, Dec 11, 2020 at 11:39 Am

City and County officials have not collaborated with PG&E to identify the location of high risk PG&E electrical equipment, and so are left uninformed as to how to manage their responsibilities or how to instruct residents about potential danger due to proximity to this equipment. AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ X DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​ The City of Watsonville does not have any wildland interface area that would require collaboration with PG&E. It is unknown if PG&E has met with other agencies who have areas that may be at risk due to their proximity to PG&E electrical equipment.

Santa Cruz County would greatly benefit if steps were taken to implement the CAL FIRE, San Mateo - Santa Cruz Unit 2018 recommendation of developing detailed, site specific Community Wildfire Protection Plans for communities throughout the County. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

Response time data for fire departments in Santa Cruz County is challenging to obtain. Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1 previously reported response time data in their annual reports, but did not do so in the 2018 or 2019 annual reports. AGREE ​ X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​ If the information is requested, it is our understanding that it can be provided by Santa Cruz Regional 9-1-1.

There are only approximately 17,000 accounts for the Santa Cruz County opt-in CodeRED™ emergency system, which implies that a significant portion of the County may not receive emergency alert messages, which potentially reduces residents’ opportunity to take action in a timely, life-saving manner. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs), have been deployed in other areas of the state and have proven effective tools in alerting residents in urban and rural areas to a wildfire. However, Santa Cruz County has no such devices, increasing the risk to County residents. AGREE ​ X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​ The areas that may benefit from an LRAD are those in the areas where fire danger is high and cell service is spotty to non-existent. Santa Cruz County would not need such devices across the entire County.

Wildfire preparedness informational materials are well done and public education is attempted by fire departments in the County, but fails to sufficiently reach and motivate residents to act. AGREE ​ X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​ Outreach is conducted but it is also up to county residents to take an active part in their own safety.

The FireWise institution provides a valuable fire prevention program and, as of March 2020, there were eight FireWise communities registered in the County. Marin County, by contrast, with a similar population, has sixty registered communities, highlighting the need for more FireWise promotion and participation in Santa Cruz County. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

The County Office of Emergency Services and fire agencies in the County encourage residents to be prepared for an emergency, however the passive mechanisms such as web sites used to encourage preparedness are not proving to be sufficient. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

Property owners in the County are responsible for their own vegetation management, yet they are often not sufficiently educated about vegetation management practices, or do not have the capability, financial resources, or desire to create defensible space. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

No single organization in the County is assuming a leadership role in Fire Hazard Mitigation. It is not clear whose responsibility it is to minimize this County wide risk. AGREE ​ X PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​ CalFire CZU meets with all Santa Cruz County chiefs on a regular basis and relays necessary information regarding fire dangers.

The annual report to the County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Office by County Fire/CAL FIRE does not provide data or analysis of resources, response times, code enforcement, inspection, or education. This information is necessary to show what gaps exist between current performance and community needs in order for informed budget decisions to be made. Without adequate background information, the Board of Supervisors is unable to hold CAL FIRE accountable for the specific responsibilities specified in their contract. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

Reporting data, statistics, and formats utilized by fire agencies throughout the County are highly inconsistent, uncoordinated, and therefore not readily evaluated and compared. The standard Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating system would be useful to adopt. Response time data are not well described or consistently reported by the jurisdictions, making accurate assessment difficult, especially by other agencies or by the public. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​

The Grand Jury finds that formally specified baseline and target performance statements, in alignment with the Center for Public Safety Excellence Assessment Process, neither currently exist nor are they reported by fire departments in the County as required by best practice standards. There are no goals set or measures made of progress for review by the Board of Supervisors regarding County Fire/CAL FIRE performance. Other fire districts in the County are similarly remiss in reporting to their governing bodies. Appropriate goals would include progress on response times, vegetation management, and code inspection progress, all of which are necessary to properly quantify the budget and resources required for full-time, volunteer, and prison inmate workforces, in appropriate, affordable proportions. X AGREE ​ PARTIALLY DISAGREE – explain the disputed portion ​ ​ DISAGREE – explain why ​ ​ Response explanation (required for a response other than Agree): ​ ​ ​