Resolution No. 4814 - Laserfiche WebLink

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9.5 Mitigation Strategies This section outlines suggested strategies for reducing the leve~ of risk to both property and life safety in wildland/urban interface development areas that may be at high risk from wildland/urban interface fires. The suggested mitigation strategy has four elements: 1) reduce the probability of fire ignitions, 2) reduce the probability that small fires will spread, 3) minimize the life safety risk, and 4) minimize property damage. Reduce the probability of fire ignitions Efforts to reduce the probability of fire ignitions should focus on human causes of ignition through a combination of fire prevention education, enforcement, and other actions. Fire prevention education actions could include efforts to heighten public awareness of fire dangers, especially during high danger time periods and better education about fire safe practices, such as careful disposal of smoking materials, and adhering to restrictions on burning of rubbish and debris. Fire prevention enforcement action could include strict enforcement of burning restrictions and vigorous investigation and prosecution of arson cases. An important physical action to reduce the probability of ignitions is to maintain or upgrade tree-trimming operations around power lines to minimize fires starting by sparking from lines to vegetative fuels. Reduce the probability that small fires will spread. Possible mitigation actions to reduce the probability that small fires will spread include enhancement of water supply and fire suppression capabilities for high risk areas, expansion of existing firebreaks, creation of new firebreaks and expanding defensible spaces around structures in wildland/urban interface areas. IVljinimize Life Safety Risk The mitigation actions above may help to minimize life safety risk by helping to reduce the number of ignitions, by reducing the probability that smal~ fires will spread, and by encouraging more fire-safe practices of building construction and fire-safe landscaping. These practices are meritorious for reducing the fire hazards to structures. However, they may also give homeowners a false sense of ~ife safety security. A false sense of security may encourage people to stay in homes at risk during wildfires, rather than evacuating immediately at the first fire warning. The most important action to minimize life safety risk during wildland/urban interface fires is immediate evacuation, when indicated as necessary by the responsible fire agencies. Thus, reducing life safety risk requires public education and emergency planning to encourage and expedite warnings and evacuations. Evacuation notices need to be carefully communicated and evacuation recommended only when necessary. Otherwise, mass evacuations of residents fleeing the area of a minor or controllable fire could potentially delay firefighters from gaining access to the fire and controlling it. Public Review Draft: August 6, 2004 9-19