REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND RECORD OF ACTION
October 26, 2021
FROM
DAN MUNSEY, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, San Bernardino County Fire Protection District
SUBJECT
Title
Amendment to Non-Financial Mutual Aid Agreement with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Acting as the governing body of the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District, approve Amendment No. 1 to non-financial Mutual Aid Agreement No. 18-648 with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to address all-risk emergencies, update the type of aid provided to include automatic aid, amend the types of equipment and resources provided, make additional miscellaneous changes to the Operating Plan (Attachment A), and extend the term of the agreement by three years, for a total contract term of August 30, 2018 through August 30, 2026.
(Presenter: Dan Munsey, Fire Chief/Fire Warden, 387-5779)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
Pursue County Goals and Objectives by Working with Other Agencies and Stakeholders.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). This is a non-financial agreement that defines the responsibilities of the two fire entities regarding mutual aid response.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) is a state agency that provides varied emergency services including wildland fire fighting. As part of its mission of emphasizing the management and protection of California’s natural resources, Cal Fire oversees the enforcement of California’s forest practice regulations, encourages and implements fuels management projects to reduce the threat of uncontrolled wildfires, and participates in vegetation management projects such as controlled burns.
The San Bernardino County Fire Protection District (SBCFPD) is a community-based, all hazard emergency services organization providing various services including emergency mitigation and management for fire suppression. SBCFPD is dedicated to the protection of the public it serves.
On August 21, 2018 (Item No. 64), the Board of Directors (Board) for SBCFPD approved Mutual Aid Agreement No. 18-648 (Agreement) with Cal Fire. The Agreement, which has a current five-year term through August 30, 2023, allows SBCFPD and Cal Fire to furnish fire protection personnel/equipment and render fire protection services to each other, as may be necessary, for the purpose of contributing to the following:
• Maximizing fire response to wildland fires on initial attack.
• Minimizing the effects on the public, environment, and property.
• Suppressing fire of a size beyond the control of either party through assistance from the other.
Approval of this item will amend the Agreement to address all-risk emergencies that require a rapid, efficient, and coordinated response to minimize their effects on the public, taxpayers, the environment, and property. This often requires a coordinated response from State, Federal, and Local Agencies. Both parties will mutually agree to furnish fire protection personnel and equipment and to render such fire protection services to each other as may be necessary to provide rapid responses to all-risk emergencies when the other agency’s resources are committed or extended beyond initial response areas, which therefore requires assistance from the other. The recommended amendment will update the type of aid provided to include automatic aid. The Agreement currently provides for no automatic aid other than the pre-planned zones for response to wildland fires. The amendment provides automatic aid for immediate responses to all emergencies. Further, it amends the types of equipment and resources for use under the Agreement to include dozers and crews, in addition to Type 1 and Type 3 Engines. Finally, the amendment makes additional miscellaneous changes to the Operating Plan (Attachment A) and extends the term of the Agreement by three years through August 30, 2026.
All other terms of the Agreement shall remain the same.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Scott Runyan, Supervising Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 13, 2021; Finance (Tom Forster, Administrative Analyst, 387-4635) on October 4, 2021; and County Finance and Administration (Matthew Erickson, County Chief Financial Officer, 387-5423) on October 7, 2021.