Supervisors approve fire master plan

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors were presented with a Fire Master Plan at their July 30 meeting, and a 5-0 vote approved the master plan while also establishing $2.1 million in allocations for apparatus, station improvements, and staff and authorizing the addition of 2.0 staff years for the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority.

“This is really tremendous to see this,” said Supervisor Bill Horn. “With this the county is much better served.”

The fire master plan provides an assessment of the volunteer firefighter programs, apparatus, equipment, and facilities within the San Diego County Regional Fire Authority and identifies needs over the next five years.

“It moves towards our goal, which is to be the best prepared that we can be,” said Supervisor Dianne Jacob. “This is very exciting to all of us.”

The master plan’s first chapter is an executive summary. The remaining chapters cover mission and vision statements, values, an introduction and background, a SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis, organizational structure, emergency response, cooperative agreements, staffing, apparatus and equipment, facilities, training and emergency medical services along with a safety development program, fire prevention, information technology, the financial plan, a vision for the future, implementation strategies, and a summary of recommendations and costs.

“The fire master plan represents a solid investment in the San Diego County Fire Authority’s future,” said San Diego County Regional Fire Authority program manager Herman Reddick.

“This fire master plan is going to improve our fire and EMS delivery service further,” said San Diego County Regional Fire Authority fire chief Thom Porter, who is also the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection unit chief. “It will help to develop those volunteer stations.”

The $2.1 million appropriation includes $1.6 million for two fire apparatus vehicles and for fire station improvements in Pine Valley. That money was obtained from the Fire Safety Trust Fund. An additional $500,000 from the Public Safety Group’s fund balance will provide for the two staff positions. One of those will provide logistical support needs and the other will oversee management of administration, budget, financial planning, and other administrative matters.

“We will continue to procure apparatus,” Reddick said.

“It’s important to have that equipment. You never know when the emergency’s going to happen,” Horn said.