THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF STANISLAUS BOARD ACTION SUMMARY
DEPT: CEO - Office of Emergency Services/Fire Warden BOARD AGENDA:8.4 AGENDA DATE: August 25, 2020
SUBJECT: Approval to Proclaim the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Fires Impacting Stanislaus County
BOARD ACTION AS FOLLOWS: RESOLUTION NO. 2020-0452
On motion of Supervisor _Chiesa ______, Seconded by Supervisor ___ Olsen ______and approved by the following vote, Ayes: Supervisors: G_hiesa, Withrow, Berryhill, DeMartini and Chairwoman Olsen ______Noes: Supervisors: ______None ______Excused or Absent: Supervisors: _1'!9!1§l ______Abstaining: Supervisor: ______. N.Qlllo ______.
1) X Approved as recommended 2) ___ Denied 3) ___ Approved as amended 4) ___ Other: MOTION:
ATTEST: File No. THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF STANISLAUS AGENDA ITEM
DEPT: CEO - Office of Emergency Services/Fire Warden BOARD AGENDA:8.4 AGENDA DATE: August 25, 2020 CONSENT:
CEO CONCURRENCE: YES 4/5 Vote Required: No
SUBJECT: Approval to Proclaim the Existence of a Local Emergency Due to Fires Impacting Stanislaus County
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: 1. Proclaim the existence of a local emergency in Stanislaus County due to current wildland fires and evacuations in the Calaveras and Canyon Zones of the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex Incident, located within Stanislaus County.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services to take the necessary actions in accordance with the Stanislaus County Code Section 2.52.110 to respond to the emergency.
DISCUSSION: Background In Stanislaus County, the Chief Executive Officer serves as the County’s Director of Emergency Services and is charged with the responsibility to request the Board of Supervisors proclaim existence or threatened existence of a local emergency, if circumstances warrant such an action. At this time and based on a thorough review of the current fire conditions, evacuations, and weather forecasts in Stanislaus County, the Director recommends that the Board of Supervisors proclaim the existence of a local emergency in Stanislaus County.
Current Events The Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex fires started on August 18, 2020, the result of multiple lightning strikes in the foothill areas West of Interstate-5. The SCU Lightning Complex fires are approximately 20 separate fires broken into three zones; the Canyon Zone, the Calaveras Zone, and the Deer Zone. The Canyon and Calaveras Zones include portions of Stanislaus County. The fires are burning in steep, rugged terrain and are influenced by extreme temperatures and low relative humidity. Some of the terrain has little to no fire history with decadent fuels conducive to extreme fire growth.
Fire behavior has grown immensely creating potential structure damage to County property (Frank Raines Park) and residential property off Del Puerto Canyon Road. Mandatory evacuations were ordered from Frank Raines Park to Del Puerto Canyon Road (SR-130) between Mines Road and Diablo Grande Parkway on August 18, 2020. The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department was utilized to accomplish all voluntary and mandatory evacuation functions.
On August 18, 2020, the Diablo Grande Residential Community was given a voluntary evacuation notice.
On August 19, 2020, Cal Fire issued a mandatory evacuation order for all areas of Diablo Grande Parkway, the Diablo Grande Residential Community, and areas South of Stanislaus County between the Santa Clara County Line and Interstate-5 West of Interstate-5, North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line, East of the Santa Clara County Line.
The Stanislaus County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated on August 18, 2020, to provide support for the community of Diablo Grande during the evacuation order.
Evacuation Warnings were issued for South of Diablo Grande Parkway and the Diablo Grande Community to the Stanislaus/Merced County Line, West of the Interstate-5, North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line, East of Santa Clara County Line.
As of this submission, approximately 40,000 to 50,000 acres have burned in Stanislaus County. Unknown are injuries, casualties, or structure/property damage. County staff will assess damages when it has been declared safe to enter the areas affected.
An evacuation center has been established at Creekside Middle School, 535 Peregrine Drive in Patterson, CA. American Red Cross, Public Health, and Community Services Agency are on site to assist in coordinating care and sheltering needs.
Because large fires are burning throughout the State, numerous local fire resources are already deployed to other regions through mutual aid and cannot easily be recalled. California Governor Gavin Newson has expressly recognized this concern relating to competing demands on local resources. Because of the hundreds of fires actively burning throughout California, which have collectively burned tens of thousands of acres, Governor Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency on August 18, 2020. The State of Emergency Proclamation recognizes that the large number of fires actively burning throughout the State have strained California’s mutual aid system, making it increasingly difficult for jurisdictions to obtain the necessary in-state and out-of-state firefighting resources to respond to these fires; and that extremely high temperatures and dry conditions are expected to continue, which will further increase the spread of fires statewide and likely result in additional wildfires, further exacerbating the current wildfire situation in California and scarcity of resources to address the fires.
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POLICY ISSUE: The Director of Emergency Services is empowered to request the Board of Supervisors to proclaim the existence or threatened existence of a local emergency per Stanislaus County Code 2.52.110. According to Government Code 8558, a “local emergency” is defined as the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of disaster or of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of a county, caused by conditions such as air pollution and fire.
FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact associated with the wildland fires in Stanislaus County is not yet known. Overall, it is anticipated that there will be fiscal impacts to this event including, but not limited to, private property damage, potential damage to a County park, bridges and other infrastructure, increased staff overtime and operational costs. Existing appropriations will be used initially for expenses required to respond to this emergency. Potential future budget adjustments, if required, will be reported in the coming weeks to the Board of Supervisors.
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ PRIORITY: Approving this proclamation of emergency will support the Board of Supervisors’ priorities of Supporting Strong and Safe Neighborhoods, Supporting Community Health, and Delivering of Efficient Public Services and Community Infrastructure by ensuring all available resources are used as needed to address the local emergency.
STAFFING IMPACT: County staff from the Office of Emergency Services, Fire Warden, Sheriff’s Department, Environmental Resources, Community Services Agency, Public Health, Stanislaus Animal Services Agency, and various other partners are dedicated to the safe emergency response to wildland fire-related impacts in Stanislaus County.
CONTACT PERSON: Jody Hayes, Chief Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services (209) 525-6333
Richard Murdock, Asst. Director of Emergency Services/Fire Warden (209) 552-3600
ATTACHMENT(S): 1. Proclamation
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THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THE COUNTY OF STANISLAUS STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Date August 25, 2020 2020-0452 On motion of Supervisor ...... Chiesa.... Seconded by Supervisor ...... Qfaen and approved by the following vote, Ayes: Supervisors: ...... Chie.s.a, .. Withrn.w., .. JlerryhiJI, Q\:M.ani11i,Jlll9. C.:h.aiDY911.1.arJ Qlse11. Noes: Supervisors: ...... , .. ,,,,,, ...... Excused or Absent: Supervisors: .... , .. ,,-,,,·, ...... ___ ...... Abstaining: Supervisor: . N911e Jtem ..# ... 8.4 ..... THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS ADOPTED: RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE EXISTENCE OF A LOCAL EMERGENCY DUE TO CURRENT WILDLAND FIRES AND EVACUATIONS IN THE CALAVERAS AND CANYON ZONES OF THE CAL FIRE SANTA CLARA UNIT (SCU) LIGHTNING COMPLEX INCIDENT
WHEREAS, the County Board of Supervisors is empowered to proclaim a Local Emergency when Stanislaus County is threatened or likely to be threatened by conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property that are or are likely to be beyond the control of the services, personnel, equipment, facilities of this County; and
WHEREAS, California Government Code section 8558(c) states that a "local emergency" means the duly proclaimed existence of conditions of extreme peril to the safety of persons and property within the territorial limits of the County; and
WHEREAS, beginning on August 14, 2020, California and its neighboring western states began experiencing an extreme heat event, causing record-breaking temperatures throughout California. Temperatures have exceeded 100' Fahrenheit in many parts of the County for multiple days, and the National Weather Service has issued Red Flag Warnings for fire risk; and
WHEREAS, the extreme heat event has resulted in widespread lightning strikes, sparking fires throughout the State; and
WHEREAS, there remains a State of Emergency due to the continued impacts of the spread of COVID-19 as reflected in the March 4, 2020, Proclamation of a State of Emergency issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, the Declarations of Local Health Emergency issued by the Health Officer on March 11, 2020, the Proclamation of a Local Emergency on March 11, 2020, and the March 17, 2020, Resolution of the Board of Supervisors of the County of Stanislaus, Ratifying the Declarations of Local Health Emergency and Local Emergency Proclamation, Governor Newsom's March 12, 2020, Executive Order N-25-20, Governor Newsom's March 19, 2020, Executive Order N-33-20, and the designation by the State Public Health Officer of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers issued March 22, 2020; and Page 2
WHEREAS, the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors finds:
1. On August 18, 2020, at approximately 9 25 a.m., the SCU Lightning Complex fires, consisting of 20 separate fires, began burning across five counties (Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, and Stanislaus) broken into three zones; the Canyon Zone, the Calaveras Zone, and the Deer Zone. The fires continue to burn in steep, rugged terrain and are infiuenced by extreme temperatures, and low relative humidity. Some of the terrain has little to no fire history with decadent fuels conducive to extreme fire growth.
2. As a result of these major fires, the County activated its Emergency Operations Center.
3. Fire behavior has grown immensely creating potential structure damage to County property (Frank Raines Park) and residential property off Del Puerto Canyon Rd. Mandatory evacuations were ordered from Frank Raines Parks to Del Puerto Canyon Rd (SR-130) between Mines Road and Diablo Grande PKWY on August 18, 2020. Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department was utilized to accomplish all voluntary and mandatory evacuation functions.
4. Stanislaus County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) was activated on August 18, 2020, to provide support for the community of Diablo Grande during the evacuation order.
5. On August 19, 2020, Cal Fire issued a mandatory evacuation for all areas of Diablo Grande Parkway, the Diablo Grande Residential Community, and South of Stanislaus County between Santa Clara County Line and 1-5 West of 1-5 North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line East of Santa Clara County Line.
6. Evacuation Warnings were issued for South of Diablo Grande Parkway and the Diablo Community to the Stanislaus/Merced County Line West of the 1-5, North of Stanislaus/Merced County Line, East of Santa Clara County Line.
7. As of August 20, 2020, approximately 40-50,000 acres have burned in Stanislaus County. Injuries, casualties, or structure/property damage are unknown.
8. An evacuation center has been established at Creekside Middle School, 535 Peregrine Drive in Patterson, CA. American Red Cross, Public Health, and Community Services Agency are on site to assist in coordinating care and sheltering needs. Page 3
9. Because of the hundreds of fires actively burning during these extreme weather conditions throughout California, which have collectively burned tens of thousands of acres, California Governor Gavin Newsom proclaimed a State of Emergency on August 18, 2020. The State of Emergency Proclamation recognizes that the number of fires actively burning statewide and in other western states has resulted in a strain on California's mutual aid system, making it increasingly difficult for jurisdictions to obtain the necessary in-state and out-of-state firefighting resources to respond to these fires; that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved multiple Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG) to assist with the mitigation, management, and control of several of the fires in the State that have destroyed or threatened homes and critical infrastructure and forced the evacuations of thousands of residents; and that extremely high temperatures and dry conditions are expected to continue, which will further increase the spread of fires statewide and likely result in additional wildfires, further exacerbating the current wildfire situation in California.
10. As the State of Emergency Proclamation recognized, the County's own firefighting resources are severely strained. Because severe fires are burning throughout the State, numerous local resources are already deployed to other regions through mutual aid and cannot easily be recalled.
11. That the aforesaid conditions of extreme peril may arise, warrant, and necessitate the proclamation of a Local Emergency and immediate action is necessary to mitigate potential public calamity.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors does hereby proclaim a local emergency.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Supervisors does hereby order:
1. That during the existence of said Local Emergency, the powers, functions, and duties of the Director of Emergency Services shall be those prescribed by State law and the ordinances, resolutions, and approved plan of the County to mitigate the effects of said Local Emergency.
2 That a copy of this proclamation be forwarded to the Governor of California with the request that he proclaim the existence of a State of Emergency throughout the impacted areas of Stanislaus County and provide or request all eligible State and Federal financial assistance to the County and impacted local jurisdictions.
3. That a copy of this proclamation be submitted to the Director of the California Governor's Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) requesting a Director's Concurrence pursuant to Section 2970 of Title 19 of the California Code of Regulations and to request financial assistance for all eligible public entities within the County under the California Disaster Assistance Act for their associated response costs. Page 4
4. All County officers and employees take all steps necessary to qualify the County for reimbursement from the State (CalOES) or Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and for other State and Federal relief as may be available to reimburse the County for the expenses it incurs in addressing this emergency.
5. Pursuant to Public Contract Code Sections 20134, 22050, and 20395, the Purchasing Agent, or designee, is hereby authorized to engage independent contractors to complete all necessary work to mitigate the effects of said local emergency. Contracts for this work may be executed without prior Board approval of the plans, specifications, and working details, without giving notice for bids to let contracts.
ATTEST: KELLY RODRIGUEZ, Assistant Clerk Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors, State of California ' File No. Request for Proclamation of a Local Emergency Due to Fires Impacting Stanislaus County
Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex Incident
August 24, 2020
Richard Murdock, Stanislaus County Fire Warden Situation Status Report
. The Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Lightning complex started on August 16th with multiple fires due to lightning strikes
. The fires merged into two major fires and were broken into three zones; Canyon, Calaveras, and Deer
. Calaveras and Canyon zones incorporate parts of Stanislaus County
. 347,196 Acres with 10% contained (Entire Complex)
. 20,065 structures threatened
. 12 Structures destroyed
. 12 Minor structures destroyed \ . ,.
• r~ ~ I "',,., ( -, .- l 9'1a•H TOP 20 LA RG EST CALIFORNIA WI LDF RES
MENDOCINO COMPLEX
LNU LIGHTNING COMPLEX*
SCU LIGHTNING COMPLEX*
THOMAS
CEDAR
RUSH
RIM
ZACA
CARR
MATILIJA
WITCH
KLAMATH THEATER COMPLEX
MARBLE CONE
LAGUNA
BASIN COMPLEX
DAY FIRE
STATION "THESC\J
CAMP FIRE
ROUGH
MCNALLY
l\CRE\ 1 100,000 200 000 300,000 100,000 S00,000 Resources assigned to the entire complex:
152 – Engines
42 - Water Tenders
5 – Helicopters
23 - Hand Crews
30 – Dozers
1,336 - Total Personnel Stanislaus County Impact Dublin Salida 0 0 Livermore 0 Pleasanton 0 OModesto _,-- ..__ \._v·-... ,.J\_,-,,/
... .1" '-' ~e River ___) ~ v---.-.r" ~ 1 eda Oounty r,(NIStAUS OT Aas Nu,,. y
Turlock 0 Patterso~ 'i 0 > Milpitas ' --- · 1 0 "- . ~~ __,,----_J ....__ ~ [ . .'- . ~.n. nta Clara oAlum Rock ·____, ·,·\ San Jose 0
165 mpbell
Gustine 0 [as OS
Morgan Hill 0 Stanislaus County Specific . EOC Activated at Level III on 8/18/20 . At time of activation – 25,000 acres burned with zero (0%) containment . Preplanned for potential evacuations of roughly 1500 residents (650 homes) in Diablo Grande Community . Evacuation order for Del Puerto Canyon Rd between Frank Raines Park and Mines Rd . Evacuation warning given for Diablo Grande Community . Temporary Evacuation Point(s) (TEP) established and handled in coordination with Community Services Agency (CSA), Public Health (PH) and American Red Cross (ARC) . TEP location: Creekside Middle School – Patterson
. 8/19/20 . Evacuation order for Diablo Grande Community . Fire resources staged in locations throughout DG Community to protect structures . Heavy smoke and poor air quality with ash falling all the way into Modesto/Ceres/Turlock areas . ARC reported 15 families (50 individuals) and 5 dogs at Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) . 7 of the families needed overnight stay and were sent to a Turlock Hotel (18 individuals total) . Animal shelter assisted with providing kennels and supplies for pets Stanislaus County Specific
. 8/20/20 – 8/21/20
. EOC upgraded to a Level 2 . Stanislaus County burned area at approximately 35,000 acres . ARC, CSA and Public Health continued to manage Temporary Evacuation Point. 4 additional families. . 3 of the families needed overnight stay and were sent to a Turlock Hotel (6 individuals)
. As of 8/23/20 the report from Cal Fire: 168,370 acres burned in Stanislaus County Stanislaus County Specific
Update from Sheriff Dirkse – as of Friday, August 21, 2020:
. Thursday, August 20 - Identified 41 structures in Del Puerto Canyon (DPC), checked 30 and 11 were destroyed
. Friday, August 21 – Identified 16 structures in the Blue Hill area (Southern Zone), checked 13 and 9 were destroyed
. DPC road remained closed through yesterday. Sheriff is working to get DPC open this morning.
. Once smoke clears – Sheriff’s Department will fly both areas to get a better view on structures/property damaged by fire Stanislaus County Specific
. Reimbursement
. Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) is available to States, local and tribal governments, for the mitigation, management, and control of fires on publicly or privately owned forests or grasslands, which threaten such destruction as would constitute a major disaster. Provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund
. FMAG declaration process is initiated when a State submits a request for assistance to the FEMA regional director at the time the disaster exists
. Provides 75% federal cost share and the State pays the remaining 25% percent for actual costs.
. FMAG was secured by Governor Newsom on August 22, 2020 to provide support to Stanislaus County XL
California Secures Federal Assistance to Support Response to SCU Li£htnini! Comolex Fire in Santa Clara. Stanislaus Counties Staff Recommendations
. Proclaim the existence of a local emergency in Stanislaus County due to current wildland fires and evacuations in the Calaveras and Canyon Zones of the Cal Fire Santa Clara Unit (SCU) Lightning Complex Incident, located within Stanislaus County.
. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer/Director of Emergency Services to take the necessary actions in accordance with the Stanislaus County Code Section 2.52.110 to respond to the emergency.