County of San Diego 2007 Firestorms After Action Report Walter F. Ekard Chief Administrative Officer Harold Tuck Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, Public Safety Group Ron Lane Director, Office of Emergency Services Board of Supervisors: First District Greg Cox Second District Dianne Jacob Third District Pam Slater-Price Fourth District Ron Roberts Fifth District Bill Horn February 2007 Prepared by: EG&G Technical Services, Inc. CONTENTS Executive Summary..................................................................................................... iv Next Steps ..............................................................................................................................................vi Disaster Overview......................................................................................................... x Sequence of Events / Timeline .................................................................................. xii Sunday, October 21, 2007 .................................................................................................................... xii Monday, October 22, 2007 ..................................................................................................................xiv Tuesday, October 23, 2007 ...............................................................................................................xviii Wednesday, October 24, 2007 ............................................................................................................ xxi Thursday, October 25, 2007.............................................................................................................. xxiii Friday, October 26, 2007 ....................................................................................................................xxv Saturday, October 27, 2007...............................................................................................................xxvi Additional Aviation Operations......................................................................................................xxviii Chapter 1: Regional Response .................................................................................... 1 1 Advanced Preparation ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Public Awareness Campaign .................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Countywide Improvements Since 2003................................................................................... 2 1.3 Increased Fire Readiness ....................................................................................................... 7 2 Emergency Operations Center ........................................................................................................ 7 2.1 OAEOC Management and Operations.................................................................................... 7 2.2 JIC/211/OES Website ........................................................................................................... 10 3 Geographical Information System................................................................................................. 13 3.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 13 3.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 14 3.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 17 3.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 18 4 Animal Services............................................................................................................................... 19 4.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 19 4.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 19 4.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 21 4.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 21 5 Construction and Engineering....................................................................................................... 21 5.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires – San Diego County Water Authority ................................ 21 5.2 Improvements Since 2003 Fires – San Diego Gas & Electric Company .............................. 22 5.3 2007 Fires Overview – San Diego County Water Authority .................................................. 22 5.4 2007 Fires Overview – San Diego Gas & Electric Company ................................................ 23 5.5 Successes – San Diego County Water Authority.................................................................. 24 5.6 Successes – San Diego Gas & Electric Company................................................................ 25 5.7 Areas for Improvement – San Diego County Water Authority .............................................. 25 5.8 Areas for Improvement – San Diego Gas & Electric Company ............................................ 25 6 Logistics........................................................................................................................................... 26 6.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 26 6.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 26 6.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 27 6.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 27 CONTENTS i SAN DIEGO COUNTY 7 Emergency Managers Mutual Aid.................................................................................................. 27 7.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 27 7.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 28 7.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 28 7.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 29 8 Technology and Automation.......................................................................................................... 29 8.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 29 8.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 30 8.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 31 8.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 32 9 Volunteer and Donations Management......................................................................................... 33 9.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 33 9.2 Overview................................................................................................................................ 34 9.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 35 9.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 35 10 Medical Examiner ............................................................................................................................ 35 10.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 35 10.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 36 10.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 37 10.4 Areas for Improvement.......................................................................................................... 37 11 Liaison Operations.......................................................................................................................... 38 11.1 Improvements Since 2003 Fires............................................................................................ 38 11.2 2007 Fires Overview ............................................................................................................. 38 11.3 Successes ............................................................................................................................. 39 11.4 Areas for Improvement.........................................................................................................