Poway Fire Department 2020 Annual Report 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 2 The City of Poway The City of Poway is located in northeast San Diego County and prides itself on the fact that over half of the city’s 39.4 square-mile area is preserved as dedicated open space. This “City in the Country” is bordered to the north, south and west by the City of San Diego and by unincorporated San Diego County to the east. Close to 50,000 residents call Poway home, with single family dwelling units making up 75% of the 16,937 housing units in the city. The Clyde Rexrode Wilderness Area is more than 1,000 acres of open space featuring two of Poway’s recreational jewels: Blue Sky Ecological Reserve and the Lake Poway Recreational Area. Lake Poway serves as a reservoir for the city’s drinking water with the ability to store over 1 billion gallons of water and the park area features hiking trails, an archery range and fishing and boating opportunities. The Blue Sky Ecological Reserve is 770 acres of natural hab- itat with hiking, horseback riding and interpretive trails. Poway also is home to the 1140-acre Iron Mountain Wilder- ness Area. The Poway Performing Arts Center is an 815 seat professional theater that was built in 1990. The community is primarily residential; however, it also has a thriving business park, located in the southern por- tion of the City. The 1,500-acre South Poway Business Park is home to approximately 600 businesses with more than 19,000 employees and occupies close to 11 million square feet of building space. Poway also supports a well-developed business area, located along Poway Road and Pomerado Road. The Poway Unified School District is the county’s third largest school district and one of the most respected. The district provides educa- tional services to 38 public school campuses in the north inland area, serving 33,000 students. There are 12 campuses located in the city: 2 high schools, 2 middle schools, 7 elementary schools and 1 adult school. The median household income is $105,732 and 6.6% of the population is below poverty level. Approximately 16.38% of the population is 65 years and over. Poway has a climate that is characterized by mild winters and warm summers. Rain more frequently occurs in the spring and delivers an average of 12” annually. The annual temperatures range from an aver- age high of 73°, and record high of 114°. 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 3 Message from the Fire Chief is my pleasure to present the 2020 Annual Report Prevention team works diligently to ensure our business It for the City of Poway Fire Department. Over this past and residential communities remain safe through the year, team members have worked hard to deliver on the application of fire and life safety codes. The coordination City Council priorities and meet the needs of our com- and development of City disaster preparedness, func- munity, as highlighted in this report. tions, engagement of community volunteers and seek- ing grant-funded activities were active and successful. The mission statement of the City of Poway Fire Depart- ment is: 2020 was a year of challenge but also one of achieve- ments for the Poway Fire Department. A significant To reduce the loss of life and property from fire, achievement was the re-evaluation and re-classification medical, and environmental emergencies through of the City of Poway Fire Department with a Class 1/1X education, hazard reduction, and response. designation by the Insurance Service Organization (ISO). It is with great pride that I proclaim the men and women This Public Protection Classification rating is the highest of the Poway Fire Department fulfilled this commitment level of recognition and places the Poway Fire Depart- throughout 2020. This commitment was, and still is, ment among the ranks of only 37 fire departments in being tested every day by the coronavirus pandemic California and 348 nationwide that have earned the dis- and its impact on our members, their families, co-work- tinction. The ISO classifications are designed to evaluate ers, businesses, and residents. Our 57 well-trained and a fire department’s ability to protect local communities. highly skilled professional firefighters, fire engineers, fire Cities use the data to help measure the effectiveness of their fire-protection services, and insurance companies officers, chief officers, fire inspectors and administrative support staff have maintained the delivery of services use it when establishing premiums for fire insurance. A with flexibility, commitment, and talent. It is my honor Class 1 rating generally represents superior property fire and privilege to work alongside these passionate public protection and can lower the price of insurance within a servants. community. Another achievement of great pride for the Poway Fire Department was award of a Hazard Mitiga- The Poway Fire Department began 2020 refreshed and tion Grant through CalOES and FEMA. The $1.9M grant, ready to build upon the achievements of 2019. Even which includes a 25% match of city funds, provides with the arrival of the pandemic in March, the Poway funding reimbursement for the removal dead and dying Fire Department remained steadfast in its delivery of trees along Twin Peaks Road and Espola Road to miti- safe, responsive customer service and continued im- gate against future wildfires. Many more achievements provement. Of the many service priorities for the Fire are shared throughout this annual report. Department, maintaining a high level of operational readiness and quick response is paramount. Our first Our team have designed this report to highlight what we responders were swift to mitigate dangerous situations do and how well we performed. I sincerely believe this and delivered patient care with compassion and skill. report will make you as proud to live, work, and play in Our administrative staff greets customers with infor- the “City in the Country” as I am. mation and highly responsive services. And our Fire Jon Canavan, Fire Chief 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 4 About the Fire Department The Poway Municipal Water District established the Poway Fire Department in 1961. Shortly thereafter, the Poway Firefighters Association purchased and operated Poway’s first ambulance. After City incorporation in 1980, the Safety Services Department was established and tasked with administration of the Fire Department and Contract Law Enforcement. In 2019, Contract Law Enforcement moved to report to the City Manager’s Office, changing the name to the Fire Department, and no longer the Safety Services Department. Today, the Fire Department is an all-hazard, all-risk response agency. From three fire stations, 17 personnel respond to emergency and non-emergency calls for service by staffing three paramedic engines, a paramedic ladder truck, two paramedic ambulances and one incident commander (Fire Battalion Chief). The Department maintains response aid agreements with surrounding jurisdictions and participates in the California State Fire & Rescue Mutual Aid System and FEMA’s Urban Area Search & Rescue team. The Poway Fire Department maintains active participation in the International Fire Chiefs Association, California Fire Chiefs Association, League of California Cities, San Diego County Unified Disaster Council and the San Diego County Fire Chiefs Association. The Department’s resources are grouped into the Metro Zone area of San Diego County Opera- tional Area and partners with fire departments from San Diego City, Miramar, Chula Vista, National City, Coronado, Imperial Beach, and U.S. Navy Federal. The Fire Department accounted for 27% of Poway’s general fund expenditures with 86% of that dedicated to personnel costs. Sources of revenue to offset expenditures include am- bulance fees, a fire protection tax, mutual aid reimbursement, new construction development services fees, and issuance of annual fire and life safety operating permits. FY 2020-21 General Fund Expenditures Fire Supression & Paramedics Community Services & General / Admin Non-Operating $13.4M | 27% Parks Maintenance $3.9M | 8% $1.6M | 3% $8.6M | 17% Law Enforcement Development Services & Housing Public Works $14.3M | 28% $4.9M | 10% $3.3M | 7% 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 5 Organization Chart The City of Poway Fire Department is staffed by 57 budgeted fulltime employees. The delivery of services are managed from five functional areas including: Administrative, Fire Prevention, Operations/EMS, Training/Safety, Logistics/Support, Disaster Preparedness. 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 6 Fire Department Facilities Fire Station # 1 13050 Community Road Fire Station # 2 16912 Westling Court Fire Station # 3 1433 Pomerado Road Training Tower 12335 Crosthwaite Circle 2020 ANNUAL REPORT | PAGE 7 Service Call Operations/EMS 6% The Operations/EMS Division is the largest func- Good Intent tional division of the Fire Department. Also re- 11% ferred to as fire suppression or paramedics, the Operations/EMS Division is responsible for the False Alarm/ delivery of emergency and non-emergency ser- False Call 5% vices, including fire suppression, rescue, emer- Rescue and Emergency gency medical services, hazardous materials re- Medical Fire sponses, and public assistance. The Operations/ Services 2% EMS Division is managed by one of three Fire 46% Battalion Chiefs. In addition to program man- Other * EMS Transports 1% agement, the Fire Battalion Chief – Operations/ 29% EMS provides direct supervision of an assigned shift. Additional staffing of the Division includes *Other includes: hazardous 12 Fire Captain/Paramedics, 12 Fire Engineer/ conditions (no fire); overpressure, rupture, Paramedics, and 24 Firefighter/Paramedics. The explosion, overheat; special Division receives clerical support from the de- incident type partment’s Senior Administrative Assistant. The Operations/EMS Division maintains a constant staff response model with three shifts of personnel working 24- hour work periods on a rotating schedule. From three fire stations, 17 personnel staff three paramedic engines, two paramedic ambulances, one paramedic ladder truck and one incident command vehicle.