CALIFORNIA FIRE SIEGE 2007 AN OVERVIEW Cover photos from top clockwise: The Santiago Fire threatens a development on October 23, 2007. (Photo credit: Scott Vickers, istockphoto) Image of Harris Fire taken from Ikhana unmanned aircraft on October 24, 2007. (Photo credit: NASA/U.S. Forest Service) A firefighter tries in vain to cool the flames of a wind-whipped blaze. (Photo credit: Dan Elliot) The American Red Cross acted quickly to establish evacuation centers during the siege. (Photo credit: American Red Cross) Opposite Page: Painting of Harris Fire by Kate Dore, based on photo by Wes Schultz. 2 Introductory Statement In October of 2007, a series of large wildfires ignited and burned hundreds of thousands of acres in Southern California. The fires displaced nearly one million residents, destroyed thousands of homes, and sadly took the lives of 10 people. Shortly after the fire siege began, a team was commissioned by CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service and OES to gather data and measure the response from the numerous fire agencies involved. This report is the result of the team’s efforts and is based upon the best available information and all known facts that have been accumulated. In addition to outlining the fire conditions leading up to the 2007 siege, this report presents statistics —including availability of firefighting resources, acreage engaged, and weather conditions—alongside the strategies that were employed by fire commanders to create a complete day-by-day account of the firefighting effort. The ability to protect the lives, property, and natural resources of the residents of California is contingent upon the strength of cooperation and coordination among federal, state and local firefighting agencies. By utilizing the information contained within this report, fire managers will create lessons learned that will be utilized continually to improve the response to wildfires. RUBEN GRIJALVA RANDY MOORE HENRY RENTERIA Director Regional Forester Director California Department Pacific Southwest Region Office of Emergency Services Forestry and Fire Protection U.S. Forest Service (OES) (CAL FIRE) 3 4 Table of Contents Introduction . .6 Fire Events and Policy . .8 Prelude to the Siege 2007. 14 Meteorological Events Timeline and Preparations . 16 The Fires . 18 Aftermath . 57 Epilogue . 59 Fire Siege Coordination . .60 Appendices Appendix I: Statistical Information . 66 Appendix II: Incident Fire Summaries . 68 Appendix III: Evacuations . 86 Appendix IV: After Action Reports . 87 Appendix V: Proclamations and Declarations . 89 Glossary. 105 Acknowledgements . 109 5 California Fire Siege Introduction Introduction In late October 2007, Southern California experienced an unusually severe fire weather event characterized by intense, dry, gusty Santa Ana winds. This weather event drove a series of destructive wildfires that took a devastating toll on people, property, natural resources, and infrastructure. Although some fires burned into early November, the heaviest damage occurred during the first three days of the siege while the winds were the strongest. During this siege, 17 people lost their lives, 10 were killed by the fires outright, three were killed while evacuating, four died from other fire siege related causes, and 140 firefighters and an unknown number of civilians were injured. A total of 3,069 homes and other buildings were destroyed, and hundreds more were damaged. Hundreds of thousands of people were evacuated at the height of the siege. The fires burned over half a million acres, including populated areas, wildlife habitat and watershed. Portions of the electrical power distribution network, telecommunications systems, and even some community water sources were destroyed. Transportation was disrupted over a large area for several days, including numerous road closures. Both the Governor of California and the President of the United States personally toured the ongoing fires. Governor Schwarzenegger proclaimed a state of emergency in seven counties before the end of the first day. President Bush quickly declared a major disaster. While the total impact of the 2007 fire siege was less than the disastrous fires of 2003, it was unquestionably one of the most devastating wildfire events in the history of California. An untouched home in the background stands in contrast to the destruction of neighboring properties. EY K EVIN K Purpose This report provides a broad, factual overview of the fire siege, documenting key events, providing summary statistics and serving as a reference for other reviews, investigations, studies and reports. While firefighters gained control of the fires, a team of state and federal fire specialists gathered information to develop this factual report to recount the collective response of various organizations to the siege. The team has attempted to present the complexities of managing a large fire siege, and has included a broad array of information. The report provides detailed information about the day-to-day tactical firefighting effort, as well as the numerous social and political considerations that influenced strategic decisions. This report is not an in-depth analysis and assessment of specific fire events, as these issues will be addressed in other efforts that will continue for several years. 6 California Fire Siege Introduction The Contents Fire Events and Policy includes a synopsis of significant large and damaging wildfires in California since 1923. It describes some key public policy actions establishing the multi-agency firefighting organization in place during this siege. It places a special emphasis on relevant activities and events that took place from 2004 through 2006. The Prelude to the Siege describes events that took place during the year prior to the fire siege. It emphasizes major fires and the development of conditions that increased the magnitude of the October wildfires beyond what normally would have been expected. Meteorological Events Timeline and Preparation recounts the six days leading up to the siege detailing the developing fire weather conditions, and actions taken by state and federal wildland fire agencies and local fire departments to prepare for the possibility of a major fire event. The Fires provides a daily chronology written from the perspective of a fire chief working at a regional scale. Each day is a snapshot of the complex and rapidly changing fire environment, including weather, fire location and size, firefighting resource commitments, and public safety and evacuation impacts, that influence regional strategic decisions. The daily chronology follows specific fire activity, detailing the efforts of firefighters suppressing major fires while continuously responding to new outbreaks. It also describes the human and environmental impacts of the fires, including evacuations, structures damaged and destroyed, and damage to critical watershed and natural resources. The Epilogue describes the continuation of the 2007 fire season into late November, placing it into the fire season as a whole, making the important point that the fire season did not end when the siege was over. Fire Siege Coordination highlights examples of strategic regional coordination of several management systems and technologies. The Aftermath summarizes the October fire siege, placing it into the context of both the 2007 fire season, and wildfire history. The Appendices include summary statistics for the siege, maps and descriptions of the fires by incident, a brief description of evacuations, a list of some after-action reports, copies of key advisories, proclamations, and declarations. Glossary of Terms, and Acknowledgements of those responsible for producing the report. 7 California Fire Siege Fire Events and Policy Fire Events and Policy Years 1923–2006 California has a long history of catastrophic Wildland Urban Interface fires. The following timeline discusses some of those fires and highlights key policies. 1923 Berkeley Fire destroyed 584 structures. Embers falling on wood shingles accelerated the spread of the fire. 1932 The Economy Act was passed by the U.S. Congress, enabling use of military resources in peacetime events. The intent of Congress was to encourage civilian employment prior to committing military resources. 1933 The Griffith Park Fire in Los Angeles started on October 3, 1933. This 47-acre fire killed 29 firefighters and injured 150 others. 1943 The Hansen Creek Fire started on October 2, 1943 on the Cleveland National Forest. Ten marines and one army firefighter are killed. Seventy-three other military personnel are injured on this 13,145-acre fire. 1946 The California State Board of Forestry declared the San Bernardino Mountains around Crestline and Lake Arrowhead as a “Zone of Infestation” for forest insects. 1947 Helicopters are used to assist during wildland fires for the first time in Southern California and the usefulness for moving firefighters around the fire was quickly recognized. 1950 The State of California, all 58 counties and nearly all city governments signed a “Master Mutual Aid Agreement.” 1960 California Public Resource Code 4291 was adopted. This code requires a minimum of 30 feet clearance of flammable vegetation around structures in State Responsibility Areas. 8 California Fire Siege Fire Events and Policy 1961 Santa Ana winds fanned a wildland fire in the Bel Air community of Los Angeles County destroying 484 homes, many owned by Hollywood stars. Researchers studying the fire’s impacts identified a demand for regulations limiting