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Monterey Fire outlines wildfire readiness: more inspections, defensible‑space work and mutual‑aid support
Summary
Monterey Fire Department told Pacific Grove council it has expanded defensible‑space inspections in high‑risk zones, hired a fuels specialist and will double inspection staffing next year. The department encouraged residents to sign up for Alert Monterey and said Cal Fire, aircraft and mutual‑aid resources would respond to large incidents.
Monterey Fire Department officials briefed Pacific Grove’s council Feb. 19 on wildfire preparedness, outlining an expanded defensible‑space inspection program for very high and high fire severity zones, new staffing and mutual‑aid response capabilities.
Chief Andrew Miller described a fuels mitigation program that began after the city adopted a Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). He said the department has hired a part‑time fuels mitigation specialist with CAL FIRE experience and three defensible‑space inspectors, and plans to double that inspection staffing in the near term.
“We’re wildfire ready,” Chief Miller said, summarizing the department’s emphasis on mitigation, inspections and coordinated response. He told the council the department is using GIS mapping to track inspections, to identify properties that need reinspection or follow‑up, and to target outreach in the Del Monte Park and George Washington Park adjacency areas.
Miller said the department will focus inspections first on the single very high fire severity zone (Del Monte Park) and on high severity zones, including Rip Van Winkle and George Washington parks. He emphasized the department’s outreach posture: staff will help residents understand defensible‑space requirements and offer guidance rather than moving directly to enforcement.
The chief and staff noted several steps residents can take immediately: create defensible space around homes, register for Alert Monterey (the county’s emergency notification system) and begin home‑hardening work where practical. Miller said residents should consider leaving early if they smell smoke or believe they are at risk; officials will continue to prioritize life safety.
The presentation described response capacity: initial dispatch for a wildland incident in Pacific Grove now includes a duty chief with mobile command, multiple engines, CAL FIRE automatic responses including aircraft and water tenders, and, if needed, broader mutual aid through the state master mutual aid system. The department noted there are local water‑system interfaces — Pacific Grove’s fire hydrants are operated by Cal Am — and Cal Am has told the fire chief it is maintaining hydrant testing and supply readiness.
Miller promoted a Wildfire‑Ready Monterey town hall scheduled for Feb. 27 at the Monterey Conference Center, where officials, PG&E, Cal Am and insurance representatives will answer residents’ questions.
Ending: Council members and residents raised questions about undergrounding utilities, hydrant testing and targeted fuel reduction in city parks. Officials said follow‑up with Cal Am and additional public education will be part of next steps.
