Calimesa fire chief outlines wildfire preparedness, says city lacked capacity to send crews to Los Angeles fires
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Summary
Fire Chief O'Connell told the Calimesa City Council on Jan. 21 that the department has expanded prevention programs and fuel-reduction work but was at reduced staffing when asked to send resources to Los Angeles; the department recalled staff and maintained apparatus locally during recent wind-driven outages.
Fire Chief Kevin O'Connell told the Calimesa City Council on Jan. 21 that the department has shifted to a community risk reduction model, added apparatus and training, and expanded fuel-reduction and code-enforcement work — but that the department did not deploy units to the Los Angeles wildfire incident because of reduced staffing.
The chief said the department has realigned duties to create a Community Risk Reduction Bureau, led by Deputy Fire Marshal Jerry Rodriguez, and that the city performs biannual weed abatement inspections and complaint-driven enforcement. He listed coordination with Caltrans on fuel management along I-10, collaboration with state forestry and the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and submission of a local hazard mitigation plan to FEMA as part of the department’s risk-reduction efforts.
"We did not deploy units to the city of Los Angeles," O'Connell said, explaining the decision was based on a drawdown of available personnel because of illnesses, training commitments and other staffing shortages. The chief said city management and the fire department recalled staff and staffed three pieces of apparatus during a recent wind event and power outages to maintain local coverage, noting overtime costs increased as a result.
O'Connell described a multi-pronged approach that includes meeting NFPA recommendations and ISO underwriting standards, coordinating with public works and planning on wildfire fuel management for new development and maintaining mutual-aid relationships with neighboring fire agencies including Yucaipa and Beaumont.
He emphasized prevention measures: inspections, fuel modification programs in new developments, complaint-based abatement enforcement and a local hazard mitigation plan tied to the emergency operations plan and specific plans. He also said the department is rebuilding regional partnerships and recruiting to raise staffing levels.
Council members asked about practical guidance for homeowners; O'Connell directed residents to state and federal resources on "home hardening" and wildfire defensible-space recommendations and said the city’s website lists prevention tips.
The chief closed by thanking staff and saying the department remains ready to respond locally while continuing to pursue stronger regional collaboration.
Ending: Council members did not take a vote on policy following the chief’s report; his remarks were a briefing and request for continued coordination and support.
