County outlines fire preparedness investments, seeks funding for night‑capable helicopter and fuel‑reduction measures

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors received a multi‑agency presentation on regional fire preparedness that reviewed staffing and apparatus, aviation assets, vegetation management, water supply for fire suppression, and the status of homeowners insurance in high‑risk areas.

County Fire Chief Tony Mecham told supervisors the county funds more than 320 firefighters through CAL FIRE and supports 21 county fire stations and 18 state‑funded stations. Chief Mecham said the county recently acquired two 3,000‑gallon water tenders to be strategically deployed and that county and partner agencies operate helicopters and fixed‑wing resources for aerial suppression.

San Diego Gas & Electric’s emergency management director Tom Porter described SDG&E’s ongoing support for aviation and weather monitoring infrastructure, including a network of more than 220 weather stations used to refine a local fire potential index. Porter confirmed SDG&E remains committed to aviation support, including two Black Hawk‑class helicopters stationed at Gillespie Field for initial attack.

The chief and SDG&E both discussed night‑flying capability. Chief Mecham said county aviation currently operates daytime assets and is exploring platforms and training needed for safe night operations; he noted state commitment is also key and said night operations are “the standard” when implemented with proper risk management.

County Fire described fuel‑reduction work and community programs: in the first nine months of the fiscal year staff said nearly 348 acres of fuel breaks were cleared, 1,563 acres were treated with controlled burns, and nearly 1,200 acres of hazardous brush were removed in parks and state responsibility areas. The county also reported nearly 900 lane miles of roadside evacuation corridors were cleared or treated during the same period and that a community chipping program and a home‑hardening pilot for low‑ and moderate‑income households are underway. County Fire noted an as‑needed procurement for grazing (goats/sheep) to reduce brush on large or hard‑to‑reach parcels and said work is ongoing to secure grant funding for assistance programs.

The County Water Authority briefed the board on regional water infrastructure, saying the twin aqueducts and local interties provide large daily throughput capacity and that retail agencies are responsible for hydrant deliveries and local emergency water tactics. County staff said there is adequate water for regional suppression but added delivery and local access vary in remote parts of the county; county personnel described use of mobile water tenders, pre‑identified refill sites, and on‑site cisterns where needed.

Sharon Smith with the California Department of Insurance summarized a “sustainable insurance strategy” that would modernize rate‑filing processes, incorporate catastrophe modeling and reinsurance costs into rates, and account for wildfire mitigation actions when insurers seek rate changes. Smith said the regulator’s reforms aim to reduce reliance on the Fair Plan (the state insurance backstop) and encourage more carriers to serve wildfire‑exposed areas. She noted the reforms were unveiled in late 2023 and implementation is underway.

Board action and public comment: Supervisor Desmond moved to receive the presentation and to return this format annually; supervisors Montgomery‑Stepp and others voiced support for aviation investments, fuel‑management and insurance reforms. The board approved receiving the presentation and directed staff to return with annual updates. The vote was unanimous.

Why this matters: County officials said the region’s layered approach — ground forces, aviation, fuel reduction, community outreach and water coordination — is central to reducing incident size, protecting property and lives, and maintaining emergency response in remote areas. Several public commenters and union representatives asked the board to ensure any expansion of aviation assets is fully funded so new helicopters and tenders are staffed and maintained year round.

Next steps: Staff will return annually with updates on preparedness, aviation acquisitions and options for staffing and funding, and will continue to pursue grants and partnerships for fuel‑management and water reliability work.