Palo Alto Council adopts updated emergency plan, approves wildfire protection plan and accepts audit

Palo Alto's City Council on Nov. 3 unanimously adopted an updated Emergency Operations Plan and approved a Community Wildfire Protection Plan, and also accepted a city auditor's wildfire preparedness audit, after a presentation from fire and emergency management staff.

The documents aim to better prepare the city for wildland‑urban interface fires in the Foothills by emphasizing roadside fuel reduction, neighborhood defensible‑space programs and regional coordination with neighboring agencies. The council vote followed a multi‑department presentation and a city auditor's review that identified strengths and areas for improvement.

"The Emergency Operations Plan ... is our foundational emergency planning document," Assistant City Manager Kylene Uzay told the council as staff introduced the package. Fire Chief Duker and newly appointed Fire Chief Steven Lindsey described efforts to expand on preexisting hazard‑reduction…