Parks superintendent presents wildfire emergency response plan, urges staff readiness

Kaye Burns, parks and facility superintendent, told the board the parks department has developed a Wildfire Emergency Response Plan (WERP) to provide a districtwide framework for responding to wildfire events. She outlined a three-stage system — an early monitoring and preparation phase, a heightened-preparedness phase, and a mandatory-evacuation phase — with criteria tied to air-quality index, fire proximity and fire-weather conditions.

"This is a working document," Burns said, describing annual review and ongoing updates to ensure the guidance remains applicable across departments. She listed core objectives: prioritize the safety of employees, customers and the community; establish clear and consistent communications across departments and with the public; and maintain continuity of essential services during and after wildfire events.

Burns emphasized specific preparedness steps the plan includes: designation of key staff roles, training for employees, updated evacuation routes and posted GIS maps, and PIO-led public communications. She also noted the plan was developed through a team process and said staff will carry out an annual review and add or remove items as needed.

Board members thanked Burns and staff for the work and raised next steps for public-facing coordination. A board member asked whether the community center would continue to serve as a shelter and whether the Red Cross remained a partner; staff said the district would follow directions from the incident lead (for example, the fire department or CAL FIRE) during an actual emergency and that local sheltering arrangements (including Red Cross involvement) remain in place. The chair and other directors said they would like to run a future exercise or test of the plan.

The presentation closed with staff taking questions but no formal board action on the WERP during the meeting.