Staff Report

April 26, 2006

To: Board of Directors

From: George W. Haines, Fire Chief

Subject: Fire Department update to citizen concerns regarding Fire Road 23 and Pescadero Canyon

ISSUE:

Receive and consider report from the Fire Department regarding the condition of Fire Road 23 and fire safety along Sunset Drive.

DISCUSSION:

A letter was received at the District from a group of homeowners and residents along Sunset Drive. This area is directly above the Fire Road 23 Fuel Break. This was discussed at the January meeting of the PBCSD Board of Directors and returned to the Fire Department for further review. There are four items that we were requested to continue actions on that are addressed below.

Item #1 (summarized)

“According to the Fire Defense Plan, the Fire Road 23 Fuel Break has specific clearance requirement that have not been met. A request for adequate funding from the PBCSD should be allocated to ensure that these standards are met and maintained”.

Response

The Fire Department works cooperatively with a number of stakeholders in the Pebble Beach area to prioritize the work that is required to reduce the threat of life and property loss. In 2005, the maintenance to Fire Road 23 was deferred in order to make significant progress on the Huckleberry Hill fuels project.

The Fire Department has committed to prioritizing the maintenance work to Fire Road 23. This work will be completed prior to, or concurrent to the use of Gabilan Fire Crews on Huckleberry Hill.

Item #2 (summarized)

“The property owners adjacent to Pescadero Canyon realize that the individual property owners should comply with the standards identified in the Fire Defense Plan. Steps should be taken to ensure that these properties are completed their required fire safety measures”

Response

The Fire Prevention Specialist has modified the three year cycle for residential fire inspections. Starting in the spring and summer of this year, the Sunset Drive and Sunridge Pines areas will be moved to an annual inspection schedule.

Item #3 (summarized)

“The fuel load that is present in Pescadero Canyon is excessive and steps should be taken to reduce this threat to the residences along the upper portions of Pescadero Canyon”

Response

CDF Forester Jan Bray has completed a fuels assessment of the area. A copy of that report is attached.

Item #4 (summarized)

“Extend the current length of width of the Fire Road 23 Fuel Break to encompass the upper end of Pescadero Canyon”.

Response

Representatives of the Fire Department, Pebble Beach Company and the Open Space Advisory Committee met and walked the area in question.

While the contour of the land is not conducive to extending a drive able road, the concept of modifying the fuel bed may be feasible. Forester Bray and Chief Carreiro are working with representatives from Gabilan Conservation Camp to determine the number of personnel hours required to create a modified fuel break. Whether this proposed work is to be completed by Fire Crews or a private vendor, this assessment should be able to assist in determining a reasonable cost factor. We anticipate having more information available to the General Manager for the May meeting of the Board of Directors.

RECOMMENDATION:

The Fire Department staff will continue their research on the threat of the fuel load that exists in Pescadero Canyon and submit that report to the General Manager. The report should include any spot treatments that can be done with in the interior of the open space and have specific recommendations for the area adjacent to Fire Road 23 and immediately below the Sunridge Pines subdivision.