I attended the Vista Fire Rescue update presentation of its Emergency Preparedness Program to the City Council at their regularly scheduled Vista City Council Meeting of January 28th, 2025. Fire Chief Gerard Washington and Deputy Fire Chief Bret Davidson were very professional, well versed in the matter, and did an excellent job presenting the update. The chiefs stressed that preventing loss of life and property from wildfires doesn’t happen by accident, and that proper planning can substantially mitigate or prevent fires, like the recent ones in Los Angeles County.
The Comprehensive Wildfire Preparedness Program has several highly integrated components including local preparedness measures, weed abatement program, regional fire support, use of Cal Fire resources, regional coordination, and City and District websites.
Vista Fire Rescue has updated its pre-planning coverage maps for all designated danger areas in the City and Fire district. New detection technologies with a heat detector located on San Marcos Peak detected two fires in its first week after installation. The Vista Fire Prevention Bureau through its Red Flag Protocol opens all emergency access gates and posts red warning flags throughout the district, including schools. Battalion Chiefs attend annual wildland attack drills with Cal Fire, the San Diego Sheriff’s Office, and neighboring agencies.
The Weed Abatement Program increased City and District inspections from 1,900 (pre-2024) to 8,051 in 2024 identifying 6,468 properties requiring annual inspections. A total of 14 properties were forced into abatement processes (< than 1% of inspections), and 45 remain as open cases under management. For 2025 the weed abatement process will start on April 2025. Objectives for 2025 include an after-action summary to improve forms, letters, and processes, a new ordinance adding defensible space requirements and requiring removal of all dead/dying fuels on properties including dead palm fronds, and the use of aerial inspections to improve mitigation efforts. Vista Fire Rescue works closely with the City Attorney’s Office to ensure consistency and fairness in implementation of forced abatement is necessary.
The Vista Fire Rescue in collaboration with Cal Fire Resources has designated a Local Area of Responsibility (LRA), a State Responsibility area (SRA), and Mutual Threat Zones (MTZ). The latter provide Vista Fire Rescue with aircraft, crews and engines in up to a half-mile radius of the City at no cost.
Regional Coordination includes participation in county-wide wildland preparedness drills (in San Marcos this coming May), enhanced North Comm Dispatch Center (double resources during Red Flag events), aircraft resources (two air tankers stationed in Ramona, firefighting helicopters San Diego Sheriff’s Office, SDG&E, US Forest Service and contracted aircraft via the County Master Mutual Aid program.
The City of Vista maintains 3,000 hydrants, while the Vista Fire Protection District oversees 956 hydrants. Chief Washington emphasized the importance of ongoing maintenance to ensure full functionality and water access during emergencies. Hydrants are inspected on an annual basis.
BE PREPARED!
City and District Websites
https://www.vistafireprotectiondistrict.org
Francis Dumler, President South Vista Communities
