How GIS is Used byCAL FIRE

(Rebecca Ferkovich)

• Fire Incident Support• Fire Hazard Mapping• CA Fire Plan• SRA Fire Prevention Benefit Fee• Forest & Rangeland Assessments• Forest Practice• Pipeline Safety

…. and more!

How GIS is used by CAL FIRE

• GIS support duringfire incidents

• Assess damage

• Supply GIS data library to incident planning ops

• Timely imagery provided by USFS EROS - International Charter on Space and Major Disasters

Fire Incident Support

• Expected likelihood ofburning & fire behavior characteristics, aggregated into classified zones

• Spatial data & process rules(fuels, topography, weather,etc)

• Forms basis of fire safety laws & requirements for hazard disclosure for real estate transfers

Fire Hazard Mapping

• Goal: Reduce costs/lossesfrom wild land fire throughFire Prevention & Pre-FirePlanning Activities

• GIS use: Identify neededprojects, map/summarizeexisting project data, reportaccomplishments, evaluate values at risk, etc

• Cal MAPPER – for Fire Planners – v1/2/3

CA Fire Plan

• State Responsibility Area Fire Prevention Benefit Fee (AB X1 29)- July 2011

• Annual fee - habitablestructures within SRA

• Requires quality statewide SRA data that supports parcel level “in or out” decisions

SRA Fees

• Statewide Assessment requiredevery 5 years - used to inform policy and rule making

• Priority Landscapes –weighted overlays of assets and threats

• Map Viewer online – http://frap.cdf.ca.gov/ priority/default.html

Forest & Rangeland Assessments

• Spatial data capture / analysis from initial project review through final completion of timber harvesting

• Supports regulatory process, delivers info, informs public

• Custom maps & web resources(ex: Watershed Mapper – http://egis.fire.ca.gov/watershed_mapper/)

Forest Practice

• Submissions received by regulated pipeline operators, updated and maintained by GIS Analyst

• Positional accuracy of ~100’ (vs. national ~500’)

• Uses: Emergency response; track/analyze PS response to CalOES spill notifications; risk-based analysis for inspections

State Pipeline Mapping System