Esri's Collector App and CAL FIRE―
Smarter Emergency ManagementDave Shew, Staff Chief, Planning and Risk Analysis, CAL FIRE
Plenary Presentation
ESRI’s Collector App & CAL FIRE
Smarter Emergency ManagementPresented by Staff Chief David Shew, CAL FIRE
Content:
▪California’s Fire Problem
▪Steps We Are Taking To Deal With It
▪But….. How Well Is It Working???
▪Enter Electronic Data Collection
▪Pre and Post Fire Environments
▪Results and Future Analysis
▪Program Expansion to “All Risk”
California’s Fire Problem
An Overview
Land Management and Fire Suppression Policies?
• Drought
conditions are
more severe
since stands are
denser than
what historically
occurred.
Perhaps the
most successful
ad campaign
EVER!
Examples of Standing Dead Trees –
Killed from Bark Beetle
California’s Large Fires
California has always had large fires…..
IMPACTS OF DROUGHT AND CLIMATE CHANGE:
• Fire ignitions continue to increase – more than 1600 starts in 2016 than our normal 5 year average
• More large devastating fires – recent Valley and Butte Fires
• 200 – 300 initial attack fires each week, on average
• Longer fire seasons across the West– on average, now 70 days longer than 40 years ago
• Recognition that “status quo” won’t solve the problem
• Current efforts focused on prevention – attempt to be more proactive
What Are We Doing About It?
Steps We Are Taking……
WE DO HAVE A PLAN:
Challenges
&
Opportunities
Drought
GrantsClimate Change
CALIFORNIA STATE FIRE PLAN
“A natural environment that is more resilient and man-
made assets which are more resistant to the occurrence
and effects of wildland fire through local, state, federal
and private partnerships.”
• Have to learn to live with fire
• This is the guiding vision to address wildland fire in California
• Need to be more resilient, and resistant to wildfire.
Let’s Look at Current Prevention Efforts: In no specific order………………
• 2010 Strategic Fire Plan Fire Hazard Severity Mapping
• Land Use Planning Forest Rangeland Risk Assessment
• Incident Reporting Statistics CalMAPPER
• Wildland Pre-Fire Engineering California Forest Stewardship Program
• Defensible Space Inspections Environmental Impact Reports
• Damage Inspections Forest Carbon Plan
• Public Education Fire Suppression Cost Recovery
• Vegetation Treatment Programs Wildland Urban Interface Building Codes
• Grants Communities At Risk
• Law Enforcement Local Fire Safe Councils
• WUI Building Codes Fire Adapted Communities
• Firewise Communities MOU for Prescribed Fire
• State Fire Safe Council Cohesive Strategy
BUT……How Well Is It Working???
Enter Electronic Data Collection!!!
STRUCTURES DAMAGED OR DESTROYED BY WILDFIRES SINCE
Boles Fire in 2014:
Year 2014 2015 2016 TOTAL
Structures Damaged 9 156 76 241
Structures Destroyed 239 3097 1219 4555
TOTAL: 248 3253 1295 4796
Pre and Post Fire Environments
The Collector App At Work!
Pre and Post Fire Data Analysis Using Collector:
• Pre-Fire:
• Defensible Space Inspections
• Statewide Database
• Post-Fire:
• Data Collection – Structures Damaged & Destroyed
• Post-Fire Recovery Efforts
• “Big Data” Analysis and Review
• Apply Results to Improvements of Codes and Regulations
Defensible Space Inspections:
We want to use this: To combat this:
Monthly Statistical Reports:
• Data Collected Monthly for:
• Inspections Conducted
• Violations and Citations
• Education Hours
• Public Contact
Example of Damage Inspection Details and
Damage Inspection Map
Damage Inspection Form (DINS):
To Implement the Program, CAL FIRE has:
• Worked very closely with ESRI Staff to create the Apps
• Created Powerpoints for classroom and online training
• Taped Videos providing step by step instructions on how to use the App
• Purchased 450 Electronic Tablets and distributed them across the State
• Traveled around California providing personal classroom, hands-on training
• Created Standardized Crystal Reports to allow everyone in the Department access to the Data
Results and Future Analysis
These Activities have led to improved analysis:
• Goose Fire – Fresno County, 2016
• 22 Residential Structures inspected by DINS Teams – 4 MH’s, 18 SFR
• 2/4 MH’s damaged or destroyed:
• 1 Failed, 1 uninspected
• 3/18 SFR’s damaged or destroyed:
• 1 Failed, 2 uninspected
• If your home passed the DSI Inspection, it didn’t burn –
• 100% Survivability
So What Does Our Future Look Like?
• Goal to collect a minimum of
250,000 inspections per year
• Establish Statewide database for
structures in State Responsibility
Area (31 Million Acres)
• Achieve number and type of
structures
• Available for Post Fire comparison
• Engage with Researchers to
thoroughly analyze data
• Evaluate effectiveness of Building
Codes and Fire Safety Regulations
• Initiate improvements when
identified to reduce risk of wildland
fires
Program Expansion
There are more than just fires……..
Expansion of Collector App for Future Uses:
• Floods
• Earthquakes
• Wind Events
• Snow Emergencies
• Education Hours
• Fire Perimeters
• Burn Permits
THANK YOU!
Questions?
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