Q&A
Inquiry into data tracking, surveillance, and preventative measures for brush fires
0:39:03
ยท
136 sec
Council Member Krishnan inquires about the Parks Department's efforts in tracking fire frequency, identifying vulnerable areas, and implementing preventative measures based on weather conditions. Marit Larsen responds with information on their current practices.
- Krishnan asks about tracking fire frequency and vulnerability of areas
- He inquires about using weather conditions to increase surveillance in certain areas
- Larsen explains that they map the extent of fires annually but not in great detail
- The department is alert to seasonal changes in weather conditions
- They coordinate across divisions to maximize staff presence and communication
- Special attention is given during periods of high temperature, low precipitation, and high winds
Shekar Krishnan
0:39:03
And for the parks department, my final question is just, you know, obviously, now with what's happened, Evo, I'm sure, done in the past too, but tracking the frequency of the fires, where they're occurring, the vulnerability of the areas is important, as is getting a sense also of, you know, what weather conditions become problematic, enough to increase surveillance in certain areas.
0:39:29
And so I'm wondering from a preventative standpoint, how how has tracking this data helped you?
0:39:34
Are you increasing your tracking of it?
0:39:36
And, also, is there some sort of threshold at some point where, with the weather the way it is, that would have call caused you also preventatively increase the amount of surveillance of a certain vulnerable area for a fire?
Marit Larsen
0:39:49
Thank you for the question.
0:39:51
First regarding tracking wildfires or brush fires, we, don't do that in great detail, but we do it every year, when we get the information about a a fire.
0:40:03
So that's a just a sort of a standard practice.
0:40:06
We go out and map the extent of the area and determine whether there are any actions that we need to take, thereafter, and that will, continue, and we've done that, to to various degrees for for decades.
0:40:21
It'll there can be some years where it's obviously more of a concern than others, like last year.
0:40:27
With respect to changing our our response, our programs, and, when there's change in weather conditions, we are always, alert, seasonally to all sorts of changes in in weather conditions.
0:40:41
We have people in the field and, whether it's, you know, extreme heat or or cold, we respond accordingly.
0:40:50
And our work across our divisions, to make sure that we have eyes on the ground, and communicate across our division.
0:40:57
So whether it's PEP officers or rangers, we make use or or staff that are located in in various, parks, we make sure that we are sharing information and maximizing the staff that we do have to keep eyes on the ground, especially when there are periods of high temperature, low precipitation, and and high winds.
Shekar Krishnan
0:41:19
Mhmm.