Author: Kelly Hessedal CBS NEWS 8
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 4-0 on Tuesday to approve a proposal to improve the county’s preparedness for wildfires.
“It only takes a spark, a downed power line or a stray ember carried by Santa Ana winds or a sudden shift in the weather can turn a quiet afternoon into catastrophe,” said County Supervisor Jim Desmond during a news conference before Tuesday’s meeting.
Desmond pointed out that over a dozen brush fires have occurred in San Diego in the past week. He urged the board to assess how prepared we are to handle a major wildfire.
“Over the past several weeks with the LA fires, I’ve heard from countless San Diegans asking the same critical questions. Could this happen? Could that happen here in San Diego County? Are our reservoirs and our hydrants full? Is our brush clear? Do we have all the resources necessary to combat a major fire in San Diego County,” he said.
He proposed that the county investigate it thoroughly, including gathering agencies such as the San Diego County Water Authority, SDG&E, and the state insurance commissioner to discuss how we can work together to keep San Diego safe.
Desmond also proposed spending $15-20 million on a new twin-engine helicopter. He said two of the county’s current helicopters were built in the 1960s and 1970s. He said a $4 million grant from the federal government could help with the cost.
However, during Tuesday’s meeting, the board was told that the twin-engine helicopter it purchased in 2023 has yet to be used for night flying.
A San Diego County Sheriff’s Office representative told the board the helicopter was down for eight months due to maintenance issues. He also said training is an issue. Pilots need to learn completely new emergency protocols.
“Its hard for me to go back to my district and say, ‘Well we bought them, we’re just not using them,'” said Supervisor Joel Anderson.
Supervisor Desmond said the new helicopter will go to San Diego County Fire, while the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office will continue to operate the one purchased in 2023. Both departments must agree on training pilots for helicopters.