CENTRAL CALAVERAS FIRE & RESCUE

PROTECTION DISTRICT

P.O. Box 2, 19927 Jesus Maria Road,  Mountain Ranch, Ca 95246

Office: (209) 754-4330  Fax: (209)754-3906

Email: ccfrpd@goldrush.com

 

 

 

Date: Thursday, January 11th 2007

 

Subject: Districts Wildland Fire Plan

 

Overview

 

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue is located in the central & northeast portion of Calaveras County, and extends from 760-feet elevation on the west end and rises to 3,626-feet at its eastern boundaries. Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue is comprised of five (5) fire stations. Fire Station-1, (District Headquarters, 19927 Jesus Maria Road) is staffed 24-hrs/365 with one 1000GPM engine (E121), a 3,000-gallon water tender (WT-121), a light rescue (R121), a command vehicle Chief-120, and a utility vehicle (U121). Fire Station-1 also designated as a “Baby Safe Surrender Site”, December 2006.  Fire Station-2, Swiss Ranch Road (a volunteer fire station) has a one type-III engine (E122). Fire Station-3, Washington Street, Mtn Rnch (a volunteer fire station) has one type-II engine (E123) and a light rescue unit (R123). Fire Station-4, Hwy 26/Ridge Road, Glencoe (a volunteer fire station) has one type-II engine (E124), a Type-III/IV engine (Patrol-124), HazMat Decon-2/MCI Trailer and Utility-124 (Stakeside/Flatbed). Fire Station-5, Sheep Ranch has one 1000GPM engine (E125) and a Type-IV engine (Patrol-125). During designated wildfire season, CDF/Cal-Fire’s Esperanza Fire Station located at Mtn Rnch Road/Sheep Rnch Road is staffed with one Type-III engine, with 3/0 staffing when housed.

Located within the communities of Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Eagle Ridge Ranch/Airport, Mountain Ranch and Sheep Ranch, outside of towns sites, the majority of the developed parcels are five acres or larger. BLM manages several large blocks of land in the north, south and Licking Forks of the Mokelumne River near the communities of Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Eagle Ridge Ranch/Airport, Wilseyville and West Point. They also mange large blocks to the north and south of Quiggs Mtn (old Sierra Vista Lookout Site) west of the community of Mtn Rnch and in the Jesus Maria Road regions. The eastern portion of the Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue’s District is an intermix of private timberlands owned primarily by Sierra Pacific Industries (largest private land owner in the region). FYI, fire district’s Eagle Ridge Ranch Airport, Rail Road Flat, Ca Lat/Long Readings are: Longitude: 120-28-37.7270W and Latitude: 38-19-39.6920N with a Runway length of 4,000-feet by 33-feet wide, surface Asphalt or Bituminous Concrete, with an airport elevation of 2,870-feet. FAA’s Airport Code is: 6CA6.  

 

Local government fire protection is provided by three (3) fire agencies. Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue provides protection to the central, west and southeast ends of the county, Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Eagle Ridge Ranch/Airport, Mountain Ranch and Sheep Ranch. Ebbetts Pass Fire District is responsible for the extreme eastern portion of Calaveras County. West Point Fire District protects the middle of County including the communities of West Point, Wilseyville, Lily Valley and Upper Blue Creek Subdivision.

 

The district contains a sizeable portion of the Mokelumne River watershed and is headwaters for the North Fork of the Calaveras River. The northern boundary of the district is the North Fork of the Mokelumne River. The Licking and South Forks of the Mokelumne River and the North Fork of the Calaveras River dissect the district. Several other smaller tributaries and drainages also dissect the district. It is not uncommon to experience wind events within the district. The district routinely experiences east and north wind events at higher elevations. These events have materialized with no previous warning. The forks of the Mokelumne River have also shown a history of significant east wind events. This local phenomenon to this area! Of course, the fire district is also susceptible to the general north and mono wind events as with the rest of the county. It is not uncommon to experience relative humidity levels in the low teens from the middle of September until the rainy season in the upper elevations. During the normal summer at the end of extended heat waves, the fire district does not receive the beneficial effects from the delta breeze push for a period of about 42-hrs after its effects are felt in the San Joaquin Valley and the front county of the district. This extends the effects of high hazard weather patterns one day longer than the lower elevations experience.

 

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue’s Fuels, Assets at Risk, Ignition & Fire History Summary

 

The majority of the fire district has been categorized and rated within the very high fire danger rating. Historically, the district was primarily timberland with the western portion a ponderosa pine dominated stand transitioning at the higher elevations to a fir and lodge pole pine dominated stand. The involvement of mankind has changed the balance and mixture of the fuel types in the district. The majority of the fire district has experienced logging over the past 15- years. The results of these logging practices have changed the historical fuel types from a timber to a brush fuel dominated fuel type at the lower elevations and an intermix of fuel types at the higher elevations. This pattern of logging consistent with land use policies has created a situation where the brush fuel types are intermixed with a timber over story component. This mixture of fuels creates a highly volatile fuel situation. The brush fuel model is the primary fire carrier and the over story greatly enhances the spotting potential and flame lengths.  The low snow event in March of 2006 has affected the fuels dramatically between the 1,500 and 3,000-feet elevations. This events major effect was on the live oaks, black oaks and bull pine trees. It has substantially increased the down and dead fuels and has added to the ladder fuels due to partially broken limbs.

 

Consistent with Calaveras County’s General Plan and Zoning Codes, which are the governing rules for development, smaller parcel size contributes to the limited ability to modify fuels with any degree of success within large geographical areas in the west half of the district. Large private land ownership coupled with federal land in the eastern half of the district affords a far greater opportunity for cooperative projects, which are very beneficial to the associated watershed concerns.

 

In the astern portion of the district, Sierra Pacific Industries (SPI) is the primary landowner. SPI has instituted a clear cutting methodology as their standard timber harvesting practice. The area is on an eighty-year harvest cycle. Most plots are twenty acres in size. SPI initiated the clear-cut process in 1998. The cycle includes harvest, debris removal and then replanting, generally within a two-year window.

 

SPI (formally Georgia Pacific & American Forest Products), the Stanislaus Nat’l Forest (STF) and the Cal-Fire/CDF with the cooperation of Pine Grove Conservation Camp (AEU) have instituted and developed an extensive network of fuel breaks comprising approximately 64.25 miles of completed and proposed breaks. Fuel breaks are typically located on the predominant ridgelines utilizing a 300 feet shaded fuel break methodology, which will total approximately 2, 400 acres under treatment. SPI and the STF have commonly used broadcast burning to reduce fuel loading in areas where operationally feasible to mitigate fire risk. The fuel breaks have shown their value during the 2002 wind event and the Winton Fire in 1999.

 

In 2003 Calaveras County established a forest waste collection site located at the County Waste Transfer Facility in Wilseyville. Forest and other wood products are collected for chipping and ultimately delivered to co-generation facilities.

 

There are several assets at risk in the Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District. Assets include homes, businesses, major timber holdings, watershed values, recreational, historical and archeological sites, electric power & communication infrastructure.

 

Communities at risk include Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Eagle Ridge Ranch/Airport, Mountain Ranch, Sheep Ranch, McKinney Diggings Subdivision and West Point’s Lilly Valley & Blue Creek Subdivisions. Zoning laws have allowed fragmented growth throughout the west half of the district resulting in what could best be described as a continuous subdivision with average parcel size of five acres.

 

The communities with the fire district will be characteristically classified as old communities. The majority of the development within the communities areas is vintage 1940’s to 1960 and one can deduce are primarily wood frame construction. As the communities continue to expand, wood frame remains the primary preference for new construction.

 

There are minimal subdivisions within the district that can be classified as modern and high density. The primary reason for this is the current General Plan and associated zoning requirements.

 

The watershed values in the fire district supply water to the East Bay Municipal District, Stockton East Water District, Calaveras Public Utility District and the Calaveras County Water District. The Mokelumne River watershed is the water source for Tiger Creek, Pardee & Comanche Reservoirs and primary water source for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. The South Fork and Licking Forks where water is pumped into Jeff Davis Reservoir located in Rail Road Flat area. The North Fork Calaveras River is a primary water source for New Hogan Reservoir. Calaveras County Water District and the Stockton East Water District utilize New Hogan for water storage and delivery. Calaveras County Water District (CCWD) utilizes the Bear Creek and Forest Creek Drainages.

 

There are various water delivery systems within the fire district. Calaveras Public Utility District (CPUD) services the communities of Glencoe and Rail Road Flat with sixteen (16) fire hydrants (#’s 401 thru 416). Mountain Ranch has a single 150,000-gallon storage tank with well and two (2) fire hydrants (#’s 301 & 302) located near Sender’s Market/Hardware. Sheep Ranch Area has one (1) regular fire hydrant and eleven (11) dwarf hydrants (#’s 501 thru 512), responsible party Calaveras County Water District (CCWD). The balance of district is serviced by individual wells and reservoirs, McCarthy Reservoir at Rail Road Flat/Eagle Ridge Ranch; Emery Reservoir M-24 Ranch/Mtn Rnch; CPUD’s Jeff Davis Reservoir Rail Road Flat; Jesus Maria Pond Mtn Rnch; Clark Pond Mtn Rnch; Sender’s Pond Mtn Rnch; and Earth Dam Pond Rich Gulch Road, Glencoe. With the enactment of Public Resource Code, PRC -4290, water delivery was addressed by an optional formula. Some residents have chosen to install on-site water tanks; however, the majority of new development has opted to pay in lieu Water Enhancement Fee to fund the Calaveras County Water Tender Fire Apparatus Program. On-site tanks are minimal and there is not currently a system to guarantee functionality of the existing tanks.

 

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue has averaged 25.66 wildland fires during the past three years, and 22.0 wildland fire smoke checks over the past three years, while responding to 419 calls for service in year 2006; 340 calls for service in year 2005; and 326 calls for service in year 2004.If one only looks at man caused fires, the number is reduced to an average of 22 fires per year. Fires, which occur during the “non-fire season declaration”, are not reflected in the Statistical reporting! As with most mid-elevation fire districts, the district experiences a number of debris burn escapes into the vegetation during the dry periods normally occurring during the winter period. Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District adopted a “Fireworks Ordinance” December 14th 2006 IAW- Section 17958.5 of the Health & Safety Code based on district’s annual climate, geographical and topographical conditions.      

 

Vehicle fires account for the majority of the fires in the fire district at 18%. Debris burning is the next highest start with 14%. Due to statistical balance on starts, there is not one significant area to target and we will continue an overall strategy of public education and school programs.

As with all fire districts in Calaveras County, the Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District has had its share of large and damaging fires. Historical district fires include:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District Prescriptions

 

Fuel breaks are the main mitigation measure used to modify fuels in the district. The largest landowners on the eastside of the fire district are SPI and the USFS. Both of these landowners have partnered with CDF/Cal-Fire to develop an extensive fuel break system to help protect the valuable timberland and watershed in this region. These fuel breaks are part of the Calaveras- Tuolumne Fuel Break System.

 

The proposed fuel break system is primarily a ridge top dominated system. The current concept is to use shaded fuel breaks. Several portions have been previously established. Continuation to incorporate the private landholding, particularly when land is under a current THP, will expedite the completion. Ongoing maintenance of the existing portions will become an issue as time progresses. A VMP agreement is suggested to accomplish this goal.

 

The proposed and current fuel breaks cover a distance approximately 64.25 miles. Factoring a shaded fuel break of 300-feet average width, the total acreage under prescription will be approximately 2, 400 acres.

 

Propose/Current Fuel Breaks are listed below (shown in miles)

 

Winton Road Fuel Break (14.25 miles)

 

 

Schaads Fuel Break (5.25 miles)

 

There is three main objectives of a fuel breaks. One is to reduce the fuels availability immediately adjacent to the main forest roads, utilized by the public and the logging industry. Second, the reduction in fuels will dramatically improve sight distance for vehicle travel. Third, providing this clearance will greatly enhance the safety of fire district personnel, the logging industry and the public. Currently agencies are pursing Prop-40 funding in order to utilize mechanical equipment to accomplish the roadside reduction. CDF/Cal-Fire can’t utilize Fire Crews due to land ownership issues. It is estimated a total of 65 acres will be treated mechanically within the next projects.

 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) currently does not have any projects scheduled for their lands within the Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District. They are currently rewriting their fire management plans for the Folsom Office.

 

Road Sign Program & Area Citizen Emergency Preparedness Plans

 

CDF/Cal-Fire has three sign locations within the local region. It is anticipated that new signs will be purchased this year in support of the project.

 

 

The committee of Calaveras Healthy Impact Products Solutions (CHIPS) is a coalition of organizations and individuals from Glencoe, Rail Road Flat, Wilseyville and West Point areas that are looking into the feasibility of using wood waste in ways that could provide jobs, reduce energy cost and improve safety for area residents. Members of the coalition include Calaveras County District-2, Mother Lode Job Training, Calaveras Foothill Fire Safe Council, Foothill Conservancy and Sierra Nevada Forest Protection Campaign. The wood waste would come from Wilseyville solid waste transfer station, residual timber harvest debris and forest wild land fuel reduction efforts. It is hoped that this program would provide jobs, reduce energy costs and improve the safety for local residents.

 

The communities are currently working on feasibility studies for four options that include the production of electrical energy, mulch and chips, fence posts and wood pellets. The study regarding generation of electricity would include investing the viability of building a cogeneration plant in the study area to provide cheaper energy to local residents. The other options would provide much needed jobs for local forest industry.

 

Roadside Fuel Reduction, As a result of Grant Funding obtained by the Calaveras Foothills Fire Safe Council in 2005, CDF/Cal-Fire was able to complete roadside fuel reduction on Jesus Maria Road, Rail Road Flat Road and Sheep Ranch Road.

 

Defensible Space for Disable, As a result of a grant obtained by the Calaveras Foothills Fire Safe Council and funded by the Bureau of Land Management properties were treated for defensible space within the fire district.

 

USFS Projects

 

Table-6: Stanislaus Nat’l Forest, CDF/Cal-Fire Completed Projects In Region:

Project        Treatment            Year          Acres          Accomplished          Community @ Risk

 

Winton Rd Fuel Thin/Mech/     2004            205                      205                     Blue Mtn Estates

Break-Active      Rx Fire

 

Blue Mt Fuel   Thin/Mech/       2004              75                        75                              N/A

Break               Rx Fire

 

Moore/Belfour  Rx Fire            2000          2937                      431*                            N/A

 

*-Projects Still Active:

**- Total Fuel Break Is 450 Acres:

 

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue’s Present Knox Box Locations:

 

  1. M-24 Ranch Subdivision, Mtn Ranch (*North & South Entrances)
  2. Rail Road Flat Elementary School
  3. Mtn Rnch Youth Alliance (*Ball Field)
  4. McCarthy Reservoir Road & Eagle Ridge Ranch/ Airport, Rail Road Flat, Ca
  5. Note: Calaveras County Sheriffs was issued 40-Knox Box Keys, Fall 2005, point of contact Tim Sturm, Sgt.
  6. CDF/Cal-Fire’s key distribution list consist of B/C-4411; B/C-4413 and E4473, all received in May of 2002.

 

 

Robert L. Gill, Fire Chief

Central Calaveras Fire & Rescue Protection District

Mountain Ranch, Ca 95246-0002

Office: (209) 754-4330