Sacramento, CA – Assemblymember Pedro Nava, Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security and Vice Chair, Senator Christine Kehoe to hold public hearing in the aftermath of the 2007 Southern California fires.

The hearing will be on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 at 1 p.m. at the University of San Diego, Mother Rosalie Hill Hall Auditorium, Room 116 in San Diego.  The public hearing of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security is being held to assess the on-going recovery efforts in Southern California as well as emergency preparedness and response to this year’s devastating fires.

“This is the second time in four years that the people of Southern California have been the victims of devastating fires,” stated Assemblymember Nava.  “Because it is one of the worst fire seasons on record, it is vital that we begin to assess our preparedness, response and recovery efforts regarding the fires, so that we can be even more prepared in the future.”

“These fires caused the state’s first major series of evacuations with more than half a million people in the San Diego region alone forced out of their homes as flames raced across hundreds of thousands of acres,” said Senator Kehoe.  “The public wants to know what worked in fighting these fires and where improvements need to be made.  These hearings will begin that process.”

Who: Chair of the Joint Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security, Assemblymember Pedro Nava, and Vice Chair, Senator Christine Kehoe, committee members, Director of CAL FIRE Ruben Grijalva, Director of OES Henry Renteria, OES Fire Chief Kim Zagaris, Major General William H. Wade, Adjutant General California National Guard and Chief Mike Warren, Chair, Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force, county and city fire chiefs

What: Joint Committee on Emergency Services & Homeland Security Hearing on 2007 Southern California Wildfires—Assessing response, recovery efforts and emergency preparedness

When: Wednesday, December 12, 2007, 1 p.m.

Where: University of San Diego, Mother Rosalie Hall Auditorium, Room 116, School of Leadership & Education Science, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego

Agenda Below--

Joint Legislative Committee on

           Emergency Services and Homeland Security

The 2007 Southern California Wildfires: Assessing Preparedness, Response and Recovery Efforts in San Diego County

Mother Rosalie Hill Hall Auditorium – Room 116
School of Leadership & Education Science
University of San Diego
5998 Alcalá Park

San Diego, CA

December 12, 2007

1:00 – 5:00 PM

I.          Opening Remarks by Hon. Pedro Nava, Chair, Hon. Christine Kehoe, Vice Chair, and Members of the Joint Legislative Committee on Emergency Services and Homeland Security

II.         Summary/Recap of Area Fires and Disaster Response

                        Director Ruben Grijalva
CAL FIRE
                                               
Director Henry Renteria/ Chief Kim Zagaris
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

III.       State Agency and Department Reports

Chief Mike Warren, Chair
Governor’s Blue Ribbon Task Force - Update and Status Report

Major General William H. Wade II, Adjutant General
California National Guard        

IV.       Tribal Perspective: Wildfire Management and the Coordination with Federal, State and Local Governments
           
Chief Anthony Ravago
Pala Fire Department, Pala Band of Mission Indians
V.        Regional and Local Reports
                       
            A)  Local Preparation for, and Management of, Wildfire     

                        Chief Tracy Jarman,
San Diego Fire-Rescue Department
                       
Chief August Ghio
San Miguel Consolidated Fire Protection District
                       
Director Ron Lane
San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
                       
·        Brush and Vegetation Management Issues
·        Fire Safe Community Design Concepts
·        Evacuation Procedures and Locations
·        Emergency Alert/Reverse 911/211/Interoperability
·        Utility Issues

            B)  Assistance and Recovery Programs

Director Henry Renteria/Deputy State Coordinating Officer Steven Sellers
Governor’s Office of Emergency Services

·        Report on Federal and State Services

Chief Deputy Director Crawford Tuttle
CAL FIRE

Executive Director Mark Leary
California Integrated Waste Management Board

·        Environmental Cleanup/Erosion Control/Watershed Impacts

Deputy Attorney General Howard Wayne
California Department of Justice

·        Insurance Issues:  Update on Disaster Fraud Task Force