As we confront the heightened risk of fires posed by recent wind events, I want to assure you that the City of Riverside is taking swift and decisive action to protect our community. The safety of our residents remains our top priority, and we are committed to ensuring that we are prepared to respond to these threats with urgency and efficacy.
I am incredibly proud to say that the Riverside Fire Department is among the best in the nation, with accreditation from the Centers for Public Safety Excellence (CPSE) and recognition as an ISO Class 1 department. This esteemed status places us in a select group of only four agencies in California that hold both distinctions. This prestigious recognition speaks volumes about the caliber of our fire department.
(Courtesy of The City of Riverside)
Under our new Fire Chief Steve McMcKinster'seadership, we are confident that the department will continue to grow in excellence and further strengthen our efforts to keep Riverside safe.
Knowing the forecasted windstorms would increase the wildfire threat, our fire department got prepared. We strategically ramped up staffing levels, making sure we had the resources available to respond swiftly to any emergency. To ensure fires did not spread in those conditions, we amplified our resource deployment by "flooding" fire threats with resources. For example, during wind events, fires that might normally require just three fire engines were being met with six, ensuring that we contained those threats as quickly as possible. So when a fire broke out in the river bottom on January 14th, we sent 14 engines to the scene, an overwhelming and successful effort that extinguished the fire and prevented any damage to buildings or the nearby neighborhood. This proactive response exemplifies the dedication of our fire department and the resources we are investing in to protect Riverside.
While our fire response efforts are robust, we must also consider fire prevention. In addition to our rapid deployment strategies, our fire teams are taking proactive measures to identify potential risks before they escalate. For instance, when returning from a call, our fire engines "take the long way home," "surveying the area for hazards such as tilted power lines or other safety concerns, and shift Arson Investigators are patrolling know problem areas. This proactive approach allows us to address issues before they develop into larger threats.
Fire prevention efforts in the riverbed, an area particularly vulnerable to fire, are of critical focus. To mitigate these risks, Riverside enforces its anti-camping ordinance, which prohibits camping in the riverbed. Our Wildlands PSET team, which includes both police officers and outreach personnel, works to ensure this ban is followed, helping to minimize fire hazards in vulnerable areas. While the city owns only a small portion of the land along the river, we work in close coordination with our county and state partners to ensure a swift and unified response in the case of an emergency.
You can help our hardworking firefighters prevent fires and protect your own home by implementing home hardening measures like clearing roofs and gutters of debris, removing fallen and dead vegetation, storing flammable materials at least 30ft away from your home, and creating 100ft of defensible space in your yard to decrease fire spread. In the event of a fire threat, make sure you are prepared with a kit, plan, and access to real-time updates on evacuation orders and fire spread.
In the aftermath of the recent fires, we are reminded of the strength of the community. In times of crisis, true resilience is measured not just by our ability to rebuild but by the compassion we extend to each other. It is in that spirit that I ask Riversiders to consider helping our neighbors to the west as they recover from these disasters, knowing that when we unite, we can overcome any challenge.
