With a dry winter and California snow pack at 55% of normal, some California fire experts are concerned about the possibilities of wildfires sparking later this year.
“An unusually wet March improved conditions, but did not make up for the previous dry months,” said California Department of Water Resources Director Mark Cowin after the April 1 Snow Survey. “The take-home message is that we’ve had a dry winter and although good reservoir storage will lessen impacts this summer, we need to be prepared for a potentially dry 2013.”
This could make some risk managers a little nervous. So what to do?
“The message we’re sharing with the public is we all need to take extra precautions in the forest when conditions are so dry,” said Los Padres Forest Supervisor Peggy Hernandez. “It’s important to recognize that fires can occur at any time of the year and we need to keep our guard up year round.”
As risk managers, you have the opportunity to suggest ways for your municipality or county or school district to minimize risk, especially when it comes to the human cost.
Wildfire Preparedness Tips from OSHA
• Have an evacuation plan in place that includes activation conditions, chain of command, evacuation procedures, and personnel accounting procedures
• Ensure all workers know what to do in an emergency and practice evacuation
• Create a safety zone around buildings to protect both people and property. This includes clearing brush and other combustibles within a 30-foot zone. For more information, see the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s safety zone guide.
Being prepared for wildfires enables you to increase the safety of those people who work for your entity, and decrease your risk.
For more information on risk management, contact the EIA Loss Prevention Department for training opportunities and risk management services.
How does your entity prepare for fires? Discuss in the comments section below.
