31 (335)
Susana Barrios
From:joe gutierrez <firealley343@yahoo.com>
Sent:Tuesday, October
To:Public Comment
Subject:\[EXTERNAL\] Proposed Salt Development
You don't often get email from Learn why this is important
Warning: This email originated from outside the City of Anaheim. Do not click links or open
attachments unless you recognize the sender and are expecting the message.
Honorable Mayor and City Council Members,
Approximately one month ago, the planning commission voted to approve the Salt development against the
recommendation of city staff and department heads. ( Fire and Police Chiefs) We hire and pay this staff to show us
the best way forward as a community. In my opinion the actions of the planning commission are bad for our
community and governmental malpractice.
I’m including some highlights from the “After Action Report” of the Freeway Complex Fire of November 15, 2008
The entire report is available online.
The fire burned 30,305 acres and damaged or destroyed over 381 homes, commercial structures, and out-buildings.
Numerous vehicles, city parks, and sensitive ecological areas in the Chino Hills State Park and the Santa Ana River
riparian area were also damaged or destroyed. The impact to residents and businesses from smoke exposure or
damage, as well as the economic impact, is difficult to calculate. (pg.8)
The Santa Ana Canyon’s steep topography and east-west alignment serve as a wind funnel. The geography increases
the wind’s speed and magnifies the effects of fire on the available fuel bed, contributing to the rapid rate of fire
spread. Additionally, the encroachment of civilization into the wildland-urban interface (WUI) enhances the severity
of wildland fires during Santa Ana wind conditions. The frequency of fire in this area has allowed non-native
vegetation of volatile grass, weeds, and shrubs to become the dominant fuel type. (pg 11)
OCFA Helicopter 41 reported seeing spot fires from one to one and a half miles ahead of the fire front. These same
winds pushed the Freeway Complex Fire at an incredible rate of spread. Historical Information – Map 1 shows over
10,000 acres were consumed in the first 12 hours—roughly 14 acres per minute. That’s nearly the length of 14
football fields every 60 seconds
(pg. 12)
At the onset of the evacuation, traffic gridlocked in some areas as emergency apparatus tried to enter the
neighborhoods while residents tried to exit.
(Pg 61)
Evacuation of residents is one of the challenges created by a wildland-urban interface fire. The Freeway Fire spread
so rapidly emergency responders could only estimate the direction and the time of impact to a given neighborhood.
Within minutes of ignition, spotting was reported one mile downwind from the main body. Although a fire’s rate of
spread is typically measured in acres per hour, the Freeway Fire was driven by 40 mph winds and required
1
measurement in acres per minute. Motorists driving on the 91 Freeway reported they could not keep up with the fire
as it spread through wildland areas—even while driving at speeds of 50 mph.
(Pg 62)
Wind blown embers, carried aloft by the fire’s thermal column, created spot fires more than a mile ahead of the main
fire front. These spot fires then merged with the main flame front. This rapidly compressed the transformation time
from brush fire into urban conflagration.
(Pg.99)
Homeowners—those remaining within the fire perimeter and those who evacuated— created traffic challenges
inhibiting the movement of fire apparatus.
The speed and unpredictability by which the fire moved through the urban interface made it challenging to
stay ahead the fire and rapidly identify areas to be evacuated.
(Pg.100)
A Red Flag Warning or a Red Flag Fire Weather Watch had not been issued for Orange County. Wind prediction for
the day was significantly different than experienced. This resulted in the OCFA not implementing its Extreme
Weather Plan (SOP 209.13) or the Red Flag Alert Program (SOP 209.12). Either or both would have increased
public awareness and implemented operational procedures in response to the extreme weather conditions.
(Pg.101)
Finally, In response to the DEIR,
(Alternative #2 – Reduced Development Supplemental Evacuation Travel Time Analysis for The Hills Preserve
Project, Anaheim)
Supplemental Evacuation Travel Time Analysis Technical Memorandum for the proposed The Hills Preserve Project
(herein after referred to as “Project”), located in the City of Anaheim, California. The purpose of this Supplemental
Evacuation Travel Time Analysis is to evaluate the travel time difference associated with Draft Environmental
Impact Report (DEIR) Project Alternative
The 21 minute evacuation travel time increase represents a 11% travel time increase over the without project
traffic condition. As stated above, this assumes a fire origin located immediately east of the project site.
Context is everything for this study.
1. What were the weather conditions for this evacuation scenario?
2. What was the time of day?
3. A fire starting “immediately east” of the project would not present the same risk and challenges to our
community as a fire originating in the hills or canyon east of Weir Canyon Road.
Thank you for you time and commitment to our community.
Sincerely,
Joe Gutierrez (Anaheim Fire Retired)
2