HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12132011 - C.68RECOMMENDATION(S):
Authorize payment of the amounts specified for participating county fire agencies to
support backfill coverage for training in order to develop a Fire Urban Search and Rescue
Team Capability for Contra Costa County. Aggregate total of $185,000.
City of El Cerrito Fire Department: $27,300
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District: $32,900
Richmond Fire Department: $113,000
Rodeo/Hercules/Pinole: $11,700
FISCAL IMPACT:
Funding for these expenditures has been budgeted under CSA EM-1 (Measure H). There is
no General Fund impact. This funding will supplement a 2011-2012 grant award of
$132,000 from Homeland Security funds approved by the Contra Costa State Homeland
Security Approval Authority G5 committee.
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 12/13/2011 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I
Supervisor
Gayle B. Uilkema, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Patricia Frost,
313-9554
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board
of Supervisors on the date shown.
ATTESTED: December 13, 2011
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: June McHuen, Deputy
cc: Tasha Scott, Demetria Gary, Patricia Frost
C. 68
To:Board of Supervisors
From:William Walker, M.D., Health Services Director
Date:December 13, 2011
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:Fire Funding to support development of County Fire Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Team
BACKGROUND:
The August 2006, CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosive)
Capability Assessment and Strategic Plan identified the lack of USAR (Urban Search and
Rescue) capability as a critical gap in Contra Costa County and reported the following.
“There are limited resources in the surrounding areas to provide the needed technical search
and rescue assistance for an isolated event. The potential for CBRNE terrorist attack, natural
disaster and /or industrial accident is significant in Contra Costa County.”
In response, several Fire agencies are collaborating to train and prepare fire first responders
to safely and effectively provide technical search and rescue services to the public and
emergency response personnel throughout the region. The development of a technical
search and rescue team would provide a resource deployable to any part of the County when
fully developed. The training includes paramedic personnel who would be able to provide
emergency medical services to victims during a USAR deployment. The training is
designed to include a “train the trainer” component to support a sustainable and
cost-effective program for the future.
USAR classes include Low Angle Rope Rescue Operations (LARRO), Confined Space
Rescue, Rescue Systems I, Trench Rescue, Water Rescue, Rope Rescue I and II and Rescue
Systems II. Funding for instruction is being provided by Urban Area Security Initiative
(UASI). Due to the unique and synchronized work schedule of participating firefighters,
along with the localized training plan, firefighters will be trained while on-duty reducing the
need for a significant backfill expense. Requested funding reflects the least expensive
method to provide adequate service levels while the USAR training is being conducted.
Funding for this effort is on a one-time basis and USAR qualifies as a significant
enhancement to emergency response capabilities of the Contra Costa Emergency Medical
Services System under Measure H (CSA EM-1).
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
Without this supplemental funding the USAR training would not be completed. Homeland
Security Grant funds committed for this use may be lost. The opportunity to develop a
sustainable, cost-effective Fire USAR program would be lost. An important strategic asset
to the operational area would not be created.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
Not applicable.