4.0 County-Wide Assessment Results
4.1 County-Wide Risk and Hazard Assessment Overview
The RCI Project Team evaluated the Communities in Washoe County described in this report between during September and October 2004. The hazard rating for each community, fuel conditions in the interface areas, and ignitions risk are summarized in Table 4-1.
| Community | Interface Condition | Interface Fuel Hazard Condition | Ignition Risk Rating | Community Hazard Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| High and Extreme Hazard Communities | ||||
| Antelope Valley | Intermix | Low to High | High | High |
| Mount Rose Corridor | Intermix | Moderate to Extreme | High | High |
| Rancho Haven | Intermix | Moderate to Extreme | High | High |
| Red Rock | Intermix | Low to High | High | High |
| Warm Springs Valley | Intermix | Low to High | High | High |
| Washoe Valley - West | Intermix | Low to Extreme | High | High |
| Moderate Hazard Communities | ||||
| Anderson Acres | Intermix | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Cold Springs | Classic | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Galena | Intermix | High to Extreme | High | Moderate |
| Gerlach | Intermix | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Golden Valley | Intermix | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Lemmon Valley | Intermix | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Mogul (I-80 Corridor West) | Classic | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Nixon | Intermix | Low to High | High | Moderate |
| Palomino Valley | Intermix | Low to High | High | Moderate |
| Pleasant Valley | Classic | Moderate to High | High | Moderate |
| Reno-Northwest | Classic | Moderate to High | High | Moderate |
| Reno-Southeast | Intermix | Moderate to High | High | Moderate |
| Silver Knolls | Intermix | Moderate | High | Moderate |
| Spanish Springs | Intermix | Moderate to High | Moderate | Moderate |
| Steamboat | Intermix | Low to High | High | Moderate |
| Sun Valley | Intermix | Low to Extreme | Moderate | Moderate |
| Sutcliffe | Classic | High | High | Moderatev (High) |
| Verdi | Intermix | Moderate to Extreme | High | Moderate |
| Washoe City | Classic and Intermix | High | High | Moderate |
| Washoe Valley - East | Intermix | Moderate to High | High | Moderate |
| Low Hazard Communities | ||||
| Empire | Intermix | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Reno-Southwest | Classic | Low to High | High | Low |
| Sparks | Classic | Low to Moderate | Low | Low |
| Stead | Classic | Moderate | Moderate | Low |
| Wadsworth | Classic | Low to Moderate | Moderate | Low |
4.1.1 Suppression Capabilities
Wildfire Protection Resources
The following six agencies are responsible for wildland fire suppression in Washoe County:
- Reno Fire Department / Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District
- Sparks Fire Department
- Nevada Division of Forestry Sierra Forest Fire Protection District
- Bureau of Land Management
- US Forest Service
- Bureau of Indian Affairs
The typical resources that are stationed in Washoe County and would be dispatched from each agency in response to a wildland fire call are described below and are summarized in Table 4-2.
Reno Fire Department and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District
Reno Fire Department and Truckee Fire Protection District signed an agreement consolidating the two departments in order to better serve the public in the City of Reno and Truckee Meadows District. The combined departments have 24 stations staffed by career and volunteer firefighters.
Wildfire resources may be dispatched at any given time from the nearest Reno/Truckee Meadows Fire Department fire station to respond to wildfires. Equipment and resources stationed at each fire station are described in the community sections of this report.
Sparks Fire Department
The Sparks Fire Department provides fire protection services to the City of Sparks, home to an estimated 72,000 persons. Sparks Fire has Mutual Aid agreements with neighboring fire agencies, making additional suppression resources available to Sparks upon request.
Including Fire Prevention and administrative staff, the Sparks Fire Department employs 88 people in four stations, with a fifth station due to open in May 2005. Department jurisdiction covers approximately 22 square miles within City Limits. (sparksfire.org, accessed 01 May 2005)
Nevada Division of Forestry Sierra Forest Fire Protection District
The Nevada Division of Forestry Western Region administers the Sierra Forest Fire Protection District established under NRS 473 in Washoe County. The Sierra Fire Protection District includes the following Washoe County communities: Anderson Acres, Cold Springs, Galena, Mount Rose Corridor, Verdi, and Washoe Valley-West. These areas have numerous homes, schools, commercial buildings and community buildings. The Nevada Division of Forestry has fire stations in Verdi, Galena, and Washoe Valley-West (Bowers) that provide 24-hour, continuous coverage with a four-person engine company. Staffing is increased seasonally with the addition of Type 3 wildland engine crews from April to September.
Volunteer fire stations are located at Cold Springs, Anderson Acres, Verdi, Galena, and Washoe Valley-West (Bellevue). The initial response to a wildland fire by volunteer firefighters will vary depending on the day of the week and time of day that the fire is reported. Some volunteer firefighters may be unable to respond immediately to fire call during typical workday hours. Resources available from local volunteer fire departments are summarized in each community chapter of this report.
Nevada Division of Forestry Type 2-trained hand crews are available from the Carson City and Silver Springs conservation camps and are dispatched through the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada.
Federal Suppression Resources
The Bureau of Land Management assigns resources to four fire stations in the region on a seasonal basis (from May to September). One Type 3 and one Type 4 brush engine are assigned to the Doyle Station (California). One Type 3 brush engines is assigned to the Stead Station. Two Type 3 brush engines are assigned to the Palomino Valley Station. One Type 3 brush engine is assigned to the Sparks Station. The warehouse at the Carson City Field Office is equipped with a 100-person fire cache. During the 2004 fire season, two Single Engine Air Tankers were stationed at the Stead Airport and two were stationed at the Minden Airport.
The US Forest Service has a Type 4 Brush Engine assigned to the Supervisors Office in Sparks. Two Type 4 Brush Engines are assigned to the West Fourth Street Station in Reno. A 500-person fire cache is located at the Supervisors Office in Sparks.
Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators
Membership in the Sierra Front Wildfire Cooperators is composed of more than 25 federal, state, and local fire suppression agencies, state and local law enforcement agencies, and special organizations such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Weather Service. By pooling their resources, these agencies take a more efficient approach to the common goal of fire protection and a quicker response to wildland fires and other emergencies. The Sierra Front area of responsibility extends north from Reno to Susanville, California, south to Bridgeport, California, including the Tahoe Basin, and east to Fallon, Nevada.
| Type of Resource | Amount of Equipment | Cooperating Partner (Resource Location) |
|---|---|---|
| Engine Type 1 Brush Truck Type 3 Water Tender Type 1 Battalion Chief Safety Officer |
1 3 1 1 1 |
Reno Fire Department (Standard Wildland Fire Dispatch from closest available resources) |
| Engine Type 3 Engine Type 1 Truck Water Tender Battalion Chief |
2 2 1 1 1 |
Sparks Fire Department (Standard Wildland Fire Dispatch from closest available resources) |
| Engine Type 3 Battalion Chief/Duty Officer Water Tender Dozer Hand Crew Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) Air Tanker and Lead Plane* Air Attack* Helicopter* *Air suppression response only if smoke is visible |
5 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 |
Nevada Division of Forestry Bureau of land Management US Forest Service (Closest available resources dispatched from the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center in Minden, Nevada) |
| Source: Andy Flock, Sparks Fire Department; Joe Reinhardt, Nevada Division of Forestry, and Marty Scheuerman, Reno Fire Department. | ||
Interagency Communications
The US Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, and the Nevada Division of Forestry are all dispatched through the Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center. The federal agencies provide mutual aid to Washoe County fire departments and to the NDF Sierra Forest Fire Protection District through mutual aid agreements. The Sierra Front Interagency Dispatch Center coordinates with Washoe County’s Communications Center during incidents that require local, state, and national resources. These systems locate the nearest available fire suppression resource according to incident command and computer aided dispatch protocols.
Washoe County Communications Center
Washoe County Communications Center dispatches resources for Reno Fire Department, Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and Reno Police Department. The Communications Center uses a computer aided dispatch (CAD) system to provide 911 services and dispatching for fire and Emergency Medical Services. The Washoe County’s Communication Center has access to the state mutual aid frequencies, and the radio system has the capability to be compatible with neighboring agencies. Gaps in radio coverage do exist in some areas.
Sparks Fire Department has its own Emergency Communications Center and 911 system.
Fire Protection Personnel Qualifications
Firefighters in all Washoe County fire agencies receive training on a continuous basis that includes both structural and wildland firefighting training. Career and volunteer firefighters meet the minimum qualifications for Fire Fighter I and II and NWCG Basic wildland firefighter.
Financial Support
Funding for Reno and Sparks Fire Departments annual operating expenses comes from their respective City General Funds, which are generated primarily through property taxes. Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District (NRS 474 District) is funded from property taxes raised within the fire protection district. The Sierra Fire Protection District, Nevada Division of Forestry (NRS 473 District) is also funded from property taxes raised within the fire district.
Community Preparedness
Washoe County, City of Reno and City of Sparks have all adopted a Fire Code by Ordinance. The State Fire Marshall’s Office at the Nevada Department of Public Safety adopted the ICC fire codes in July of 2004 (effective January 2005). As such, the 2003 International Urban-Wildland Interface Code can be used for guidance on fire safe communities. The Nevada Division of Forestry uses the Nevada State Fire Marshall’s adopted code.
Public Education
All Washoe County fire agencies provide numerous programs during Fire Prevention Month and Fire Protection Week. Wildland firefighting agencies also provide public education throughout the wildland fire season. These programs involve presentations at schools for students and teachers, public events, and media coverage.
4.2 Countywide Recommendations
4.2.1 Training
Requests for mobilization outside of a fire department’s geographic area increase as the frequency and intensity of fires in the wildland-urban interface increase in the western United States. In order to improve firefighter safety and the response effectiveness in a wildland-urban incident, Washoe County fire agencies and the local fire department unions need to give high priority to the following recommendations as detailed in the NWCG Wildland and Prescribed Fire Qualification System Guide PMS 310-1:
- Continue to provide Wildland Firefighter Training to all fire department members (forty hour course).
- Continue to provide wildland fire training to all Captains to the level of Engine Boss.
- Continue to provide wildland fire training to all Chief Officers to the level of Strike Team Leader.
- Continue to provide annual wildland firefighting refresher training (8-hour course).
- Provide annual fire shelter training to all qualified department members.
4.2.2 Equipment
In compliance with NWCG 310-1 guidelines:
- Continue to provide wildland personal protective equipment for all members.
- Continue to provide wildland firefighting equipment on all engine companies.
- Continue to provide all firefighters with a wildland fire field pocket guide.
4.2.3 Communications
- Ensure that Reno Fire Department, Sparks Fire Department and Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District have radio communications with State and Federal Fire agencies as well as neighboring county fire agencies.
- Upgrade all radios to meet narrow band technologies to maintain communications with Federal agencies.