Fire Safe

Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council
Minutes Pg. 1 of 2

Tuesday – 6 P.M. February 5th, 2008 Fire Dept. Conference Room

I. Call to Order - Present: Beverly Roths, LSCSD Board. Jack Everhart, LSPOA Board. Jamie
Lea, LSCSD Gen. Mgr. Marcia Gifford, LS Resident & Educator. Jeff Burns, CAL FIRE Batt. Chief. Jim Ward, Rancho Hills HOA. Josh Paulus, Lt., LSFD Jasmine Borgatti, Fire Prevention Tech., USDA Forest Service. John Kilburn, LS Resident & LSFSC Secretary.
II. --- Pledge of Allegiance
III. --- Public Comment
IV. --- Old Business

A. ---- LSFD Report ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Lt. Josh Paulus.
Lt. Paulus, as a LS resident sleeper, was one of the first responders to the recent Arson fire on Stag Mountain. Arriving on scene simultaneous as CAL FIRE Weed, which was engineered by Mike McWilliams also of Lake Shastina F.D., ascertained first Building was fully involved and lost. They than turned their attention to the nearest home exposure and discovered interior fire and after forcing entry were able to contain damage to one room.
Mutual Aid was in progress and the Stag Mt. fires command was turned over to Chief Baker of the Mt. Shasta Fire Dist. Chief Baker directed additional responding Mutual Aid units to stage at the L.S. Administration Building. Chief Melo of Mt. Shasta City, as that site Incident Commander, found the Admin. Building heavily involved. A good stop, despite extensive interior damage from heat and smoke, was executed. They had been benefactors of a fortunate early planning move on the part of Chief Baker, Mt. SF Dist., to establish central staging for “all next up” Mutual Aid units due to the, then unknown, number and locations of fires.
CAL FIRE, Batt. Chief Jeff Baker was roaming advisory leadership and with discovered fires under on going control went to the Golf Course building, which was the final site for the Arsonist to vent his irrational havoc on our community. By then several police agencies were involved and arrest was immediate.
· Chief Jeff Burns complimented Lt. Paulus for the excellent report. This was echoed by the entire LSFSC board and our united affirmation of the LSFD “Sleeper” program which houses students from the COS Fire Science course. In exchange they train and respond as LSFD Volunteers. The Community wins and the students win.

B. --- Chip vs. Burn ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Jamie Lea
Jamie reported the Burn Site, for disposal of flammable yard and lot waste, “with its rules and guide lines”, will stay in place to serve the community. The prime difference we will no longer have the Fire Dept. waste their time as a “training exercise” for material disposal. PUBLIC WORKS is now in charge. The site will be cleared to make a “Defensible Space” and the material will be allowed to dry. When the rainy season starts the piles of burnable material will be covered with poly to keep the rain off. Later when it’s safe the material will be burned. With a wet world around and dry trimmings they expect a quick hot fire with little smoke. This will reduce Air Pollution. “Can’t CHIP - BUT IT IS THE NEXT BEST OPTION. Win one for Bruce Batchelder.





Lake Shastina Fire Safe Council
Minutes Pg. 2 of 2

Tuesday – 6 P.M. February 5th, 2008 Fire Dept. Conference Room



C. --- CWPP - LSFSC position report preparation. --------------------------------------- Committee
Jasmine Borgatti, Marcia Gifford and Jeff Burns. Jane St Pierre retiring and may be interested. In the future, when office reestablished, we will see what help office staff can provide in determining remaining relevant past history and presented to committee for completion of the project. A “must “ for future grants.

D. --- Dead & Dying Diseased tree inventory - update. ----------------------------- Jamie Lea
Public Works mapped about 50 dead or dying Pine and Poplar trees, which require removal. Inventory of all relative species still being compiled. Report when complete

E. --- Tree Inspection Program. CAL FIRE & County.
What is L.S. most acceptable tree species? What is proper tree spacing to be attractive and yet
“Fire safe”? What is the CC&R relationship? Discussion introduced the idea of deciduous tree introduction to replace Junipers, where applicable, both for ascetic and fire safety reasons. Report when complete

A. ---- Timber harvest plan for lower cost tree removal. Tabled until completion of
item E.

VI. --- Adjournment