Title
Planning and Building Department, Airports Division, recommending the Board:
1) Approve and authorize the Chair to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the State of California, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for use of the Placerville and Georgetown Airports in the event of major disasters and emergencies related to fires in El Dorado County and other nearby counties; and
2) Delegate authority to the Planning and Building Department Director to execute an Agreement for Emergency Use of Facilities, contingent upon approval by County Counsel and Risk Management.
FUNDING: Placerville and Georgetown Airport Enterprise Funds - Fee Revenue.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The State of California, Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE), as part of its mission, routinely responds to, manages, coordinates, and financially accounts for major wildland fires that involve thousands of responders from many state, local, tribal, territorial, and federal agencies. The County owns and operates the Placerville and Georgetown Airports that serve the citizens of the County and play a vital role in the community as emergency facilities during wildland fires, life flight transfers, search and rescue operations, and as a base of operations for CAL FIRE during a disaster or emergency.
Pursuant to common-law and statutory authority, CAL FIRE has the authority, in an emergency such as a fire, to contract for the use of property on an emergency basis when such property is required by emergency personnel in connection with the protection of life and property from destruction by fire.
When CAL FIRE personnel respond to a fire emergency with aerial support, they frequently assume control of part or all of the premises of the Placerville and/or Georgetown Airports and request that County Airports Division staff sign their standard Agreement for Emergency Use of Facilities at short notice. CAL FIRE staff are accustomed to dealing with jurisdictions whose ...
Click here for full text