In wake of LA disaster, fire and water officials here aim to reassure residents they're prepared ⋆ The Palm Springs Post

*City crews work to clear brush from land near a hillside in May 2023 as part of an effort to prevent fires.*

While a major fire like those happening in Los Angeles could always happen in Palm Springs, officials with the Palm Springs Fire Department and Desert Water Agency (DWA) said this week that residents here should have absolute confidence that they are prepared for the worst.

Speaking at Tuesday’s Organized Neighborhoods of Palm Springs (ONE-PS) meeting, fire and water officials presented a comprehensive overview of their joint efforts to enhance the city’s emergency preparedness, with a particular focus on fire prevention and response capabilities.

Fire Chief Paul Alvarado opened the discussion by addressing residents’ concerns, drawing distinctions between Palm Springs and the recent Los Angeles fires while offering reassurances.

“Absolutely, you’re safe,” Alvarado said in reply to a question about how the city, DWA, and others are prepared for a major fire incident.

In Los Angeles, the fire chief said thick vegetation and trees that have been growing for more than 100 years contributed a massive amount of fuel for fires driven by 80 mph winds. “What we have here,” he said about conditions in Palm Springs, “is some light, flashy fuels around our area, which is still dangerous” but not as thick.

Addressing specific community concerns, Alvarado discussed how the department handles areas without hydrants, such as mobile home parks, through the strategic use of water tenders.

Fire Marshal Tyler Teeple described how the city has taken the lead in fire prevention. The efforts are evident in the department’s recent completion of brush clearance inspections on 1,088 of 1,153 parcels within high fire severity zones, including 27 city-owned lots spanning 87 acres.

*Unlike the Los Angeles area, which has thick vegetation that can burn for long periods of time, the vegetation in and around Palm Springs is light and flashy and tends to burn quickly.*

“We wanted to set the good example and clear our lots first,” Teeple explained, emphasizing the importance of modeling proper fire safety practices for residents.

DWA plays an equally crucial role in the city’s fire preparedness strategy.

Victoria Llort, DWA’s director of public affairs and conservation, detailed the agency’s extensive infrastructure, including the maintenance of 3,589 fire hydrants.

“By state statute, you’re supposed to have a hydrant every 500 feet,” Llort noted, describing ongoing efforts to expand hydrant coverage in older neighborhoods.

To enhance firefighting capabilities and assure water is always available, DWA maintains three 2,000-gallon water tenders and employs a sophisticated reservoir system.

“Our reservoirs have three different types of water in them,” Llort explained after the meeting. “We have fire flow that’s reserved just for fire protection.” The dedicated water supply is maintained separately from emergency and daily drinking water reserves.

*Fire Marshal Tyler Teeple, Fire Capt. Ronald Skyberg, and Emergency Management Coordinator Danny DeSelms speak to residents at the ONE-PS meeting Tuesday evening.*

Emergency communication formed another key topic of discussion, with Palm Springs Emergency Management Coordinator Danny DeSelms emphasizing the critical importance of the city’s Everbridge notification system, which you can sign up for here.

“If you’re not subscribed to that, the city can’t notify you,” DeSelms cautioned, while outlining evacuation procedures that designate Palm Springs High School as the primary shelter location, with the fairgrounds as a backup.

Looking to the future, Alvarado revealed plans to expand the department’s capabilities.

“I’m hiring starting February for more firefighters, making sure we’re fully staffed” he said. “That gives me that ability for surge capacity when I do have a major incident.”