HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2006 1220 CC REG ITEM 04CITEM 4.C.
CITY OF MOORPARK, CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL Of �aZ A0_ -e
BOX ITEM REPORT ACTION:_
To: Honorable City Council BY:
Steven Kueny, City Manager
Hugh Riley, Assistant City Manager
From: John Brand, Senior Management Analyst
Date: December 14, 2006
Subject: Consider Shekell Fire Incident
BACKGROUND
The Shekell Fire started at approximately 2:30 a.m. on December 3, 2006 in the area
between Shekell Road, Grimes Canyon Road, Balcom Canyon Road and Stockton
Road about two miles North West of the City of Moorpark. At approximately 7:00 a.m. a
second fire was reported in upper Happy Camp Canyon about three miles north east of
Moorpark. Santa Ana winds from the North East 'blowing at 20 -40 mph with wind gusts
of up to 70 mph combined with extremely low humidity created severe "red flag" fire
danger conditions that continued through Thursday.
The City activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 7:20 a.m. on December
3. The Ventura County Fire Protection District and the California Department of Forestry
(CDF) established a unified command, and by mid - morning the City provided a base
camp and Incident Command Center at Arroyo Vista Community Park. This unified
command also included mutual aid from various agencies including Ventura City,
Oxnard City, Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, Federal Fire of Ventura County,
and many other agencies from throughout California.
Areas that were threatened by the fire were the City of Moorpark, Somis and Southern
Santa Paula. Some of the resources that were threatened were agriculture, oil
production, high tension power lines, high pressure natural gas lines, highway 118 and
potential archeological sites. According to very preliminary damage reports, in the City
four (4) dwelling units may have been destroyed, and eleven (11) damaged. County
structural damage includes at least one (1) residential structure, five (5) outbuildings
and three (3) commercial building damaged or destroyed. Damage assessment is an
ongoing process and details are not public at this time.
City staff has a brief slide presentation. A copy of the incident After Action Report from
the CDF is attached.
Honorable City Council
December 14, 2006
Page 2
SHEKELL FIRE Situation Summary
• At 02:30 a.m. Sunday Dec 3 fire was reported on Shekell Road.
• At 07:00 a.m. A second fire is reported in upper Happy Camp Canyon.
• 07:10 a.m. City staff deployed to Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and fire
station # 57 in Somis.
• 07:20 City staff activated its new EOC for the first time. The EOC is located in
the Police Services Center (PSC), 610 Spring Road, Moorpark.
• 09:00 The Incident Command Center and Base Camp were set up at Arroyo
Vista Community Park.
• The Shekell Complex Fire burned 13,600- acres.
• It was 100% contained at 6:00 pm on Thursday, and 100% Controlled at 6:00 PM
on Friday, December 8, 2006.
A total of 7 buildings were destroyed and another 11 damaged by the fire.
Damage Assessment is ongoing.
• Over 1,000 structures, threatened by the fire pushed by gusting Santa Ana
winds, were protected and saved by the efforts of Firefighters.
• At the height of the fire, 1,745 Firefighters from throughout the state were battling
the flames.
• The cause of the fire has been determined to be downed power lines.
• Firefighting costs exceed $5,800,000.
• Only 2 minor injuries to Firefighters have been reported.
• Arroyo Vista Recreation Center and Community Park resumed normal operations
at 08:00 Friday morning.