Press Releases
Established November 2, 2003, by both Governor Davis and Governor Schwarzenegger, the Blue Ribbon Commission will review the effort to fight the State's 2003 wildfires and provide recommendations to prevent destruction from future fires to policy makers within 120 days.
The Commission will examine:
- Reducing and eliminating jurisdictional and operational barriers that prevent the expeditious response of military resources necessary to combat wild fires;
- Readiness training of personnel and military equipment approved for use within the California incident command system;
- Development of an interstate and/or regional master mutual aid system similar to California's;
- Updating local building and planning regulations to include more stringent construction standards for high fire threat zones, requirements for brush clearance and fuel modification, and land use planning techniques that protect property;
Former State Senator William "Bill" Campbell will chair the Commission, comprised of the following representation:
Local
Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors – Yvonne Brathwaite Burke, Supervisor BIO
Riverside County Board of Supervisors – John Tavaglione, Chair
San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors – Dennis Hansberger, Chair
San Diego County Board of Supervisors – Greg Cox, Chair BIO
Ventura County Board of Supervisors – Judy Mikels, Chair, Ventura County Fire Department – Bob Roper, Chief
San Bernardino City – Judith Valles, Mayor
San Diego City – Dick Murphy, Mayor
San Diego Fire and Life Safety Services - Jeff Bowman, Chief BIO
State
California Senate – Deirdre Alpert, Senator
California Senate – Jim Brulte, Senator
California Senate, Dennis Hollingsworth, Senator
California Senate – Nell Soto, Senator
California Assembly – Robert Dutton, Assemblyman BIO
California Assembly – Christine Kehoe, Assemblywoman
California Assembly, Jay LaSuer, Assemblyman
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection – Andrea Tuttle, Director
California Emergency Council – Chip Prather, Chief
California Office of Homeland Security – Rick Martinez, Acting Director
Governor's Office of Emergency Services – Kim Zagaris, Fire Chief
Office of American Indian Affairs – Marilyn Delgado, Director BIO
Office of State Fire Marshal’s Office – Ron Coleman, Marshal (ret.)
FIRESCOPE – P. Michael Freeman, Chief
Federal
U.S. Senate – Dianne Feinstein, Senator
U.S. Congress – Susan Davis, Congresswoman
U.S. Congress – Jerry Lewis, Congressman
U.S. Department of Defense – Peter Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary
U.S. Forest Service - Jerry Williams, Director
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management
Agency – David Fukutomi, Federal Coordinating Officer BIO
U.S. Department of Land Management – Larry Hamilton, Director
Associations
California Fire Chiefs Association - William McCammon, President
California Metropolitan Fire Chiefs Association – William Bamattre, Chair
California Professional Firefighters Association – Bob Wolf, 6th District Vice President
California State Firefighters Association – Jeff Sedivic, President
Commission Staff
Sergeant Major Associates - Announcement
Maps
Affected Fires Assembly Districts
Affected Fires Senate Districts
Meeting Information
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If you should require photos from any of these meetings or So.Cal fires please contact:
Robert A. Eplett/Cal EMA photography - robert.eplett@calema.ca.gov
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First Meeting, November 13, 2003
Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel
Manhattan Beach, California
Second Meeting, December 4, 2003
Radisson San Bernardino Hotel
San Bernardino, California
Third Meeting, January 7, 2004
Ventura County, Hyatt-Westlake Plaza,
Westlake Village, CA.
Forth Meeting, January 21, 2004
Paradise Point Resort & Paradise Ballroom
San Diego, CA 92109
Fifth Meeting, February 5, 2004
Marriott Riverside - The Grand Ballroom
Riverside CA 92501
Sixth Meeting, February 19, 2004
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
The Final Blue Ribbon Fire Commission Meeting, Thursday, March 18, 2004
Renaissance Los Angeles Hotel-Airport
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Related Links
CDF/USFS 2003 San Diego County Fire Siege-Fire Safety Review
California Governor's Home Page