HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020-12-15; City Council; ; North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program and Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of UnderstandingMeeting Date:
To:
From:
Staff Contact:
Subject:
Dec. 15, 2020
Mayor and City Council
Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Nick Ordille, Assistant Fire Chief
nick.ordille@carlsbadca.gov, 760-931-2123
Kevin Lynds, Battalion Chief
kevin.lynds@carlsbadca.gov, 619-253-1412
North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program and Interagency Technical
Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding
Recommended Action
Adopt a resolution authorizing the chief of the Fire Department to execute the Interagency
Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding for the North Zone Technical Rescue
Team Program.
Executive Summary
The Carlsbad Fire Department has been working since 2017 to create a specialized rescue
resource team based in northern San Diego County with the personnel and equipment needed
to handle complex rescue incidents. The department has been collaborating with neighboring
agencies to develop this technical and urban search and rescue team. It will provide the City of
Carlsbad and the surrounding region with a disaster response team that is not currently
available in the county. Staff are seeking the City Council’s approval to execute the attached
Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding to continue development
of the North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program.
Discussion
Firefighters in the 21st century are considered all-risk first responders. In addition to traditional
firefighting duties such as fire suppression and emergency medical services, fire services
provide rescues for natural disasters, manmade risks and other incidents that require highly
technical knowledge, skills and equipment. Many fire agencies cannot provide specialized
personnel and equipment to respond effectively and safely to these demands. Large incidents
can also quickly overwhelm a single agency. As a necessary safety precaution, the Fire
Department created the North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program to help prepare for the
known hazards in the city and the region.1
1 The North Zone is the term firefighting agencies use for the northern section of the county.
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 1 of 12
Local hazards
San Diego is the fifth most populous county in the United States, with 1.2 million people in just
its North County area. The San Diego County Assessor values property in the county at $604.75
billion, with the total in the City of Carlsbad at $37.3 billion, second among the cities only to the
City of San Diego. Those figures combine values from all residential, industrial and commercial
properties, all of which, along with the region’s population, are potentially at risk from a range
of known hazards. The size of San Diego County along with local hazards described below
highlight the need for a technical rescue team.
Earthquakes
The San Diego-Carlsbad area ranks eighth in the nation in potential for losses to
earthquakes, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The
report also ranks California’s risk as first in the nation in collapsed structures, displaced
households, shelter requirements and casualty estimates.
Mud and debris flows
An unforeseen aspect of wildfires are mudslides, also known as mud and debris flows.
The 2020 fire season is the largest in California history, with almost 4.5 million acres
burned so far. As fire severity increases, the risk of mudslides also increases. Mudslides
are caused by intense periods of rainfall in areas burned over by wildfires. They can be
extremely dangerous, reaching up to 30 mph and carrying boulders, vehicles, trees and
houses.
Other known hazards
Carlsbad has additional hazards and threats that could require large coordinated rescue
efforts. Examples include: a railroad system that runs north and south through the city,
a centralized airport surrounded by business parks and neighborhoods and a popular
amusement park and resort. Each example creates unique challenges and characteristics
requiring special training to perform complex rescue operations.
Current rescue resources
This team would fill a gap in local emergency response resources, providing the city and the
region with a specialized and coordinated technical urban search and rescue team modeled
after the fast, light and mobile regional task forces that are located elsewhere around the state.
The region currently has the following search and rescue resources available:
• The State of California has eight FEMA urban search and rescue teams. One is based in
the City of San Diego which is a multi-agency team with members from various San
Diego fire agencies. These teams typically deploy within six to eight hours from dispatch,
arrival times vary depending on location. The team consists of 210 members and
typically deploys with 70 members along with palletized equipment loaded from its
warehouse onto flatbed trucks for transport.
• The California Office of Emergency Services has 10 regional task forces. A task force can
respond to an incident within 45 minutes from dispatch. It is designed to be fast, light
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 2 of 12
and mobile, deploying with 29 on-duty personnel trained in different rescue disciplines.
Teams work either independently or jointly on larger incidents needing supplemental
resources. San Diego County does not have a regional task force. The closest team to
the City of Carlsbad is located at the Long Beach Fire Department.
• San Diego County has four heavy rescue units with equipment, personnel and training
required by the state to be certified for increased rescue capabilities. These are Type 1
certified heavy rescue units operated by the Carlsbad Fire Department, the San Diego
County Fire Authority and the San Diego and Chula Vista fire departments. Each unit
responds with three to six on-duty personnel. When deployed, the unit provides
specialized equipment to handle many incidents. However, these units do not have
sufficient personnel to adequately respond to large incidents.
North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program
The North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program will combine multiagency resources to service
the City of Carlsbad and region. The team is designed like a Cal OES Regional Task Force,
deployable in 45-minutes with 29 specially-trained personnel from the Carlsbad Fire
Department, the County of San Diego Fire Authority and the San Marcos Fire Department.
Technical search and rescue operations include:
• Structural collapse rescue
• Rope rescue
• Confined space rescue
• Trench rescue
• Water rescue
The program is intended to:
• Strengthen local rescue efforts
• Provide highly technical assistance to the incident commander during a rescue operation
• Coordinate agency efforts and activities
• Ensure continuity and establish minimum standards for technical urban search and
rescue operating procedures, personnel, training, equipment and supplies
• Uphold core competencies and qualifications
• Allow for greater flexibility in scheduling and deployment
• Serve as liaison with other rescue service providers and technical assistance resources
• Provide a cost-effective rescue response system
• Create a technical rescue response system of continuous planning, constant analysis,
coordination, evaluation and improvement
Because of the unpredictable nature of rescue operations – an earthquake response, for
example, can be prolonged and ongoing – the plan is to develop a team of 90 trained
firefighters, or three shifts that would be available in the event of a major emergency.
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 3 of 12
Firefighting agencies may request aid through a dispatch center when specialized personnel or
equipment is needed by this team. Additional agencies may ask to be part of this team as it
develops.
Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding
The memorandum of understanding includes the Carlsbad Fire Department, the San Diego
County Fire Authority and the San Marcos Fire Department. Each agency will be represented by
one member in the Technical Urban Search and Rescue Working Group and each respective fire
chief in the Executive Advisory Committee. An agency may terminate its rights and obligations
by providing a fifteen-day advance written notice to all active agencies. The memorandum of
understanding will continue if two or more agencies remain. Each agency will be responsible for
its own personnel training, equipment, transportation and vehicle needs and costs.
Fiscal Analysis
The North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program does not require any additional funding to
continue to develop and grow. The City of Carlsbad owns and operates a fully outfitted Type 1
certified heavy rescue unit, as noted above. The Fire Department operating budget includes
funding to maintain and replace equipment and vehicles. Most of the personnel training
expenses for rescue certifications are reimbursed through the Urban Area Security Initiative
Grant Fund Program.
The Carlsbad Fire Department is a signatory to the North Regional Zone Master Automatic Aid
Agreement, which follows the “closest unit concept” under which agencies share resources
without expectation for reimbursement.
The Fire Department also participates in the State of California’s Master Mutual Aid Agreement,
meaning that it will provide resources to other participating jurisdictions by request for up to 12
hours with no expectation for reimbursement. If after 12 hours there is no source for
reimbursement, participating agency fire chiefs can either recall or extend the deployment of
the resources. By executing the Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of
Understanding, participating agencies have the option to recall their resources or charge the
requesting agency for full cost recovery after 12 hours.
Next Steps
The Carlsbad Fire Department will continue to provide rescue resources to the region.
The North Zone Technical Rescue Team will continue to promote and develop the program by:
• Training with partner agencies in various rescue disciplines
• Expanding a rescue instructor cadre to establish local, in-house experts
• Hosting rescue classes and drills in the North Zone
• Seeking additional program involvement from other North Zone agencies
• Developing a daily rostering plan for deployable personnel
Environmental Evaluation (CEQA)
This action does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental
Quality Act under Public Resources Code section 21065 in that it has no potential to cause
either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical
change in the environment and therefore does not require environmental review.
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 4 of 12
Public Notification
Public notice of this item was posted in keeping with the Ralph M. Brown Act and it was
available for public viewing and review at least 72 hours before the scheduled meeting date.
Exhibits
1.City Council Resolution
2.Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 5 of 12
RESOLUTION NO. 2020-240
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD,
CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE FIRE CHIEF TO EXECUTE THE INTERAGENCY
TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
WHEREAS, the City of Carlsbad Fire Department has been working since 2017 to create a
specialized rescue resource team based in northern San Diego County with the personnel and
equipment needed to handle complex rescue indents; and
WHEREAS, the Fire Department has been collaborating with neighboring agencies to develop
the North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program; and
WHEREAS, the program will provide the City of Carlsbad and surrounding region with a disaster
rescue team that is not currently available in the county; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California desires to authorize the Fire Chief
to take all necessary action to execute the Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of
Understanding to continue development of the North Zone Technical Rescue Team Program.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as
follows:
1. That the above recitations are true and correct.
2. The Fire Chief of the City of Carlsbad is hereby authorized and directed to execute the
Interagency Technical Rescue Team Memorandum of Understanding and is authorized
to execute all future changes, modifications or amendments to the memorandum of
understanding.
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Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 6 of 12
(SEAL) II III
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PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of
Carlsbad on the 15th day of December, 2020, by the following vote, to wit:
AYES: Hall, Blackburn, Acosta, Bhat-Patel, Schumacher.
NAYS: None.
ABSENT: None.
-11(0,,417-Zef
MATT HALL, Mayor
!Via
BARBARA ENGLESON, City Clerk
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 7 of 12
INTERAGENCY TECHNICAL RESCUE TEAM
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
1.0 PARTIES
The Interagency Technical Rescue Team (TRT) Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into by
and between the following agencies located within the County of San Diego, referenced herein
individually as “Party” and collectively as “Parties”: (1) City of Carlsbad Fire Department, (2) City of San
Marcos Fire Department, (3) and County of San Diego Fire Authority.
2.0 TERM
This MOU shall be effective as of the ____ day of ____________ 20____ and continue in full force and
effect as long as two or more agencies are Parties remain as to the MOU.
3.0 PURPOSE
The purpose of this MOU is to coordinate and efficiently deploy technical and urban search and rescue
(US&R) resources among the Parties in order to deliver improved services within San Diego County. The
Parties agree to provide qualified staff, administration, and oversight to deploy a TRT.
4.0 GOVERNANCE
a.Executive Advisory Committee
The Fire Chiefs of the three Parties to this MOU will serve as the Executive Advisory Committee (EAC).
The EAC will meet at least annually and provide policy direction for the TRT. The EAC will review and
approve items brought forth from the Technical Urban Search and Rescue Working Group (TRTWG).
b.Technical Rescue Team Working Group (TRTWG)
The Parties’ US&R coordinators shall serve as members on the TRTWG and manage the development,
delivery, and planning of training activities necessary to meet the overall goals of the TRT. The TRTWG
will coordinate the Parties’ operational practices and procedures, identify and facilitate necessary
training activities, and review and update the Operating Plan, attached hereto as Exhibit A, as needed,
but at least annually. The TRTWG will appoint one member to serve as the lead of the TRTWG.
5.0 GOALS
The Parties agree the goals of the coordinated US&R efforts shall include, but not be limited to, the
following:
•Strengthening rescue efforts
•Providing technical assistance to the Incident Commander at the scene of a rescue
•Providing a cost-effective Rescue Response System
•Coordinating the Parties’ efforts and activities
•Ensuring continuity and set minimum standards for technical urban search and rescue operating
procedures, personnel, training, equipment and supplies
•Ensuring core competencies and maintenance of qualifications
•Avoiding duplication of services
•Liaising with other rescue service providers and technical assistance resources
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 8 of 12
• Creating a system of continuous planning, constant analysis, coordination, evaluation, and
improvement of the technical rescue response system
6.0 SCOPE
Technical and urban search and rescue involves the location, rescue (extraction), and initial medical
stabilization of victims. “Technical search and rescue” is considered a multi-hazard discipline, as it may
be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons,
storms and tornadoes, floods, mud and debris flows, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist
activities and hazardous materials releases.
Technical search and rescue operations primarily consist of, but are not limited to, the following:
• Structural Collapse Rescue
• Rope Rescue
• Confined Space Rescue
• Trench Rescue
• Water Rescue
7.0 INCIDENT RESPONSE, TRAINING AND STAFFING
Tiered Responses
The incident commander from the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) determines the resources
necessary for a US&R incident. Options include a tiered response:
Tier One: US&R Single Resources and/or US&R strike teams
Tier Two: A TRT formed from on-duty agency personnel from the three Parties to this MOU. The
TRT shall be composed of two Type I US&R Companies with a Carlsbad Heavy Rescue in
the West and a San Diego County Fire US&R in the East. The response may be in Strike
Team Configuration.
Tier Three: Regional Task Force (RTF)
a. Tier One: Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Single Resource and/ or US&R Strike Team
Both Carlsbad and San Diego County Fire staff operate Type I US&R vehicles. These units can respond
stand alone or with additional personnel from one of the member agencies to meet the requirements
for a US&R Strike Team.
b. Tier Two: Technical Rescue Team (TRT)
The Parties’ staff shall form the TRT. The Parties agree to make a best effort to maintain the on-duty
minimum staffing provided below. An on-duty TRT leader from one of the Parties shall be selected
pursuant to the process identified in the Operating Plan. All personnel staffing the TRT must meet the
qualifications and training requirements outlined in the Operating Plan.
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 9 of 12
Party Required Staffing
City of Carlsbad Fire Department Three
City of San Marcos Fire Department Three
County of San Diego Fire Authority Six
Any member agency Three additional
Any member agency One (TRT leader)
c. Tier Three: Regional Task Force (RTF)
The Executive Advisory Committee has established a long-term goal of creating a RTF. The RTF will
consist of highly trained and equipped personnel prepared for large or complex urban search and rescue
operations. The RTF shall comply with the FIRESCOPE1 system in responding to an US&R incident. A full
list of these positions is outlined in the Operating Plan.
8.0 TRAINING
Training personnel and ensuring interoperability and familiarity of equipment among team members is
paramount. The TRT will have a goal of training once a quarter and having one larger mobility (MOBEX)
once a year. The Parties will alternate coordinating training exercises for the team. Additionally, the
TRTWG will continue to address the need for specialized training courses in the County of San Diego and
certification of personnel as local instructors. Minimum Training Standards are in the Operating Plan.
9.0 FUNDING
Each Party shall bear the cost of training and equipping for their respective component of the TRT. The
County of San Diego will fund the cost of expendable supplies and instructors for the quarterly drills and
MOBEX. The TRTWG shall pursue grant opportunities for team funding.
The Party requesting the TRT for an emergency incident shall be responsible for providing all logistical
support for the TRT and resupply or reimburse the costs of (at the election of the providing Party) all
supplies utilized, e.g. lumber and plywood.
The TRT shall be considered mutual aid for the first 24 hours for the Parties. Aid provided to any
jurisdiction that is not a party to this MOU shall be considered mutual aid for 12 hours. Upon expiration
of the mutual aid period (24 hours for Parties, 12 hours for others), the requesting agency may seek
continued assistance through the “Assistance by Hire Agreement” process, with full cost recovery to the
Parties.
10.0 APPARATUS
Each of the agencies shall be fully responsible for all repairs, maintenance and upkeep, including gas, oil,
lubrications, parts replacement and repair of casualty damage, of all its own equipment used, in
furtherance of this MOU, while said equipment is used outside of its service area.
11.0 EMPLOYEES
The Parties’ employees shall not be deemed employees of any of the other Parties by way of this MOU.
Each Party shall be responsible for all salary and benefits of its employees without cost to the other
1 FIRESCOPE (also known as Firefighting Resources of California Organized for Potential Emergencies).
provides sample organizational charts that can be referenced for initial attack, reinforced response,
extended attack and planned need responses.
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 10 of 12
Parties. Each Party shall maintain or self-insure Workers Compensation insurance for its employees
without cost to the other Parties.
12.0 NO THIRD-PARTY BENEFICIARIES
This MOU and each and every provision hereof is for the exclusive benefit of the Parties hereto and not
for the benefit of any third party.
13.0 NOTICE
Any notice required or permitted to be given pursuant to this MOU shall be personally served by the
Party giving notice or shall be served by certified mail. Notices shall be addressed as follows:
City of Carlsbad Fire Department
Attn: Mike Calderwood, Fire Chief
County of San Diego Fire Authority
Attn: Tony Mecham, Fire Chief
City of San Marcos Fire Department
Attn: Dan Barron, Fire Chief
14.0 SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS
Each and all provisions hereof shall be binding on and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and
their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and permitted assigns.
15.0 TERMINATION
Any Party may terminate their rights and obligations under this MOU by providing at least fifteen (15)
days’ advance written notice of termination to the other Parties pursuant to Section 12 (Notice). The
MOU will continue to be effective for all remaining Parties, to the extent that two or more Parties
remain.
16.0 ALTERATIONS
This MOU represents the entire understanding of the Parties. Any changes, modifications, or
amendments to this MOU shall be agreed upon and made in writing by all Parties.
17.0 SEPARATE ENTITIES
The Parties to this MOU are each considered separate entities. Nothing contained in this MOU shall be
deemed or construed to create a partnership, join venture or any other similar relationship between the
Parties hereto or cause either Party to be responsible in any way for the debts or obligations of the
other Party.
18.0 COUNTERPARTS
This MOU may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original
and all of which, taken together, shall constitute one and the same MOU.
19.0 GOVERNING LAW
This MOU shall be governed, interpreted, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the
State of California without regard to choose of law principles. Venue for any disputes shall be only in the
courts of law located in the County of San Diego, California.
20.0 INDEMNIFICATION
Regardless of and despite Government Code Sections 895.2 and 895.4, the Parties agree to the
following:
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 11 of 12
a. Claims Arising from Sole Acts or Omissions of a Party
Each Party hereby agrees to defend and indemnify the other Parties, their agents, officers and
employees (hereinafter collectively referred to in this paragraph as 'Indemnitees'), from any claim,
action or proceeding against the Indemnitees, arising solely out of the acts or omissions of the individual
Party in the performance of this MOU. At their sole discretion, the Indemnitees may participate at their
own expense in the defense of any claim, action or proceeding, but such participation shall not relieve
the individual Party of any obligation imposed by this MOU.
b. Claims Arising from Concurrent Acts or Omissions
The Parties hereby agree to defend themselves from any claim, action or proceeding arising out of the
concurrent acts or omissions of Parties. In such cases, the Parties agree to retain their own legal counsel,
bear their own defense costs, and waive their right to seek reimbursement of such costs, except as
provided in paragraph D below.
c. Joint Defense
Notwithstanding paragraph B above, in cases where the Parties agree in writing to a joint defense, the
Parties may appoint joint defense counsel to defend the claim, action or proceeding arising out of the
concurrent acts or omissions of the Parties. Joint defense counsel shall be selected by mutual
agreement. The Parties agree to share the costs of such joint defense and any agreed settlement in
equal amounts, except as provided in the paragraph D below. The Parties further agree that neither
party may bind the other to a settlement agreement without the written consent of all Parties.
d. Reimbursement and/or Reallocation
Where a trial verdict or arbitration award allocates or determines the comparative fault of the Parties,
the Parties may seek reimbursement and/or reallocation of defense costs, settlement payments,
judgments and awards, consistent with such comparative fault.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties cause this MOU to be executed as of the date written above.
Mike Calderwood Dan Barron
Fire Chief, City of Carlsbad Fire Chief, City of San Marcos
Date Date
Herman Reddick Tony Mecham
Director, Fire Authority Fire Chief, County Fire
County of San Diego
Date Date
Dec. 15, 2020 Item #8 Page 12 of 12