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California Fire Siege
Fire Events and Policy

1961
Santa Ana winds fanned a wildland fire in the Bel Air community of Los
Angeles County destroying 484 homes, many owned by Hollywood stars.
Researchers studying the fire’s impacts identified a demand for regulations
limiting expansion in the wildlands and improving structure survivability.

1971
After the devastating fire season of 1970, the California fire services were
severely criticized for failure to provide leadership in solving the issues of
cooperation, command and control, communications and training. In response,
state and federal legislative action authorized funding for a five-year research
program coordinated by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES)
called FIRESCOPE (Firefighting Resources of Southern California Organized
for Potential Emergencies). The FIRESCOPE research team identified a new
fire management system containing the following elements:
• Incident Command System
• Multi-Agency Coordination System

• Information Management System
• Technological Support

• Common Communications
President Nixon created the “National Commission on Fire Prevention and
Control.” The commission completed a report in May 1973, titled “America
Burning.” The report covered structural and wildland fires and stated, “Fire is a
major national problem.”

1972
The Southern California Geographic Area Coordination Center (OSCC)
was established to provide coordinated multi-agency logistical support
and intelligence for wildfires in Southern California. Components of the
center include the Intelligence Section, Logistical Support Center, Southern
Operations Emergency Command Center and the South Zone Training Unit.

1980
Major Santa Ana wind-driven wildfires occurred in Southern California. At
least 325 homes were burned in San Bernardino. The fires prompted Federal,
State and Local officials to study the problem of fires coming from the wildland
into developed communities. The California legislature established the
Vegetation Management Program (VMP) to reduce hazardous fuel conditions.

1987
Pebble Beach Fire in Monterey County destroyed 31 structures. Roof type,
window type and vegetation clearance were determining factors of structural
survival.

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