San Jose fire officials outline wildfire risk, WUI strategy and community outreach; committee accepts update

San Jose Fire Department leaders told the Public Safety Finance and Strategic Support Committee that the citys wildfire risk extends beyond hillside areas and into urban corridors, and described operational and community measures the department has adopted to strengthen preparedness.

"What happened in Los Angeles County is a preview of what is possible anywhere fire meets the urban edge," Captain Anthony Ibarra said, recounting January 2025 Palisades and Eaton fires that "burned more than 21,000 acres, destroyed over 16,000 structures, and claimed over 30 lives." He framed San Joses Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) mapping and two recently adopted ordinances as concrete city steps to manage that risk.

Staff described a revised Tactical Integrated Emergency Response (TIER) model that now dispatches the closest available units, which the department said has cut total tier response time by nearly half during the early-attack phase. Specialized apparatus and prepositioned resources are being held in WUI areas to improve the initial response.

The department highlighted regional coordination with CAL FIRE and the Santa Clara County Fire Department, ongoing mutual-aid agreements, and the citys use of Genesis Protect for evacuation notifications and multi-agency communications. Firewise USA recognition has grown from one community to three, and three additional communities are completing applications.

A FEMA 2023 Fire Prevention & Safety grant funded an outreach campaign that the department said led to nearly 7,000 frontline visual risk assessments, multilingual materials, and community presentations; the campaign received a 2026 award of distinction from the California Association of Public Information Officials.

Staff also said they were preparing a Phase 2 program that will add formal WUI inspections followed by structured compliance pathways, and they noted they are tracking Assembly Bill 1455, Senate Bill 504 and Governor Executive Order N-1825 to align local inspection practices as state requirements become final.

Council members asked about causes for elevated fire activity along major corridors; Assistant Chief James Dobson said causes are mixed (including cigarettes, encampments and vehicle fires) and that arson investigations occur when origins are undetermined. He reported that between 2022 and 2026 there were 2,660 unhoused-related vegetation fires in the period analyzed and reiterated that fuel mitigation is critical.

The committee voted unanimously to accept the wildfire prevention and preparedness status report.