Welcoming Our New Executive President
We are thrilled to announce Heather Moreno, County Board of Supervisor, as the new Executive President of the Fire Safe Council. Heather brings a wealth of experience and leadership, and we look forward to her guiding us through upcoming challenges and opportunities.
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council was a resounding success, bringing together community leaders, fire safety professionals, and stakeholders to discuss critical updates and elect new board members. The event underscored our ongoing commitment to building fire-resilient communities across the county.
Key Presentations
The meeting featured impactful presentations that highlighted ongoing projects, innovative solutions, and collaborative efforts:
Southern California Fire Update
- Chief Garrett (CAL FIRE): Provided a comprehensive update on current fire conditions and mitigation strategies in Southern California.
- Stacy Korsgaden: Shared insights into the ongoing insurance challenges faced by homeowners in fire-prone areas, along with potential solutions.
Cal Poly WUI Fire Institute
Margot McDonald and Tim Northrup: Showcased the exciting advancements at the Cal Poly Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Fire Institute. Margot McDonald highlighted the cutting-edge WUI Faculty Student Collaboration Facility within the Architecture Department. Tim Northrup discussed the Earn by Doing program, enabling students to gain hands-on experience with WUI fire safety projects.
SCOUT Project Update
- Greg Alex: Presented updates on the SCOUT Project, emphasizing tools like LADRIS Evacuation Simulation, Genasys Protects Evacuation Zones, and FireShed dashboards, which enhance real-time fire monitoring and management capabilities.
Active Grants and Project Status
The Fire Safe Council continues to oversee a robust portfolio of active grants supporting countywide fire safety initiatives. These projects include hazardous fuels reduction, forest health improvements, and wildfire prevention measures, ensuring a safer future for our communities.
Board of Directors Election
This year’s elections marked notable transitions, with Debbie Arnold and Chris Dicus retiring their board seats. We extend our deepest gratitude for their years of dedicated service.
The newly affirmed board members include:
- Heather Moreno – County Board of Supervisors (Executive President)
- Jim Sasules – 1st Supervisorial District
- Scott Hallett – 4th Supervisorial District
- Dora Drexler – Air Pollution Control District
- David Van Son – Atascadero FD Focus Group
- John Owens – CAL FIRE / SLO County Fire
- Ashley Grupenhoff – Cal Poly State University
- Bill Cochrane – Cattleman’s Association
- Tom Peterson – County Fire Chiefs Association
- Matt Mohle – County Parks
- Dan Ponti – Farm Bureau
- Paul Patti – Fire Prevention Officers Association
- Martin Scott – Ranchita Estates Focus Group
- Skip Dyke – Range Improvement Association
- Devin Best – Upper Salinas-Las Tablas RCD
(One seat for an environmental group remains vacant.)
Looking Ahead
The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 19, 2025, with details to be announced.
This annual meeting reaffirmed our collective commitment to enhancing fire safety and resilience across San Luis Obispo County. Thank you to all who participated and contributed to its success. For more information, including access to presentations and video recordings, visit our website.