Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 6e - Authorize the Fire Dept to apply for and Accept Grant Funds if Awarded Item 6e Department: Fire Cost Center: 8501 For Agenda of: 8/18/2026 Placement: Consent Estimated Time: N/A FROM: Randy Harris, Fire Chief Prepared By: Nicole Vert, Business Analyst SUBJECT: AUTHORIZE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS IF AWARDED RECOMMENDATION 1. Authorize retroactively the Fire Department to apply for and accept the award, if awarded, from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant in the amount of $3,600,006.67 for firefighter staffing costs (Attachment A); and 2. Authorize retroactively the Fire Department to apply for and accept the award, if awarded, from FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant in the amount of $33,155 (Attachment B) for the purchase of investigations equipment; and 3. Authorize retroactively the Fire Department to apply for and accept the award, if awarded, from CALFIRE in the amount of $720,590 for expansion of the wildfire resilience education project (Attachment C); and 4. Authorize the City Manager, or their designee, to execute the grant documents and approve the budget changes necessary to appropriate the grant amount upon acceptance of the grant award, if awarded. POLICY CONTEXT The City of San Luis Obispo’s Financial Management Manual, Section 740 - Grant Management Policy states that Council will approve all grant applications in excess of $5,000 and delegate receipt and contract execution to the City Manager. DISCUSSION State, federal, and non-profit grants are occasionally offered to assist local governments with the financial impacts associated with daily operations and/or mandated programs. The Fire Department actively seeks out these opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of the Department while increasing fiscal sustainability for the City. Three recent grant opportunities were identified, which are in line with these goals and address current and future needs for the City. Page 47 of 357 Item 6e FEMA Grants Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) is a grant program within FEMA that focus on enhancing the safety of the public and firefighters with respect to fire and fire -related hazards. The AFG program is the overarching FEMA grant program that includes three distinct grant opportunities: the Assistance to Firefighter’s grants (AFG), Fire Prevention & Safety (FP&S), and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants. All three fall within FEMA’s broader fire-service grant structure, they serve different purposes. AFG focuses on equipment, apparatus, PPE and training; SAFER funds firefighter staffing and recruitment/retention; and FP&S funds fire prevention, community risk reduction, and firefighter safety initiatives. The FY 2025 grant applications opened on May 19, 2026, and closed June 22, 2026. Due to the very short time frame within which a grant application needed to be prepared and submitted, staff were unable to obtain Council authorization to apply for the grant prior to the application deadline. However, to preserve the ability to apply and potentially receive funds through this program, the Fire Department submitted an application and is now seeking confirmation from Council that application is authorized and that the award could be accepted, if awarded. If not approved, the application will be withdrawn and the award declined. If authorized and awarded, the Fire department will work closely with the City Attorney’s office to assess the terms and conditions of these federal award(s) before acceptance. FEMA SAFER The SAFER Grant Program provides funding directly to fire departments to assist in increasing the number of firefighters to help communities meet industry minimum standards and attain 24-hour staffing to provide adequate fire protection from fire and fire- related hazards, and to fulfill traditional missions of fire departments. Due to growth and extended response times to the southern end of the City, an agreement was made with the developers of Avila Ranch (through the 2015 Developer's Agreement) to build a temporary Fire Station in the development and is scheduled to open in the summer of 2028. This partnership ensures that fire protection and emergency response capabilities keep pace with the City’s expansion. The City’s responsibility for the station is to staff and equip the station. The SAFER grant application (Attachment A) seeks funding to assist with hiring nine additional firefighters that will staff the new station. While the opening of the station is nearly two years away, the grant application was submitted now because hiring must begin sooner to ensure readiness of the new hires in time for the opening of the new station. The grant request totals $3,600,006.67 for these additional firefighters over a three-year grant period. This amount includes salary, health insurance, taxes, retirement contributions, worker’s compensation costs, and uniform pay that the City will pay. The SAFER grant requires a match of 25% for the first two years and 65% for the third year with the intention of preparing the grant awardee for full responsibility of the firefighter costs at the close of the grant award period. The match will total $1,380,002.66 over the grant period allowing for offset of $2,220,004.27 for the forecast ed cost of the new fire staff. The five-year budget forecasts presented to Council over the Page 48 of 357 Item 6e past two years have included the full anticipated costs of staffing the fifth fire station, presuming the receipt of no grant funding. If awarded, the SAFER grant would substantially offset the initial cost of hiring additional firefighters, reducing the immediate fiscal impact on the General Fund. FEMA FP&S The Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant program provides critically needed resources to strengthen community fire prevention programs and enables scientific research on innovations that improve firefighter safety, health and well -being. The Department submitted a FP&S grant application seeking $34,900 to upgrade and standardize its investigation equipment and personal protective equipment for investigation staff. The request is for six portable radios, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) ensembles, a digital camera, two portable scene lighting systems, and associated support equipment such as battery chargers. The Fire Department’s fire investigations unit is facing increasing investigative demands. Fires investigated have risen from 136 in 2023 to 150 in 2025. Suspicious and arson - related fires increased from 17 incidents in 2023 to 27 incidents in 2025 and 37 incidents through the first half of 2026 alone. During the same period, lithium-ion battery-related fires emerged as a significant new hazard, rising from zero incidents in 2023 and 2024 to three in 2025 and ten in the first half of 2026. These incidents require extensive documentation, evidence preservation, scene safety measures, communications coordination, and prolonged investigative operations. The department's fire investigations unit employs communications equipment that is over 15 years old, and new radios will have long, reliable battery lives and up to date software for increased reliability. The requested PPE includes helmets, coveralls and industry standard protective pants for each of the six members of the investigations team. The team relies on apparatus-mounted lighting systems for investigations, often requiring fire apparatus to remain committed to scenes after suppressions activities have concluded. The requested portable lighting systems will allow the team to work independently and with increased precision. The digital camera will be professional-grade and have the ability to capture detailed photographs of fire patterns, evidence, and other scene conditions. These camera capabilities are essential for documenting fire origin and cause, supporting criminal investigations, preserving evidence, and creating accurate records that may be used for enforcement actions, court proceedings, training, and future preventions efforts. Upgrading and replacing the ageing equipment will improve operational readiness, scene documentation and communications interoperability. CALFIRE Proposition 4 Climate Bond In November of 2024, California voters approved the Safe Drinking Water, Wildfire Prevention, Drought Preparedness, and Clean Air Bond Act of 2024, called Proposition 4 (Prop 4) to fund water, climate, wildfire, and natural resource projects across the state of California. Up to $70 million from Prop 4 funding is being allocated to CAL FIRE’s Wildfire Page 49 of 357 Item 6e Prevention Grants Program. This grant program provides funding for wildfire prevention projects and activities in and near wildfire-threatened communities that focus on increasing the protection of people, structures, and communities. Funded activities include Hazardous Fuels Reduction, Wildfire Prevention Planning, and Wildfire Prevention Education with an emphasis on improving public health and safety while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Department submitted a CAL FIRE Prop 4 grant application (Attachment C) seeking funding to strengthen the City’s wildfire resilience by increasing capacity, public awareness, and code compliance, in direct alignment with CAL FIRE’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) designations. Recognizing the growing wildfire risk within the City’s expanded Fire Hazard Severity Zones, the proposed grant-funded project adopts a comprehensive approach that integrates staff training, expanded assessment efforts, targeted public education, and rigorous evaluation to achieve lasting impact. The department received a FEMA FP&S grant in Fall 2025 to begin a project that allowed the department to hire two field interns that have developed educational materia ls, performed community outreach and over 100 Detailed Home Assessments (DHA’s). This project includes a wildfire education program and DHA’s provide homeowners with personalized, parcel-specific recommendations based on each property's construction, surrounding vegetation, topography, and wildfire exposure. Homeowners receive practical, prioritized actions to reduce wildfire risk through home hardening improvements, along with estimated implementation costs, enabling them to focus on the measures that will provide the greatest reduction in structure ignition potential. Proposition 4 funding will preserve and expand this successful program that is scheduled to end by Summer 2027 due to the end of the current grant project and funding. This project has proven popular and successful, experiencing increasing demand from the community. The department is requesting $720,590.00 that will allow the program to continue for five additional years by retaining the two existing field staff interns and adding an additional Wildfire Resilience Intern to coordinate assessments, outreach, and program implementation, allowing substantially more residents to receive individualized wildfire education. The requested funds will pay these three temporary interns for the entire grant period to perform DHA’s, community outreach, as well as promotion of the program through a variety of channels ensuring messaging reaches deep into the community. Previous Council or Advisory Body Action On October 21, 2025, the City Council authorized the fire department to apply for an FP&S Program grant to reduce community wildfire risk through assessments, education and fuel reduction through community outreach and DHA’s. The action authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute the grant documents and approve the budget changes necessary upon notification that the grant had been awarded. On May 21, 2024, the City Council authorized the fire department to apply for an FP&S Program grant to purchase personal protection equipment (PPE) for fire prevention staff and authorized the City Manager, or designee, to execute the grant documents and Page 50 of 357 Item 6e approve the budget changes necessary upon notification that the grant had been awarded. Public Engagement This item is on the agenda for the August 18, 2026, City Council meeting and will follow all required postings and notifications. The public will have an opportunity to comment on this item at or before the meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) does not apply to the recommended action in this report, because the action does not constitute a “Project” under CEQA Guidelines Sec. 15378. If the work associated with the grant funding requires environmental review, staff will not proceed with t he project until a review has been completed. FISCAL IMPACT Budgeted: Yes Budget Year: 2026-27 to FY2029-30 Funding Identified: Yes Fiscal Analysis: Funding Sources Total Budget Available Current Funding Request FY 2027-28 Funding Request Annual Ongoing Cost General Fund $ $1,745.00 $1,380,002.66 State $720,590.00 Federal $2,253,159.27 Fees Other: Total $ $2,975,494.27 $1,380,002.66 $ The City is requesting a total of $2,975,494.27 from three grant programs. If the Fire Department were to receive funding from the SAFER program, the City would have to match the Federal grant funds equal to $1,380,002.66. The current 5-year budget forecast includes the full cost of the additional firefighters in Fiscal Year 2027-28, and the match would be less than the anticipated amount needed to budget providing $2,220,004.27 of relief to the General Fund. If the Fire Department were to receive funding from the FP&S program , the City would have to match the Federal Grant funds equal to 5%. The total package requested is $34,900 and if fully funded would result in $33,155 in grant funding from FEMA and require a match from the City of $1,745. The Fire Department will absorb thi s match Page 51 of 357 Item 6e requirement within the existing operating budget for FY 2026-27. If the Fire Department were to receive funding from the CALFIRE grant program the City would not have to match funds as there is no match requirement. The entire package requested is $720,590.00. The expected announcement of grant awards is after August 2026 and could stretch into early Winter, possibly later, when notifications are sent. The FP&S and CALFIRE Climate grants will not begin without award notification and will not affect the budget. Staffing requested with the SAFER grant will begin in FY2027-28, should the City receive the grant award it would offset staffing expenditures beginning in FY2027-28. ALTERNATIVES The Council could decide to not authorize one or more of the identified grant applications. Under this alternative, staff would withdraw the identified grant application(s) or turn down any awards, if received prior to withdrawal. Grant funds would serve to enhance the City’s safety and resilience while increasing fiscal sustainability for the City. Without the awarded grant funds, the Fire Department will have fewer resources available to provide staff training and education to the public regarding fire prevention needs in the City. ATTACHMENTS A – FEMA SAFER Grant application B – FEMA FP&S Grant application C – CALFIRE Prop 4 grant application Page 52 of 357 Cal Fire Prop 4 Prevention Grant 1. Project Description Summary- Please provide a paragraph summarizing proposed project including the location, habitable structures, acres treated, etc. ** (character limit – 600/ at 590) The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department intends to implement Wildfire Ready SLO, a comprehensive community wildfire resilience and wildfire prevention education initiative. It will provide public education on wildfire prevention education, Zone 0 implementation, home hardening awareness, fire- smart Landscaping Education, and community preparedness outreach. The project will increase adoption of wildfire-resilience measures, reduce the risk of structure-to-wildland/wildland-to-structure fire spread, and build long-term community capacity for wildfire prevention and preparedness . 2. Award Request Amount- $720,590.00 3. Project Area Statistics: For all Hazardous Fuels Reduction projects, provide an estimate of the Treatment Influence Zone (TIZ) acres. Include Local Responsibility Area (LRA), Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) and State Responsibility Area (SRA) as applicable for TIZ.- The Treatment Influence Zones (TIZ) are the treatment areas within a project, where on -the-ground activities are accomplished. There can be multiple treatment areas associated with a project. Wildfire Prevention Planning and Wildfire Prevention Public Education projects will NOT have treatment areas. a. Local Responsibility Area (LRA) TIZ acres b. Federal Responsibility Area (FRA) TIZ acres c. State Responsibility Area (SRA) TIZ acres d. Total TIZ Acres This application is submitted under the Wildfire Prevention Public Education category. No hazardous fuels reduction treatments are proposed; therefore, no Treatment Influence Zone (TIZ) acres are associated with this project. 4. Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ)-What Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) are in the project area? Fire Hazard Severity Zone ratings are available at: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/community-wildfire-preparedness-and- mitigation/wildfire-preparedness/fire-hazard-severity-zones/. Copy and paste the link or right-click to open in a new tab. Please provide an approximate number of acres or percentage of the project area in each zone. a. Number of Acres in the Very High SRA FHSZ b. Number of Acres in the Very High LRA FHSZ c. Number of Acres in the High SRA FHSZ d. Number of Acres in the High LRA FHSZ Page 53 of 357 e. Number of Acres in the Moderate SRA FHSZ f. FHSZ Total Acres 5. In addition to the online project mapping program treatment Geopoint and polygons, include a pdf map(s) of the project with the project application. The maps shall meet the requirements of Appendix G in the Procedural Guide. See attached Project Area Map Package. Figure 1: Wildfire Risk Profile, Figure 2: 2009 FHSZs, Figure 3: 2025 FHSZs prepared in accordance with Appendix G of the Proposition 4 Wildfire Prevention Grant Procedural Guide. Scope of Work 1. Project Description- Please provide a comprehensive project description including the location, habitable structures, acres treated, etc. (please note there are no space limitations) * Page 54 of 357 Wildfire Ready SLO is a citywide wildfire prevention education and community resilience initiative serving the City of San Luis Obispo. The project is designed to increase homeowner awareness, preparedness, and implementation of wildfire risk-reduction measures through Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), home hardening education, Zone 0 implementation, fire-smart Landscaping education, Firewise Community development, and community outreach. The City of San Luis Obispo is identified as a Priority Community in the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department's SLU Fire Plan, and the project directly advances the Plan’s goals of reducing structural ignitability, expanding public education and participation in pre-fire planning, and strengthening community wildfire resilience. The project will also provide targeted wildfire prevention education to landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, homeowner associations, property management companies, and other private-sector partners who influence vegetation management, landscape design, and wildfire resilience decisions within the community. The City of San Luis Obispo has been designated by the State of California to be a Community at Risk pursuant to Health and Safety Code Section 13108.5. The City is surrounded by more than 4,000 acres of open space and is adjacent to California Public Utilities Commission-designated Tier 2 and Tier 3 wildfire threat areas. Approximately 52.5% of the City lies within the wildland-urban interface (WUI), where homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure are directly adjacent to wildfire-prone vegetation. According to the San Luis Obispo County Assessor's Office, the City contains approximately $13.8 billion in assessed property value, with an estimated $7.25 billion within the new FHSZ. Over the past several decades, the City of San Luis Obispo and its surrounding wildland-urban interface have experienced repeated wildfire activity from a variety of ignition sources. Significant incidents include the Cuesta Fire, Highway 41 Fire, Highway 58 Fire, numerous vegetation fires within the City’s open space areas, including Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, Reservoir Canyon, Terrace Hill, and Irish Hills, as well as recurring roadside, recreation-related, and homeless encampment fires. See attached Project Map. The City has experienced a significant increase in wildfire exposure under California’s updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone (FHSZ) mapping, updated in 2025. The number of parcels designated within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone increased from 38 parcels under the 2009 maps to approximately 2,845 parcels under the 2025 maps, increasing the acres included in that zone from 765 to 2,506 acres. This is a 7,387% increase in Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone parcels and a 228% increase in acreage. Wildfire Ready SLO will expand the City’s existing Detailed Home Assessment Program and provide approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments over a five-year period. Project activities include: Page 55 of 357  A goal of approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments  Home hardening education and technical assistance  Zone 0 readiness education  Fire Smart Landscaping education  Firewise Community support and expansion  Community workshops and public outreach events  Homeowner association presentations  Professional education and partnerships  Educational mailers and preparedness materials  Public awareness campaigns  GIS-based project tracking and Survey123 evaluation Additional project support will be provided by a Limited-Term Wildfire Resilient Intern and two Limited-Term Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Interns. These positions will conduct Detailed Home Assessments, deliver wildfire preparedness education, assist with Firewise Community development, and engage directly with residents throughout the project period. Wildfire Ready SLO builds upon a proven wildfire prevention model that has already completed approximately 100 Detailed Home Assessments, documented homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent, established three Firewise USA Communities, Buena Vista Estates, Laguna Lake Mobile Estates, and San Luis Drive, and generated strong community demand for wildfire preparedness services. Supported to date through short-term funding, the program has been supported through short-term funding and has already demonstrated strong demand and measurable homeowner action and sustained community interest. Proposition 4 funding will enable the City to expand this proven model over a five-year implementation period, increasing the number of residents served, strengthening community wildfire resilience, and delivering meaningful, measurable wildfire-risk reduction benefits to residents throughout San Luis Obispo. Wildfire Ready SLO expands an existing City wildfire p revention program currently managed by the Fire Department. The program is overseen by the Fire Marshal, supported by the Emergency Manager’s ongoing wildfire public education responsibilities, and currently delivers Detailed Home Assessments (DSA) and community outreach through two FEMA-funded Limited-Term Community Risk Reduction Interns. Proposition 4 funding will preserve these existing field positions while adding one Limited-Term Wildfire Resilient Intern to coordinate assessments, outreach, scheduling, data management, and program implementation. This additional staffing will significantly increase the City’s capacity to deliver wildfire prevention education and individualized technical assistance throughout the community. 2. Describe the specific message of the education program and how it relates to reducing the risk of wildfire to owners of structures. Page 56 of 357 Education Program Message The primary message of Wildfire Ready SLO is that homeowners can significantly reduce the likelihood of their homes igniting during a wildfire by implementing practical, affordable, and achievable wildfire resilience measures. The program emphasizes that wildfire resilience begins at the home and that individual property owners play a critical role in reducing community wildfire risk. Wildfire Ready SLO builds upon the City's existing wildfire education program, which currently delivers Detailed Home Assessments and community outreach through two FEMA-funded Community Risk Reduction Interns under the oversight of the Fire Marshal and with support from the Emergency Manager's public education responsibilities. Proposition 4 funding will preserve this successful program, retain the existing field staff, and add a Wildfire Resilient Intern to coordinate assessments, outreach, and program implementation, allowing substantially more residents to receive individualized wildfire education. Through targeted education and Detailed Home Assessments, h omeowners will gain a better understanding of structural ignitability, ember intrusion, and the actions they can take to reduce wildfire risk. All Fire prevention staff, including our CRR Interns, have received Cal FIRE Defensible Space Inspector training and are equipped to provide consistent, science-based guidance on home hardening, Zone 0 implementation, defensible space, and other wildfire resilience measures. Recommendations provided during Detailed Home Assessments are based on current CAL FIRE guidance, the California Building Code, Firewise USA principles, and other nationally recognized wildfire mitigation best practices. This training ensures consistent messaging that aligns with regional standards and Cal FIRE best practices. Each Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) will include a 31-page homeowner resource guide covering home hardening, defensible space, Firewise Communities, evacuation preparedness, and wildfire resilience. The guide explains Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the importance of reducing structural ignitability through home hardening. It provides practical recommendations for home hardening improvements, including estimated implementation costs, as well as detailed guidance for Zones 0, 1, and 2 defensible space with associated cost estimates. The guide also includes fire-smart landscaping, vegetation and tree management common tree maintenance practices, and the City’s tree removal permit process and application. Designed as a long-term reference, the guide reinforces education provided during the site visit and enables residents to prioritize wildfire resilience improvements over time as budgets and opportunities allow. Page 57 of 357 Following each assessment, homeowners receive a customized report that documents property-specific wildfire vulnerabilities, photographs of identified conditions, provides prioritized recommendations with estimated implementation costs, and recognizes existing wildfire-resilient features. This individualized report serves as a property-specific implementation plan that homeowners can use to prioritize wildfire resilience improvements over time. Unlike generalized wildfire education campaigns, Detailed Home Assessments provide personalized, parcel-specific recommendations based on each property's construction, surrounding vegetation, topography, and wildfire exposure. This tailored approach enables residents to identify their greatest vulnerabilities and prioritize improvements that provide the greatest reduction in structure ignition potential. Wildfire Ready SLO is founded on decades of wildfire research demonstrating that many homes are lost because wind-driven embers ignite vulnerable materials on or around structures rather than through direct flame contact. The program focuses on reducing structural ignitability by helping homeowners understand where their homes are vulnerable and providing practical, affordable measures that reduce the likelihood of home ignition. The program is based on the principle that informed homeowners are more likely to take meaningful action to reduce wildfire risk. By providing personalized education, technical guidance, and property-specific recommendations, Wildfire Ready SLO transforms wildfire awareness into measurable homeowner action that reduces structural ignitability and strengthens community wildfire resilience. The education program will also include targeted outreach to landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, property managers, and other private -sector partners whose work directly influences vegetation management, plant selection, irrigation design, and maintenance practices around structures. This targeted outreach will reinforce how fire-smart landscaping, ignition-resistant plant selection, Zone 0 implementation, limiting fire spread from vegetation to structures, and ongoing vegetation maintenance reduce structural ignitability and support long-term wildfire resilience. Because these professionals routinely advise property owners and influence landscaping decisions across multiple properties, they serve as effective multipliers for promoting home hardening, defensible space, and long-term wildfire resilience throughout the community. Educational messaging will be delivered through one -on-one Detailed Home Assessments, homeowner resource guides, customized assessment reports, community workshops, neighborhood meetings, Firewise Community events, Page 58 of 357 homeowner association presentations, professional education sessions, digital outreach, and printed educational materials. Delivering consistent messaging across multiple formats reinforces key wildfire resilience concepts and increases the likelihood that residents will implement recommended actions. The educational program promotes the development of fire -adapted communities by encouraging shared responsibility among homeowners, neighborhoods, professional partners, and community organizations to reduce the ignitability of structures and improve wildfire resilience. The education program focuses on four interconnected wildfire resilience messages: Zone 0 Readiness Residents will learn how combustible materials immediately adjacent to a structure can increase ignition potential. Educational messaging will encourage homeowners to reduce or eliminate combustible materials within the first 5 feet around structures and to identify opportunities to create ignition-resistant areas around homes. A particular emphasis on the home’s vulnerability and the proximity of vegetation. For example, the proximity of vegetation to windows, doors, vents, and similar openings. Home Hardening Residents will learn how embers, radiant heat, and direct flame contact can ignite structures. Educational materials and Detailed Home Assessments will help homeowners identify common vulnerabilities and understand practical improvements that can reduce wildfire exposure. Focusing on elements that homeowners can do over a weekend that have the greatest benefits, like ember-resistant screening or gutter guards. Fire Smart Landscaping Residents will learn how landscape design, vegetation maintenance, plant spacing, and ongoing property management can influence wildfire behavior around homes. Educational materials will promote wildfire-resilient landscaping principles that support both wildfire adaptation and environmental stewardship. Emphasizing the importance of planting Fire Smart Vegetation that meets the 8 Characteristics of Fire Smart Vegetation per the 2025 California WUI Code Appendix F. Page 59 of 357 Community Preparedness Residents will learn how wildfire preparedness extends beyond property improvements. The program will promote evacuation planning, Ready, Set, Go! principles, emergency preparedness, Firewise Community participation, and neighborhood-level resilience efforts. Residents will also be encouraged to participate in Firewise USA Communities, helping neighborhoods organize around long-term wildfire risk reduction and shared responsibility for community resilience. The City has demonstrated the effectiveness of this approach through an existing FEMA-funded pilot program. The program currently delivers Detailed Home Assessments and community outreach through two FEMA -funded Community Risk Reduction Interns under the oversight of the Fire Marshal and with support from the Emergency Manager's public education responsibilities. Through approximately 100 completed Detailed Home Assessments, more than 50 percent of participating homeowners have implemented one or more recommended wildfire resilience improvements. Homeowner follow-up surveys and GIS-based tracking will continue measuring implementation rates to evaluate program effectiveness and refine educational messaging. Proposition 4 funding will preserve this successful program, retain the existing field staff, add a Wildfire Resilient Intern to coordinate and expand program implementation, and significantly increase the number of residents who receive individualized wildfire resilience education. By increasing homeowner implementation of Zone 0 improvements, home hardening measures, Fire Smart Landscaping principles, and community preparedness actions, Wildfire Ready SLO directly reduces structural ignitability, strengthens neighborhood wildfire resilience, and supports the long-term protection of homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and community assets throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. 3. Describe the target audience of the education program and how information will be distributed to this audience. Wildfire Ready SLO utilizes a layered education and outreach strategy designed to deliver wildfire prevention information through multiple communication channels to audiences with the greatest ability to reduce structure ignition and increase community wildfire resilience. The City's existing wildfire education program has demonstrated that combining direct homeowner engagement with community-wide outreach results in higher participation in Detailed Home Assessments and increased implementation of wildfire resilience measures. Proposition 4 funding will allow the City to expand this proven outreach Page 60 of 357 model by increasing the number of neighborhoods served, community events conducted, and residents receiving individualized wildfire education. Primary Target Audiences Geographic Priority Areas Wildfire Ready SLO will prioritize outreach to residents located within High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, which collectively comprise the City's designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI). There are 4,477 parcels in the High and Very High Zone; however, 52.5% of all City parcels are within a fire hazard zone. These neighborhoods will receive the highest level of outreach because they represent the areas of greatest wildfire exposure and the greatest opportunity to reduce structural ignitability through homeowner action. Additional outreach will also be provided to neighborhoods immediately surrounding the designated WUI because wind-driven embers can travel significant distances ahead of the main fire front and threaten structures located outside mapped hazard zones. Educational messaging for these areas will emphasize ember intrusion, home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, and vegetation management practices that reduce structure ignition potential. Residents adjacent to open space, natural resource areas, and undeveloped lands will receive educational materials on wildfire preparedness, evacuation planning, Fire Smart Landscaping, and defensible space principles due to their increased wildfire exposure. Educational messaging will be delivered using a layered outreach strategy that combines direct mail, neighborhood canvassing, utility bill inserts, digital communications, community presentations, and individualized Detailed Home Assessments. Educational mailers will be distributed annually before the start of fire season in both English and Spanish to property owners and residents within priority project areas. Neighborhood canvassing and door hangers will encourage participation in Detailed Home Assessments, while utility bill messaging will provide citywide awareness using an established communication platform with demonstrated community reach. All outreach materials will direct residents to request a Detailed Home Assessment, the program's primary educational tool. Low-Income Households, Seniors, and Vulnerable Populations The program will prioritize outreach to residents who may face financial, physical, language, transportation, or other barriers to implementing wildfire preparedness measures. Educational materials and outreach efforts will be designed to ensure that Page 61 of 357 wildfire preparedness information is accessible, understandable, and available to all community members including Spanish language materials and outreach staff will bring wildfire preparedness education directly into neighborhoods through community meetings, home visits, and other localized outreach efforts to reduce barriers to participation. Information Distribution Methods Beyond targeted neighborhoods the Wildfire Ready SLO will target all residents of the City with a broad message by utilizing multiple communication and outreach methods to maximize participation and ensure information reaches a broad cross-section of the community. Communication channels include radio broadcasting, local news stories, social media campaigns, and printed materials. All distributed methods will comply with state laws and will produce all printed materials in English and Spanish, as well as social media campaigns. Educational workshops and presentations will be delivered throughout the community, including HOA meetings, neighborhood gatherings, Firewise events, and preparedness workshops. Previous workshops and community presentations have consistently generated additional requests for Detailed Home Assessments, demonstrating strong community interest in individualized wildfire preparedness education. As participation has increased, demand for assessments has exceeded the capacity of the existing FEMA-funded field staff. Proposition 4 funding will enable the City to meet this growing demand while significantly expanding outreach throughout the community. Existing and developing Firewise USA Communities will receive enhanced outreach through neighborhood meetings, community assessments, annual Firewise events, and technical assistance. Firewise Communities serve as neighborhood am bassadors, helping expand wildfire education and encouraging participation in Detailed Home Assessments throughout adjacent neighborhoods. The events committee program staff consists of the Fire Marshal, the Chief Building Official, the Emergency Manager, the City Arborists, the City Biologist, and the CRR Interns. Program staff will participate in community outreach events, including the Downtown Farmers Market, preparedness fairs, public safety events, and other community gatherings to provide wildfire resilience education and distribute educational materials. Prop 4 funding will directly impact our staffing, allowing the Fire Department to host more events and reach more community members. The City has already demonstrated success through an existing FEMA-funded pilot program. Proposition 4 funding will preserve that successful effort, retain the current Page 62 of 357 field staff, add a Wildfire Resilient Intern to improve coordination, and significantly expand the number of residents receiving wildfire resilience education. 4. Will the education program raise the awareness of homeowner responsibilities of living in a fire prone environment? Homeowner Responsibilities in a Fire-Prone Environment The primary objective of Wildfire Ready SLO is to help homeowners understand that they play a critical role in reducing wildfire risk and improving the survivability of their homes, neighborhoods, and community. The program emphasizes that individual actions taken before a wildfire can significantly influence whether a structure survives. As California continues to experience larger, more destructive wildfires and expands wildfire resilience initiatives such as Zone 0 implementation and home hardening, homeowner awareness and proactive action have become increasingly important components of community wildfire resilience. Through the City's existing FEMA-funded pilot program, Wildfire Ready SLO has demonstrated that individualized education delivered through Detailed Home Assessments increases homeowner understanding of wildfire risk and leads to measurable implementation of wildfire resilience improvements. Proposition 4 funding will preserve and expand this successful education model, allowing substantially more homeowners to receive personalized guidance and technical assistance. Educational messaging recognizes that while wildfire cannot always be prevented, homeowners have the ability to substantially reduce the likelihood that their homes will ignite through informed maintenance, home hardening, and vegetation management decisions. The program is founded on the principle that wildfire resilience is a shared responsibility between government agencies, emergency responders, neighborhoods, and individual property owners. While public agencies play an important role in wildfire preparedness and emergency response, homeowners are often responsible for many of the actions that most directly influence the survivability of structures during a wildfire. Wildfire Ready SLO will provide residents with practical, science-based, property- specific information on how wildfires affect homes and neighborhoods and the actions they can take to reduce structural ignitability. Educational messaging emphasizes that homeowners have the ability, and responsibility, to significantly influence wildfire outcomes through property maintenance, preparedness planning, and implementation of wildfire resilience measures. Page 63 of 357 These responsibilities will be reinforced consistently through Detailed Home Assessments, homeowner resource guides, customized assessment reports, community presentations, and neighborhood outreach. The program will educate homeowners regarding:  Zone 0 implementation and the importance of maintaining ignition-resistant areas immediately adjacent to structures.  Home hardening measures that reduce vulnerability to embers, radiant heat, and direct flame contact.  Defensible space concepts and vegetation management practices that reduce wildfire intensity around structures.  Fire Smart Landscaping principles that support both wildfire resilience and environmental stewardship.  Evacuation preparedness, emergency planning, and Ready, Set, Go! principles.  The role of Firewise Communities and neighborhood-level preparedness efforts.  Routine inspection and maintenance of homes to reduce ember intrusion and ignition vulnerabilities. Wildfire Ready SLO places a strong emphasis on individualized education through the DHA Program. Because every property presents different construction features, vegetation conditions, and exposure to wildfire hazards, individualized assessments provide homeowners with recommendations that are directly applicable to their homes and more likely to result in implementation than generalized educational messaging. During assessments, homeowners receive site-specific recommendations that help them understand how conditions on their property may influence wildfire risk and what actions they can take to improve resilience. Educational messaging will also be reinforced through homeowner associations, Firewise Communities, landscape professionals, nurseries, and other community partners that regularly influence homeowner decisions regarding vegetation management and home improvements. Through its existing FEMA-funded pilot program, the City has demonstrated that homeowners are willing to take meaningful action when provided with individualized education and technical assistance. Approximately 100 Detailed Home Assessments have been completed, with more than 50 percent of participating homeowners implementing one or more recommended wildfire resilience improvements. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of combining personalized education with practical recommendations. Proposition 4 funding will preserve this succes sful program, retain the existing field staff, expand program coordination, and enable thousands of additional homeowners to better understand their responsibilities and opportunities to reduce wildfire risk. Page 64 of 357 By increasing homeowner awareness, reinforcing individual responsibility, and supporting measurable implementation of wildfire resilience measures, Wildfire Ready SLO will foster a lasting culture of wildfire preparedness throughout the community. The program empowers homeowners to take practical actions that reduce structural ignitability, strengthen neighborhood resilience, and improve the City's overall ability to withstand and recover from future wildfires. 5. Identify specific actions being advocated in the education material that is expected to increase the preparedness of residents and structures for wildfire. Specific Actions Advocated Through Educational Materials Wildfire Ready SLO is designed to transform wildfire awareness into measurable homeowner action. Every educational component of the program is intended to provide residents with practical, science-based recommendations that reduce structure ignitability, improve emergency preparedness, and increase community wildfire resilience. The educational actions promoted through Wildfire Ready SLO build upon the City's existing FEMA-funded pilot program, which has demonstrated that individualized education leads to measurable homeowner implementation of wildfire resilience improvements. Proposition 4 funding will preserve and expand this proven approach, allowing more residents to receive personalized recommendations through Detailed Home Assessments and community outreach. Educational materials, Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), workshops, outreach events, and Firewise Community engagement activities will provide residents with practical recommendations that can be implemented at the property and neighborhood level. Educational materials will include practical guidance on defensible space, vegetation management, roof and gutter maintenance, seasonal landscape maintenance, ignition prevention, and safe equipment use during periods of elevated wildfire danger. The program will advocate the following wildfire preparedness actions: Zone 0, 1, and 2 Readiness Actions Residents will learn to create and maintain an ignition-resistant area within the first five feet (Zone 0) surrounding structures and take action in Zone 1 (Lean, Clean, and Green) and Zone 2 (Reduced Fuel Zone). Educational materials will emphasize that Zone 0 is one of the most effective homeowner actions available to reduce structure ignition because it addresses the area most vulnerable to ember accumulation and direct flame contact: Page 65 of 357  Removing combustible materials adjacent to structures.  Relocating firewood, combustible storage, and flammable items away from structures and placing them in the appropriate zone.  Replacing combustible ground coverings near structures with ignition-resistant alternatives where appropriate.  Maintaining clear separation between vegetation and structures. As well as vegetation-to-vegetation by following plant clearance recommendations.  Reducing combustible materials on decks, patios, and around entrances.  Remove all branches within 10 feet of any chimney or stovepipe outlet.  Remove all dead and dying trees, branches, shrubs, or other plants that overhang the buildings within 5 feet.  Cut and maintain all annual grasses to 4 inches or less in height. These actions are intended to reduce the likelihood of ember ignition immediately adjacent to homes. During each Detailed Home Assessment, these recommendations will be prioritized based on the property's specific construction, vegetation, and wildfire exposure so homeowners can focus first on the improvements expected to provide the greatest reduction in structural ignitability. Materials will focus on the new Zone 0 update, including the expectations and 3- and 5-year grace periods for combustible materials. The significant importance of understanding the relationship to the most vulnerable aspects of their home and of communicating with vegetation planted around windows and doors. Home Hardening Actions Residents will be encouraged to evaluate and improve common building vulnerabilities by:  Installing or upgrading ember-resistant vent protection.  Screening openings that may allow ember intrusion.  Maintaining roofs, gutters, and roof valleys free of combustible debris.  Identifying combustible attachments and vulnerable building components.  Improving the overall ignition resistance of structures when undertaking maintenance or renovation projects.  Replace combustible fencing where it attaches directly to the home or interrupt the fuel pathway with ignition-resistant materials. These actions help reduce structure vulnerability to embers, radiant heat, and direct flame exposure. Educational materials will emphasize affordable improvements that Page 66 of 357 homeowners can complete as part of routine home maintenance, as well as larger projects that can be incorporated into future renovations. Defensible Space and Vegetation Management Actions Residents will be encouraged to:  Maintain defensible space around structures using a vegetation management plan.  Understand and develop a vegetation management plan.  Remove dead and dying vegetation.  Reduce ladder fuels and excessive vegetation density.  Prune trees and shrubs to reduce fire spread potential.  Maintain vegetation in accordance with wildfire preparedness principles.  Education on reducing fire pathways. These actions help reduce fire intensity around their home and improve firefighter access and defensibility when homeowners have a well-developed seasonal maintenance routine rather than one-time vegetation clearing. Homeowners will also be encouraged to develop annual maintenance schedules that recognize vegetation management as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one -time project. Fire Smart Landscaping Actions Residents will be encouraged to:  Break up continuous fuel beds  Increase horizontal and vertical spacing  Reduce fuel continuity  Use hardscape strategically  Select low-flammability plants  Maintain adequate irrigation Educational materials will emphasize that no plant is fireproof and that proper placement, maintenance, and management are critical components of wildfire resilience. Educational materials will highlight the eight characteristics of fire smart vegetation identified in the 2025 California Wildland-Urban Interface Code Appendix F and demonstrate how proper plant selection, spacing, and maintenance can reduce fire spread around structures. Page 67 of 357 Emergency Preparedness Actions Residents will be encouraged to:  Develop household evacuation plans.  Register for emergency notification systems such as AlertSLO and become familiar with local evacuation zones before an emergency occurs.  Prepare emergency supply kits.  Identify multiple evacuation routes.  Participate in Ready, Set, Go! preparedness activities.  Discuss evacuation planning with family members and neighbors. These actions improve resident readiness and support safer evacuation during wildfire emergencies. Understanding evacuation zones and multiple evacuation routes before an emergency occurs saves lives. Neighborhood and Community Preparedness Actions Residents will be encouraged to:  Participate in Firewise USA Communities.  Encourage neighbors to complete Detailed Home Assessments.  Participate in neighborhood projects that reduce wildfire risk and support community-wide preparedness efforts.  Attend wildfire preparedness workshops and outreach events.  Engage with homeowner associations on wildfire resilience initiatives.  Share preparedness information with neighbors.  Participate in community-level preparedness activities. These actions help build neighborhood resilience and promote a shared responsibility approach to wildfire preparedness. The educational actions promoted through Wildfire Ready SLO were selected because they represent practical, achievable, and evidence-based measures that homeowners can implement to reduce structural ignitability, improve defensible space, enhance emergency preparedness, and strengthen neighborhood wildfire resilience. Recommendations are based on current California wildfire science, the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code, CAL FIRE defensible space guidance, Firewise USA principles, and nationally recognized home hardening research. The City's existing FEMA-funded pilot program has demonstrated that homeowners are willing to implement these recommendations when they receive individualized education and Page 68 of 357 technical assistance. Proposition 4 funding will enable the City to preserve this successful model while significantly expanding its reach throughout the community. 6. Describe the expected outcome of the education in terms of increased or changed public awareness about wildfire. Expected Outcomes of the Education Program The expected outcome of Wildfire Ready SLO is increased home survivability, resilience against structure ignition and wildfire property loss throughout the City through increased public awareness, understanding, and implementation of wildfire-resilience that improve community preparedness. The ultimate goal of the program is a reduction in loss during a large wildfire event. The County assessor ’s office estimates that the City has over $7 billion in property value in the FHSZ and this program’s expected outcome and goals would be to prevent property loss that could reach into billions during a fire. Recent wildfire history demonstrates that the City of San Luis Obispo has repeatedly experienced vegetation fires that threatened homes, neighborhoods, and critical infrastructure. Through aggressive initial attack and favorable weather conditions, firefighters have successfully prevented many of these incidents from becoming catastrophic urban interface fires. However, wildfire outcomes cannot rely solely on emergency response. Under more extreme weather conditions, including high winds, low humidity, and prolonged drought, many of these same incidents could have resulted in widespread structure loss. Wildfire Ready SLO is intended to reduce that dependence on suppression by increasing homeowner preparedness before a wildfire occurs. The program is designed to move residents beyond general awa reness of wildfire risk and toward a deeper understanding of how individual actions can influence wildfire outcomes. Educational activities will help residents recognize that wildfire resilience is not solely the responsibility of emergency responders or public agencies but a shared responsibility among homeowners, neighborhoods, and community organizations. Participants will be provided tangible actions they can take to improve wildfire resilience on their property. The goal will be to have recipients of a DHA perform at least one home hardening improvement to their property to wildfire spread or property loss. With awareness and resulting actions residents take the ultimate goal of the Wildfire Ready SLO is home survivability and reduced community destruction in a large-scale wildfire. Over recent decades, the City has experienced numerous vegetation fires on Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, Reservoir Canyon, Terrace Hill, Irish Hills, and Page 69 of 357 surrounding open space that have required rapid fire department response to protect adjacent neighborhoods. While these incidents resulted in limited structure loss, many occurred immediately adjacent to residential development where changing weather conditions could have significantly altered fire behavior and increased the potential for widespread property damage. As a result of the program, residents are expected to demonstrate increased awareness in the following areas: Understanding of Wildfire Risk Residents will gain a greater understanding of the wildfire risks facing the City of San Luis Obispo, including the significance of living within the wildland-urban interface, the implications of updated Fire Hazard Severity Zone designations, and the factors that contribute to structure loss during wildfire events. Understanding of Structure Ignition Residents will develop a better understanding of how homes ignite during wildfires and the role that embers, radiant heat, combustible materials, and property conditions play in structure survivability. Educational messaging will help shift public understanding from the belief that wildfire losses are unavoidable to the recognition that many losses can be reduced through proactive preparedness and risk-reduction measures. Awareness of Zone 0 Readiness Residents will become more familiar with California's evolving wildfire adaptation strategies, including Zone 0 readiness concepts and the importance of maintaining ignition-resistant areas immediately adjacent to structures. Awareness of Home Hardening Opportunities Residents will gain a better understanding of common building vulnerabilities and practical improvements that can reduce wildfire exposure and improve structure resilience. Page 70 of 357 Awareness of Fire Smart Landscaping Principles Residents will become more knowledgeable about how vegetation placement, maintenance practices, and landscaping choices influence wildfire behavior around homes and neighborhoods. Educational materials supporting these actions will also be provided to landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, homeowner association landscape committees, property managers, and retailers of home-hardening products to reinforce wildfire prevention practices at the professional level and encourage consistent implementation across the community. Educational recommendations on Fire Smart Landscaping will incorporate the principles contained in Appendix F of the 2025 California Wildland -Urban Interface Code, reinforcing the eight characteristics of Fire Smart Vegetation and emphasizing that vegetation selection, placement, spacing, and maintenance are equally important components of wildfire resilience. Increased Preparedness Awareness Residents will gain a stronger understanding of emergency preparedness responsibilities, evacuation planning, emergency notifications, and Ready, Set, Go! principles, and actions that improve household readiness during wildfire emergencies. Increased Community Engagement Residents will become more aware of opportunities to participate in Firewise Communities, neighborhood preparedness initiatives, and community wildfire resilience efforts that support collective action and shared responsibility. Measurable Changes in Awareness The City will evaluate changes in public awareness through participant surveys, Detailed Home Assessment follow-up surveys, outreach metrics, Firewise Community participation, workshop attendance, and program engagement data. Success will be measured not only by the number of residents reached, but by demonstrated increases in understanding, participation, and implementation of recommended wildfire resilience practices. By performing a follow-up assessment, our goal is to see a 25% reduction in risk pertaining to home hardening and defensible space. Beyond increasing awareness, Wildfire Ready SLO seeks to create lasting behavior and cultural change. The expected outcome is that residents not only understand wildfire risk, but routinely apply home hardening principles, maintain Page 71 of 357 defensible space, create and sustain Zone 0, incorporate Fire Smart Landscaping practices, participate in Firewise USA Communities, and prepare their households for wildfire emergencies. These actions collectively reduce structural ignitability, strengthen neighborhood resilience, and improve the City's ability to withstand future wildfire events. The City has already demonstrated that education can lead to measurable outcomes. Through approximately 100 completed Detailed Home Assessments, more than 50 % of participating homeowners have implemented one or more wildfire resilience recommendations. Wildfire Ready SLO will expand this proven model to help thousands of additional residents better understand wildfire risk, recognize their role in reducing it, and take meaningful steps to improve the resilience of their homes, neighborhoods, and community. Ultimately, Wildfire Ready SLO seeks to create a culture of wildfire resilience in which homeowners, neighborhoods, professional partners, businesses, and community organizations recognize wildfire preparedness as an ongoing responsibility rather than a one-time activity. Section II Degree of Risk 1. Discuss the location of the project in relation to areas of moderate, high, or very high fire hazard severity zone as identified by the latest Fire and Resource Assessment Program maps. * Wildfire Ready SLO is located entirely within the City of San Luis Obispo, a designated Community at Risk and a Priority Community identified in the CAL FIRE/San Luis Obispo County Fire Unit Strategic Fire Plan. The project area includes neighborhoods, homes, businesses, public infrastructure, and community assets located within Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones identified by CAL FIRE’s 2025 Local Responsibility Area Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps. According to CAL FIRE’s 2025 FHSZ maps and the City’s analysis, approximately 5,611 acres and 8,782 parcels within the City are located within mapped Fire Hazard Severity Zones, including:  2,506 acres within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.  907 acres within the High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.  2,198 acres within the Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Page 72 of 357 The City’s designated WUI area includes these Fire Hazard Severity Zones, representing approximately 52.5 percent of all City parcels. More than 4,000 acres of open space surround and intersperse developed neighborhoods throughout San Luis Obispo, creating numerous locations where homes, businesses, critical infrastructure, and community assets directly interface with wildfire-prone vegetation. The City has experienced a dramatic increase in wildfire exposure under the updated FHSZ maps. Under the 2009 maps, only 38 parcels and approximately 766 acres were designated within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Under the 2025 maps, that designation increased to approximately 2,845 parcels and 2,506 acres, representing a 7,387 percent increase in Very High FHSZ parcels and a 228 percent increase in Very High FHSZ acreage. See attached Figure 1. Recent reporting on CAL FIRE’s 2025 Fire Hazard Severity Zone map rollout identified San Luis Obispo as one of the communities experiencing some of the most significant increases in mapped wildfire exposure on California’s Central Coast. These changes reflect the State’s recognition of substantially increased wildfire hazard within the community and reinforce the need for expanded wildfire preparedness, home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping education, Firewise Community development, and neighborhood resilience efforts. Wildfire Ready SLO directly addresses this documented hazard and potential risk by providing homeowners and residents with education, technical assistance, and individualized recommendations related to structure ignition reduction, defensi ble space, evacuation readiness, emergency preparedness, and Firewise Community participation. Because the project serves residents located within Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones throughout the City, it is specifically targeted toward communities facing measurable and increasing wildfire risk. 2. Describe the geographic proximity of the project to structures at risk to damage from wildfire in the WUI. * Wildfire Ready SLO serves residents and structures throughout the City of San Luis Obispo, with a primary focus on homes, neighborhoods, businesses, and community assets located within the City's designated Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) and Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City is recognized as a Priority Community in the CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unit (SLU) Fire Plan, where pre- fire management activities, including public education, are identified as a priority. Thousands of homes, businesses, schools, and critical community facilities throughout San Luis Obispo are located immediately adjacent to wildfire-prone open space and natural vegetation. The City's designated WUI encompasses approximately 52.5 % of all City parcels, reflecting the extensive interface between developed neighborhoods and wildfire-prone landscapes. Page 73 of 357 The City maintains more than 4,000 acres of open space that surround and intersperse developed neighborhoods, creating a continuous greenbelt of grasslands, oak woodlands, chaparral, riparian corridors, and natural vegetation. Unlike many California communities where wildfire exposure is concentrated along a single edge of development, San Luis Obispo's extensive open -space system creates multiple wildland-urban interfaces throughout the City, resulting in wildfire exposure across numerous residential neighborhoods rather than a single geographic area. In many locations, residential structures directly abut wildfire-prone vegetation with little separation between homes and natural fuels. In addition to residential neighborhoods, the project area includes schools, California Polytechnic State University (CalPoly), parks, water and wastewater infrastructure, public safety facilities, major transportation corridors, healthcare facilities, and other critical community assets located within or immediately adjacent to wildfire-prone landscapes. Wildfire affecting these areas has the potential to disrupt essential public services, transportation, emergency response, and community continuity. The wildfire threat to these neighborhoods is well documented. Over the past two decades, vegetation fires have occurred within and adjacent to the City's open -space system, including Cerro San Luis, Bishop Peak, Reservoir Canyon, Terrace Hill, Irish Hills, Johnson Ranch, and other surrounding natural areas. These incidents demonstrate that wildfire risk is not theoretical but an ongoing threat to homes, businesses, and community infrastructure throughout the City's WUI. Through rapid initial attack and favorable fire conditions, firefighters have successfully prevented many of these incidents from becoming catastrophic urban interface fires. However, under more extreme weather conditions, including high winds, low humidity, and prolonged drought, many of these same incidents could have resulted in significant structur al loss and community impacts. (See Map Attachment, Wildfire Risk Profile of the City of San Luis Obispo.) The City's wildfire risk is further influenced by steep topography, seasonal wind conditions, evacuation constraints, and its proximity to California Public Utilities Commission-designated Tier 2 (Elevated) and Tier 3 (Extreme) wildfire threat areas. These factors can contribute to rapid fire spread, increased ember production, and more challenging suppression conditions, increasing the potential for wildfire to impact structures throughout the community. Because wildfire exposure is distributed across much of the City, Wildfire Ready SLO is designed as a comprehensive citywide wildfire prevention education initiative. The project will prioritize Detailed Home Assessments, community outreach, Firewise USA Community development, and professional education within neighborhoods located in Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, areas immediately adjacent to open space, and communities identified as having the greatest wildfire exposure. Residents will receive individualized education and technical assistance on Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, Fire Smart Landscaping, defensible space, emergency preparedness, evacuation planning, and Firewise USA Community participation. By Page 74 of 357 focusing educational resources on structures located immediately adjacent to wildfire- prone landscapes, Wildfire Ready SLO prioritizes those homes most likely to be affected by future wildfire while improving the resilience of neighborhoods, critical infrastructure, and the broader San Luis Obispo community. Section III Community Support 1. Does the project include any matching funds from other funding sources or any in-kind contributions that are expected to extend the impact of the proposed project? *(please note there are no space limitations) * Although no cash match is required for this application, the City of San Luis Obispo will contribute substantial in-kind resources, existing staff support, technical expertise, equipment, community partnerships, and previously developed program infrastructure , which together will significantly expand the impact of the proposed project and maximize the value of Proposition 4 funding. CAL FIRE is not funding the creation of Wildfire Ready SLO they are funding the expansion of a successful program that already has substantial local investment, technical infrastructure, and community support. The City has already invested considerable resources in developing the foundation for Wildfire Ready SLO. Existing investments include  Development of the Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program  GIS-based risk assessment and tracking tools  Survey123 data collection systems  Public education materials to include a homeowner education packet  Wildfire preparedness outreach educational materials  Zone 0 Materials, public workshops  Development of professional partnerships  Establishment of Firewise USA Communities The City has already demonstrated community demand by completing approximately 100 Detailed Home Assessments, educating more than 3,600 residents over the past two years, establishing three Firewise USA Communities, and documenting homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent. Because these resources have already Page 75 of 357 been developed, Proposition 4 funding can be directed toward expanding homeowner education rather than recreating program infrastructure. The project will also build upon an existing FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant that currently funds Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Interns supporting wildfire preparedness and Detailed Home Assessment activities. Proposition 4 funding will expand and extend these existing capabilities, allowing the City to increase service delivery and meet growing community demand. Significant in-kind contributions are expected from multiple City departments and community partners, including: City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department The Fire Marshal will provide project oversight, supervision, program management, technical expertise, community outreach support, and integration with existing wildfire preparedness initiatives. Along with the Fire Department’s Business Analyst. The Fire Department will continue providing office space, utilities, administrative support, computer equipment, communications systems, meeting facilities, fleet access, and supervisory oversight as in-kind contributions throughout the grant period. Emergency Management Program The City's Emergency Management Program will continue supporting Firewise Community development, preparedness education, evacuation planning outreach, and community engagement activities. The City's Emergency Manager and the County’s Emergency Manager have committed to this project and provided a letter of commitment. The County’s Emergency Manager has personally seen the effects that a strong education can have on a community facing our unique challenges. City Arborist The City Arborist will provide technical expertise and educational support related to wildfire-resilient landscaping, vegetation management, urban forest stewardship, and community outreach events. Our Arborist is committed to this program and has provided a letter of commitment. He has already invested considerable time to achieve the success we have seen. City Biologist The City Biologist has demonstrated a high level of commitment and will continue to do so in community education efforts on open-space management, ecological stewardship, Page 76 of 357 habitat considerations, and wildfire resilience strategies that balance fire safety with environmental objectives. The City Biologist has also provided a letter of commitment to the project. He has provided considerable time and believes in the message this program provides. Community Development and GIS Support Existing GIS infrastructure, mapping resources, and technical support will assist with project implementation, performance tracking, data analysis, and evaluation activities. Our GIS Team is committed to the success of this community-based program and has provided the Fire Department with considerable resources. Community Development Department has provided a letter of support. Firewise Communities and Homeowner Associations Existing Firewise Communities, homeowner associations, and neighborhood organizations will provide venues, outreach opportunities, community engagement support, and volunteer participation to help expand the project's reach. All of the Firewise Communities have provided letters of support to expand the program throughout the city. Community Partners Additional support will be provided through collaboration with emergency management partners, Fire Safe Council representatives, AIA California Central Coast, community organizations, and local stakeholders participating in wildfire preparedness and resilience efforts. All have provided a letter of support or of commitment. These existing investments and in-kind contributions significantly enhance the effectiveness of the proposed project by leveraging established programs, technical expertise, community relationships, and organizational capacity. Collectively, these investments demonstrate that Wildfire Ready SLO is not a new initiative but an established and successful community wildfire resilience program with significant local investment. Proposition 4 funding will leverage these existing resources to substantially expand wildfire prevention education, increase homeowner participation, and accelerate implementation of wildfire resilience measures throughout the City. 2. Describe plans for external communications during the life of the project to keep the effected community informed about the goals, objectives and progress of the project. Activities such as planned press releases, project signage, community meetings, and field tours are encouraged. * Page 77 of 357 The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to maintaining transparent, consistent, and proactive communication with residents throughout the implementation of Wildfire Ready SLO. The project's communications strategy is designed to keep residents informed of project goals, objectives, educational opportunities, measurable accomplishments, and opportunities to participate in wildfire preparedness activities throughout the five-year grant period. Communication activities will occur throughout the project rather than being limited to wildfire season. Community engagement and public communication are central components of Wildfire Ready SLO. The City will utilize a comprehensive communications strategy that combines individualized homeowner education, public outreach events, community partnerships, digital communications, media outreach, and recurring public engagement to ensure wildfire preparedness information reaches residents through multiple trusted communication channels. The City's Communications Office, staffed by two full-time communications professionals, will support project messaging, media relations, press releases, digital communications, and public awareness campaigns throughout the grant period. Media outreach, public events, printed materials, website and social media content, and Farmers' Market-style outreach are communication tools the City has successfully used for many years to educate and engage the community. Detailed Home Assessments The Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program serves as one of the primary communication tools for the project. Residents participating in assessments will receive individualized education, property- specific recommendations, follow-up communications, and implementation resources that reinforce project objectives and wildfire preparedness messaging. Community Workshops and Public Meetings The City will conduct educational workshops, community presentations, homeowner association meetings, Firewise Community events, and preparedness forums throughout the project period. These events will provide opportunities for all residents to learn about wildfire risk, ask questions, receive technical guidance, and stay informed about project progress and community resilience initiatives. Concurrently, workshops and public meetings will be geared towards landscape contractors, architects, nurseries, HOSs, AIA and property managers, not just homeowners. As these groups are multipliers for Wildfire Ready SLO messaging. Page 78 of 357 Firewise Community Engagement Existing Firewise USA Communities and neighborhoods pursuing Firewise recognition will serve as important communication partners. Regular engagement with these communities will provide opportunities to share project updates, preparedness information, success stories, and neighborhood-level wildfire resilience activities. Community Events and Outreach Activities Project staff will participate in many public events. The City maintains a presence at the Downtown San Luis Obispo Farmers' Market, one of the largest recurring community events on the Central Coast, attracting more than 5,000 attendees each week. Project staff will participate at least four times annually to engage residents, distribute educational materials, demonstrate wildfire resilience techniques, and promote participation in Detailed Home Assessments and Firewise Communities. These events provide direct access to residents and allow project staff to distribute educational materials, discuss wildfire preparedness strategies, and promote participation in project activities. Community meetings and workshops will provide opportunities for residents to ask questions, provide feedback, and identify additional wildfire preparedness needs Educational Mailers and Printed Materials Targeted mailers, informational brochures, educational guides, and preparedness resources will be distributed throughout the project area. Materials will provide residents with practical information regarding Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, Fire Smart Landscaping, emergency preparedness, and available project resources. Additional materials will be developed to target our identified multipliers, like landscape contractors, landscape architects, and property managers. As well as Spanish-speaking populations. Digital Communications The City will utilize multiple digital communication platforms to keep the community informed, including:  City website content and project updates: slocity.org/wildfire with downloadable resources, videos, maps, DHA request, Firewise information  Social media platforms: Instagram and Facebook  Electronic newsletters: Public Safety Newsletter  Emergency preparedness communications: Alert SLO  Firewise Community communications: Firewise Newsletter Page 79 of 357 Digital communications will provide ongoing project updates, educational content, event announcements, success stories, and information regarding available wildfire preparedness services. An annual project summary highlighting accomplishments, participation metrics, Firewise Community growth, Detailed Home Assessments completed, and homeowner implementation success will be shared with the community through digital communications and public presentations. Geofenced Digital Outreach The City will utilize targeted digital advertising and geofencing technology to expand the reach of the Wildfire Ready SLO program and ensure wildfire preparedness information is delivered to residents within the City of San Luis Obispo. Location-based digital advertising campaigns will display Wildfire Ready SLO educational banner advertisements and public service messages to individuals using social media platforms and participating websites while they are located within or near the City limits. These advertisements will direct users to slocity.org/wildfire, where they can access the City's wildfire preparedness resources, complete the GIS-based Wildfire Self- Assessment, request a Detailed Home Assessment, register for workshops, and learn more about home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, Firewise USA Communities, and emergency preparedness. Geofencing technology will allow the City to efficiently target outreach to residents, workers, and visitors within the project area, increasing public awareness, expanding participation in wildfire preparedness programs, and ensuring educational messaging reaches the populations most likely to benefit from the project. Media Outreach The City will coordinate media outreach efforts throughout the project's life, including project announcements, milestone updates, community success stories, and wildfire preparedness campaigns. Media engagement will include press releases, interviews, public service messaging, and educational campaigns designed to expand community awareness and participation. Short media outreach of success stories showing the before-and-after has been a continued success for us currently. Expanding on this will encourage other homeowners to realize that the tasks of Defensible Space and Home Hardening can feel challenging, but not impossible. We plan to leverage a well- established citywide media department with 2 full-time staff members. Project Progress Reporting Project accomplishments and outcomes will be communicated regularly to residents through community presentations, outreach events, digital communications, Firewise Page 80 of 357 Community meetings, and project reporting materials. Communications will highlight measurable accomplishments, including completed Detailed Home Assessments, conducted community outreach activities, Firewise Community growth, homeowner implementation success stories, and other project achievements. Community Partnership Communications Project partners, including Emergency Management, the City Arborist, the City Biologist, Firewise Communities, and homeowner ’s associations, will help expand communication efforts and ensure consistent messaging throughout the community. Through these coordinated communication strategies, Wildfire Ready SLO will maintain ongoing engagement with residents, promote transparency, encourage participation, and reinforce the educational messages necessary to improve wildfire preparedness and community resilience throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. Professional Partner Communications Wildfire Ready SLO will maintain ongoing communication with professional partners whose work directly influences wildfire resilience throughout the community. Educational outreach will target landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, homeowner associations, property managers, irrigation professionals, arborists, builders, architects, and other organizations that routinely make decisions affecting vegetation management, landscape design, and structure ignition potential. Through workshops, presentations, technical guidance, newsletters, and digital communications, these partners will receive current information on home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, defensible space, and wildfire preparedness initiatives. Professional partner communications will also promote collaboration between the City and organizations such as the AIA California Central Coast Chapter, Fire Safe Council, homeowner associations, and other community stakeholders to ensure consistent wildfire prevention messaging throughout San Luis Obispo. By engaging these trusted professional networks, Wildfire Ready SLO extends educational outreach well beyond individual homeowners, creating a multiplier effect that encourages the adoption of wildfire-resilient practices across neighborhoods, businesses, and future development throughout the community. Describe any plans to maintain the project after the grant period has ended. * Page 81 of 357 The City of San Luis Obispo is committed to maintaining and expanding the Wildfire Ready SLO program beyond the grant- funded performance period. Proposition 4 funding will establish long-term program capacity by expanding an existing wildfire prevention education program rather than creating a temporary initiative. The City's objective is to institutionalize wildfire prevention education as a core component of Community Risk Reduction and Fire Prevention Bureau operations. Throughout the grant period, the City will integrate Wildfire Ready SLO into existing Fire Department programs, community outreach efforts, Emergency Management initiatives, Firewise USA Community development, and public education activities. The City has demonstrated a long-term commitment to wildfire resilience through adoption of the California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, implementation of the Wildfire Preparedness and Vegetation Management Plan, establishment of three Firewise USA Communities, and continued investment in wildfire preparedness education. Wildfire Ready SLO builds upon these long-term commitments rather than creating a stand-alone program. The project's GIS-based Survey123 platform, Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program, homeowner educational materials, Wildfire Ready SLO website, performance dashboards, and professional education curriculum will remain valuable City resources that can continue supporting wildfire preparedness long after the grant has concluded. The City intends to continue leveraging partnerships established through this project, including collaboration with the City's Emergency Management Program, Community Development Department, City Arborist, City Biologist, Fire Safe Council, AIA California Central Coast Chapter, homeowner associations, landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, Firewise USA Communities, and other community organizations. These partnerships create a sustainable network of wildfire preparedness advocates that will continue promoting wildfire resilience throughout the community. The Wildfire Ready SLO program has already demonstrated strong community demand through approximately 100 completed Page 82 of 357 Detailed Home Assessments, homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent, the establishment of three Firewise USA Communities, and increasing requests for wildfire preparedness education. The City anticipates that continued public participation, neighborhood engagement, and professional partnerships developed during the grant period will sustain community interest and support for the program well beyond the life of the grant. During the final year of the project, the City will complete a comprehensive program evaluation and develop a long-term sustainability strategy. This strategy will identify opportunities to incorporate successful program components into ongoing Fire Prevention Bureau operations, pursue future grant funding, seek partnerships with public and private organizations, and evaluate potential local funding opportunities that support continued wildfire prevention education and community resilience efforts. Because Wildfire Ready SLO emphasizes education, behavior change, community partnerships, and institutional capacity building rather than one-time project activities, many of the program's benefits will continue long after grant funding has ended. The educational materials, GIS and Survey123 platform, professional partnerships, Firewise USA Communities, homeowner knowledge, trained staff, and established community relationships developed through this project will continue supporting wildfire preparedness throughout the City of San Luis Obispo for years to come. Ultimately, Proposition 4 funding will enable the City to transition Wildfire Ready SLO from a successful pilot program into a sustainable, community-supported wildfire prevention program that continues reducing structure ignition potential, strengthening neighborhood resilience, and protecting lives, property, critical infrastructure, and community assets well beyond the grant performance period Does the proposed project work with other organizations or agencies to address fire hazard reduction at the landscape level? * Page 83 of 357 Wildfire Ready SLO is built upon a collaborative, landscape - scale approach to wildfire resilience that brings together local government agencies, public safety partners, natural resource professionals, community organizations, homeowner associations, and private-sector partners to reduce wildfire risk throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. While the proposed project is focused on wildfire prevention education rather than hazardous fuels reduction, it directly supports landscape-level fire hazard reduction by educating the individuals and organizations responsible for vegetation management, landscape design, community planning, and long-term stewardship of the City's wildland-urban interface. The City has developed an interdisciplinary wildfire resilience program that coordinates efforts among multiple departments and organizations to ensure consistent messaging, technical expertise, and community engagement. Project partners include:  City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department – Overall project management, Detailed Home Assessments, wildfire prevention education, Firewise USA Community development, and technical assistance.  City Emergency Management Program – Evacuation preparedness, Ready, Set, Go! education, AlertSLO promotion, Firewise Community support, and community preparedness planning.  City Arborist – Technical guidance on urban forestry, Fire Smart Landscaping, vegetation management, tree maintenance, and wildfire-resilient landscape practices.  City Biologist – Integration of wildfire resilience with habitat protection, native vegetation management, ecological stewardship, and environmental sustainability.  Community Development Department – Coordination of wildfire resilience principles with land use planning, development review, building standards, an d implementation of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Page 84 of 357  GIS Program – Development and maintenance of GIS mapping, Survey123 data collection, performance dashboards, and wildfire risk analysis that support project implementation and evaluation. The project also leverages strong partnerships with organizations actively engaged in wildfire preparedness and landscape management, including:  San Luis Obispo County Fire Safe Council  AIA California Central Coast Chapter  Firewise USA Communities  Homeowner Associations  Landscape contractors  Landscape architects  Nurseries and garden centers  Property management companies  Arborists and tree care professionals  Builders, architects, and design professionals  Neighborhood organizations and community groups These partnerships extend the reach of the project beyond individual homeowners by engaging the professionals and organizations that influence vegetation management, landscape design, plant selection, irrigation practices, and long-term maintenance of properties throughout the community. By providing education to these groups, Wildfire Ready SLO creates a multiplier effect in which wildfire-resilient practices are incorporated into hundreds of residential and commercial properties over time. The project also complements the City's broader wildfire resilience initiatives, including implementation of the City of San Luis Obispo Wildfire Preparedness and Vegetation Management Plan, the CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unit (SLU) Strategic Fire Plan, ongoing Firewise USA Community development, open space management programs, and adoption of the California Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Together, these initiatives create a coordinated approach to reducing wildfire risk across neighborhoods, open space interfaces, and community assets. Page 85 of 357 Although Wildfire Ready SLO does not directly perform hazardous fuels reduction or vegetation treatment, the education and technical assistance provided through the project directly support landscape-level fire hazard reduction by increasing homeowner implementation of defensible space, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, home hardening, and wildfire preparedness measures. Educational outreach to landscape professionals, homeowner associations, and community organizations further reinforces wildfire-resilient vegetation management practices across the City, helping reduce structure ignition potential and strengthen community resilience at a landscape scale. The City has already demonstrated the effectiveness of this collaborative approach through the establishment of three Firewise USA Communities, the development of the Detailed Home Assessment Program, and strong participation from City departments, community partners, and residents. Propo sition 4 funding will allow these partnerships to expand further, creating a sustainable, community-wide network that supports wildfire resilience well beyond the grant period. Section IV Project Implementation 1. Discuss the anticipated timeline for the project. Make sure to take seasonal restrictions into account. * Page 86 of 357 Project Overview The City of San Luis Obispo will implement Wildfire Ready SLO over a five -year grant period by expanding an existing wildfire prevention education program established through a FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) grant. The current program has successfully demonstrated community demand for wildfire preparedness services by developing the City's Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program, GIS-based risk assessment tools, Survey123 data collection platform, homeowner education materials, and the Firewise USA Community program. Proposition 4 funding will allow the City to transition from a limited pilot program into a comprehensive citywide wildfire resilience initiative capable of providing approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments, expanding Firewise USA Communities, increasing professional education, and significantly improving homeowner implementation of wildfire resilience measures throughout the City. Unlike a new program, Wildfire Ready SLO is built upon an established operational framework, allowing implementation activities to begin immediately upon grant award. Wildfire Ready SLO Program Delivery Residents may access the program through multiple communication channels, including direct mail, social media, community workshops, homeowner associations , Firewise USA Communities, Farmers' Market outreach, public events, professional partner organizations, media campaigns, or by visiting slocity.org/wildfire. Residents may request a Detailed Home Assessment by contacting the Fire Department by telephone or email, contacting Community Risk Reduction staff directly, or submitting an online request through the City's website. Homeowners may also complete the City's GIS-based Survey123 Wildfire Self-Assessment, allowing residents to evaluate their own property, request a professional assessment, and schedule neighborhood wildfire preparedness presentations. Each Detailed Home Assessment provides individualized education addressing:  Home hardening  Defensible space  Zone 0 readiness  Fire Smart Landscaping  Firewise USA Communities  Emergency preparedness  Evacuation planning Page 87 of 357 During the site visit, homeowners receive printed educational materials, access to digital resources, individualized recommendations, and handwritten field notes identifying existing strengths and opportunities to improve wildfire resilience. A comprehensive electronic report is provided to the homeowner the same day as the assessment. The report includes photographs taken during the site visit, property- specific recommendations, educational resources, implementation guidance, and links to the City's online wildfire preparedness library, including the 31 -page Wildfire Preparedness Guide, educational videos, and additional technical resources. Following the assessment, participating homeowners may enroll in the Wildfire Ready SLO newsletter to receive follow-up communications at approximately 3, 6, and 9 months after the assessment. Homeowners are encouraged to revisit their GIS -based Survey123 assessment to document completed improvements and schedule a follow-up assessment approximately one year after the initial visit to evaluate progress and provide additional technical assistance. Annual Operational Work Plan The Wildfire Ready SLO program will operate continuously throughout the grant period. Activity Annual Goal Detailed Home Assessments Approximately 500 Homeowner Follow-up Assessments Approximately 250 Homeowner Association Presentations Monthly Community Workshops Monthly Farmers' Market Wildfire Outreach Events Monthly Community Town Hall Meetings Quarterly Professional Partner Workshops Quarterly Firewise USA Community Meetings Quarterly Social Media Campaigns Continuous Educational Mailers Annual Public Safety Newsletters Quarterly Press Releases / Media Updates Monthly Five-Year Implementation Timeline Year 1 – Program Expansion Building on the City's existing wildfire prevention program, the first year will focus on expanding staffing capacity, increasing the availability of Detailed Home Assessments, and broadening community outreach. Major activities include:  Hiring the Limited-Term Wildfire Resilience Intern.  Extending Community Risk Reduction Intern staffing.  Expanding Detailed Home Assessment capacity.  Increasing public outreach and community education.  Expanding Firewise USA Community engagement. Page 88 of 357  Launching the Professional Wildfire Education & Community Partnership Program.  Enhancing GIS, Survey123, and program performance tracking.  Coordinating implementation with Emergency Management, the City Arborist, the City Biologist, homeowner associations, Firewise Communities, and other community partners. Year 1 Outcome Expanded staffing, fully operational project infrastructure, increased community awareness, and significantly increased access to wildfire preparedness services. Years 2–4 – Full Program Implementation The project will operate at full capacity while continuing to expand wildfire prevention education throughout the community. Major activities include:  Approximately 500 Detailed Home Assessments annually.  Approximately 250 homeowner follow-up assessments annually.  Monthly community workshops and HOA presentations.  Monthly Farmers' Market wildfire preparedness outreach.  Quarterly Firewise USA Community meetings.  Quarterly professional education workshops for landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, property managers, builders, and other community partners.  Annual educational mailers.  Quarterly newsletters.  Monthly media releases.  Continuous social media outreach.  Ongoing Fire Smart Landscaping education.  Home hardening education.  Zone 0 readiness education.  Firewise USA Community development and expansion.  Annual homeowner implementation tracking and program evaluation. Years 2–4 Outcomes  Expanded homeowner participation.  Increased implementation of wildfire resilience measures.  Growth of Firewise USA Communities.  Increased professional adoption of wildfire-resilient landscape and vegetation management practices.  Demonstrated improvements in homeowner preparedness and community awareness. Year 5 – Program Sustainability The final year will focus on long-term sustainability and integration of successful program components into ongoing City operations. Major activities include:  Completion of remaining Detailed Home Assessments.  Final homeowner follow-up assessments.  Comprehensive program evaluation. Page 89 of 357  Documentation of homeowner implementation outcomes.  Firewise USA Community sustainability planning.  Presentation of project results to City leadership, community partners, and residents.  Identification of future funding opportunities.  Integration of successful practices into ongoing wildfire prevention programming. Year 5 Outcome A sustainable, data-driven wildfire-prevention education program that supports long- term community resilience beyond the grant period. Seasonal Considerations Because Wildfire Ready SLO is a public education initiative, seasonal environmental restrictions will have minimal impact on project implementation. The City's Mediterranean climate allows Detailed Home Assessments, community workshops, Firewise USA Community engagement, and public outreach activities to occur year - round. Educational campaigns will be strategically emphasized during the spring and early summer months to encourage homeowners to complete home hardening improvements, vegetation management, Zone 0 readiness activities, and emergency preparedness planning before peak wildfire season. Additional messaging will be provided throughout fire season in coordination with CAL FIRE, the City's Emergency Management Program, and local wildfire preparedness initiatives. Adaptive Management and Performance Evaluation Project performance will be continuously evaluated using GIS mapping, Survey123 data, homeowner follow-up surveys, participation metrics, Firewise USA Community growth, workshop attendance, and community feedback. Performance data will be reviewed regularly to identify participation trends, evaluate homeowner implementation of wildfire resilience measures, and refine outreach priorities throughout the grant period. This adaptive management approach will allow the City to continually improve educational messaging, target underserved neighborhoods, strengthen community partnerships, and maximize project effectiveness. Expected Project Outcomes Over the five-year implementation period, Wildfire Ready SLO is expected to:  Complete approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments.  Conduct approximately 1,250 homeowner follow-up assessments.  Expand Firewise USA Community participation.  Increase homeowner implementation of Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, and Fire Smart Landscaping practices.  Increase professional adoption of wildfire-resilient landscape and vegetation management practices.  Improve emergency preparedness and evacuation readiness.  Maintain homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent.  Demonstrate measurable reductions in homeowner wildfire risk through follow-up assessments.  Build a sustainable wildfire prevention education program that continues beyond the grant period. Page 90 of 357 Rather than providing one-time wildfire education, Wildfire Ready SLO establishes a continuous cycle of homeowner engagement, individualized education, implementation support, follow-up, community partnership, and performance evaluation that builds lasting wildfire resilience throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. 2. Verify the expected timeframes to complete the project will fall under the required completion dates depending on the source of the funds awarded. * The City of San Luis Obispo has developed a project schedule that fully aligns with CAL FIRE's required grant performance period and is confident that all project activities, deliverables, financial reporting, and grant closeout requirements can be completed within the required timeframe. Wildfire Ready SLO is proposed as a 5 year wildfire prevention education and community resilience initiative that intentionally includes sufficient time for project startup, procurement of educational materials and outreach equipment, staffing, implementation, performance evaluation, final reporting, and project closeout activities. The project schedule has been developed to ensure all grant-funded activities are completed prior to the required completion date while maintaining flexibility to accommodate unforeseen circumstances. Wildfire Ready SLO expands an existing wildfire prevention education program alread y operating within the City. The Detailed Home Assessment Program, GIS and Survey123 data collection platform, homeowner education materials, wildfire preparedness website, Firewise USA Community program, and community partnerships have already been established through previous City investments and FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grant funding. Because this operational foundation is already in place, project implementation can begin immediately following grant award. Following startup activities, the City will implement the full scope of work throughout the remainder of the grant period, including approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments, homeowner follow-up assessments, community workshops, homeowner association presentations, Firewise USA Community development, professional partner education, public awareness campaigns, educational mailers, and ongoing digital communications. Project performance will be monitored continuously using GIS mapping, Survey123 data, homeowner follow-up surveys, participation metrics, and regular progress reporting to ensure milestones remain on schedule. Page 91 of 357 Because Wildfire Ready SLO is a public education and community engagement project rather than a hazardous fuels treatment project, seasonal environmental restrictions are expected to have minimal impact on implementation. Detailed Home Assessments, Firewise activities, community workshops, outreach events, and educational campaigns can occur year-round within San Luis Obispo's Mediterranean climate, allowing the City to maintain consistent progress throughout the five-year implementation period. The City has already demonstrated its administrative, financial, and operational capacity by successfully implementing wildfire prevention programs, completing approximately 100 Detailed Home Assessments, establishing three Firewise USA Communities, and documenting homeowner implementation of recommended wildfire resilience measures. These existing capabilities, combined with dedicated project staffing, established partnerships, and a phased implementation schedule, provide confidence that Wildfire Ready SLO will successfully meet all grant objectives, performance measures, reporting requirements, and project completion deadlines within the required grant performance period. 3. Using bullets, list the milestones that will be used to measure the progress of the project. * The following milestones will be used to measure the implementation and progress of Wildfire Ready SLO throughout the five-year grant period. These milestones provide measurable indicators of project performance, community engagement, homeowner participation, and successful completion of grant objectives. Project Startup Milestones  Execute the CAL FIRE grant agreement and complete all project startup activities.  Establish project management procedures, financial tracking, reporting protocols, and implementation schedules.  Hire and onboard the Limited-Term Wildfire Resilience Intern.  Extend staffing for two Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Interns.  Complete procurement of outreach equipment, educational materials, demonstration supplies, and program resources.  Finalize GIS mapping tools, Survey123 data collection systems, project dashboards, and performance evaluation metrics.  Launch enhancements to the Wildfire Ready SLO website, including the GIS- based Wildfire Self-Assessment, homeowner resource library, educational videos, and online Detailed Home Assessment request portal. Page 92 of 357 Program Implementation Milestones  Launch the expanded Wildfire Ready SLO Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program.  Complete approximately 500 Detailed Home Assessments annually.  Conduct approximately 250 homeowner follow-up assessments annually, based on homeowner participation.  Provide homeowners with same-day digital assessment reports, including photographs, individualized recommendations, educational resources, and implementation guidance.  Implement annual citywide wildfire preparedness mail campaigns.  Launch and maintain continuous social media, digital advertising, and geofenced public awareness campaigns throughout the grant period.  Conduct 12 community workshops annually.  Conduct 12 Homeowners Association presentations annually.  Participate in 12 Farmers' Market wildfire preparedness outreach events annually.  Conduct 4 community Town Hall meetings annually.  Conduct 4 Professional Wildfire Education workshops annually for landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, property managers, builders, architects, and other professional partners.  Conduct 4 Firewise USA Community meetings annually to support existing communities and neighborhoods pursuing Firewise recognition. Community Resilience Milestones  Expand participation and support for existing Firewise USA Communities.  Assist additional neighborhoods pursuing Firewise USA Community recognition.  Increase homeowner participation in Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, Fire Smart Landscaping, and emergency preparedness activities.  Expand professional education and partnerships with landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, homeowner associations, property managers, builders, architects, arborists, and other organizations that influence wildfire resilience.  Increase community participation in the City's GIS-based Wildfire Self- Assessment and online wildfire preparedness resources.  Increase resident participation in wildfire preparedness workshops, community outreach events, and neighborhood education programs. Performance Measurement Milestones Page 93 of 357  Maintain GIS and Survey123 tracking for 100 percent of Detailed Home Assessments.  Monitor homeowner implementation through scheduled 3 -, 6-, and 9-month follow-up communications.  Encourage and complete one-year homeowner reassessments to document completed wildfire resilience improvements.  Maintain homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent, based on follow-up assessments.  Achieve a target 25 percent reduction in identified home hardening and defensible space deficiencies among participating properties during follow-up assessments.  Track community participation through workshop attendance, outreach contacts, website utilization, GIS analytics, digital advertising metrics, and social media engagement.  Monitor Firewise USA Community participation, neighborhood engagement, and professional partner involvement throughout the project.  Evaluate homeowner knowledge gains through pre- and post-program surveys and follow-up evaluations. Grant Management and Project Closeout Milestones  Submit all required quarterly and annual CAL FIRE performance and financial reports.  Monitor project expenditures and ensure compliance with grant requirements.  Complete comprehensive project evaluation and outcome assessment.  Document project accomplishments, homeowner implementation outcomes, and community resilience improvements.  Present project results to City leadership, community partners, and the public.  Develop recommendations for long-term program sustainability and future funding opportunities.  Successfully complete all grant deliverables and project closeout requirements within the required grant performance period. Expected Five-Year Project Deliverables By the conclusion of the grant period, Wildfire Ready SLO is expected to achieve the following measurable outcomes:  Approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments completed.  Approximately 1,250 homeowner follow-up assessments were conducted, based on homeowner participation. Page 94 of 357  60 community workshops were conducted.  60 Homeowners Association presentations delivered.  60 Farmers' Market wildfire preparedness outreach events completed.  20 Community Town Hall meetings conducted.  20 Professional Wildfire Education workshops completed.  20 Firewise USA Community meetings conducted.  Expanded Firewise USA Community participation throughout the City.  Increased homeowner implementation of Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, Fire Smart Landscaping, and emergency preparedness practices.  Increased professional adoption of wildfire-resilient landscaping and vegetation management principles.  Continuous public engagement through annual mailers, quarterly newsletters, monthly press releases, year-round social media outreach, and targeted geofenced digital advertising campaigns.  A sustainable, data-driven wildfire prevention education program that continues to serve the City of San Luis Obispo beyond the grant period. 4. Using bullets, list the measurable outcomes (i.e. project deliverables) that will be used to measure the project’s success. * Measurable Outcomes (Project Deliverables) The success of Wildfire Ready SLO will be measured through the completion of the following measurable project deliverables and documented community outcomes over the five-year grant period. Homeowner Education & Assessment Deliverables  Complete a target of approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs) throughout the grant period.  Provide same-day digital assessment reports to participating homeowners following each Detailed Home Assessment. Reports will include property photographs, individualized recommendations, educational resources, implementation guidance, and links to additional online wildfire preparedness resources.  Conduct a target of approximately 1,250 homeowner follow-up assessments, based on homeowner participation, to document completed wildfire resilience improvements.  Maintain homeowner implementation rates of 50% or greater for recommended home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, defensible space, Fire Smart Landscaping, and emergency preparedness measures.  Achieve a target 25% reduction in identified home hardening and defensible space deficiencies among participating properties during follow-up assessments. Page 95 of 357  Provide every participating homeowner access to the City's GIS-based Survey123 Wildfire Self-Assessment, allowing residents to document completed improvements and monitor their wildfire resilience progress over time. Community Education Deliverables  Conduct a target of approximately 60 community wildfire preparedness workshops.  Conduct a target of approximately 60 Homeowners' Association (HOA) presentations.  Participate in a target of approximately 60 Farmers' Market wildfire preparedness outreach events.  Conduct a target of approximately 20 community Town Hall meetings.  Deliver individualized wildfire preparedness education to thousands of residents through Detailed Home Assessments, workshops, outreach events, neighborhood presentations, and community engagement activities.  Increase resident awareness of home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, evacuation preparedness, and wildfire risk reduction strategies. Professional Education Deliverables  Conduct a minimum of 20 Professional Wildfire Education workshops for landscape contractors, landscape architects, nurseries, homeowner associations, property managers, builders, architects, arborists, irrigation professionals, and other community partners.  Develop and distribute Fire Smart Landscaping guidance materials for landscape professionals and private-sector partners.  Establish and maintain professional partnerships that expand wildfire prevention education throughout the community.  Increase professional awareness and implementation of wildfire-resilient landscaping, vegetation management, Zone 0 readiness, defensible space, and home hardening principles. Firewise USA Community Deliverables  Maintain technical assistance and educational support for the City's three existing Firewise USA Communities.  Assist additional neighborhoods pursuing Firewise USA Community recognition.  Conduct ongoing Firewise USA meetings, neighborhood education, preparedness events, and technical assistance.  Increase resident participation in neighborhood wildfire preparedness and Firewise USA activities. Public Outreach & Communications Deliverables  Distribute annual wildfire preparedness mailers throughout the project area.  Publish quarterly wildfire preparedness newsletters. Page 96 of 357  Maintain continuous wildfire preparedness m essaging through social media platforms throughout the grant period.  Publish monthly press releases, project updates, and community success stories.  Implement geofenced digital advertising campaigns promoting Wildfire Ready SLO to residents and visitors located within the City of San Luis Obispo.  Maintain and expand the Wildfire Ready SLO website, online wildfire preparedness resource library, educational videos, and GIS -based Wildfire Self- Assessment platform. GIS, Evaluation & Performance Deliverables  Maintain 100 percent GIS and Survey123 documentation for all Detailed Home Assessments.  Maintain a public-facing GIS/Survey123 dashboard allowing homeowners to access educational resources, monitor progress, and update completed wildfire resilience improvements.  Track homeowner participation, implementation rates, Firewise USA participation, workshop attendance, outreach contacts, website utilization, GIS analytics, digital advertising performance, and social media engagement.  Evaluate homeowner knowledge gains through pre- and post-program surveys, follow-up evaluations, and homeowner implementation tracking.  Prepare and submit all required CAL FIRE performance reports, financial reports, and grant documentation throughout the project period. Long-Term Community Outcomes By the conclusion of the grant period, Wildfire Ready SLO is expected to achieve the following measurable community outcomes:  Complete a target of approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments.  Complete a target of approximately 1,250 homeowner follow-up assessments, based on homeowner participation.  Expand participation in Firewise USA Communities throughout the City.  Increase homeowner implementation of Zone 0 readiness, home hardening, Fire Smart Landscaping, defensible space, and emergency preparedness practices.  Increase professional adoption of wildfire-resilient landscape design, vegetation management, and home hardening principles.  Increase community participation in wildfire preparedness education, neighborhood engagement, and Firewise USA activities.  Improve homeowner understanding of wildfire risk, structure ignitability, and personal responsibility for reducing wildfire risk.  Build a sustainable, data-driven wildfire prevention education program capable of serving the City of San Luis Obispo well beyond the grant -funded implementation period. 5. List any existing forest or land management plans; Conservation Easements; Covenant, Conditions & Restrictions (CC&R’s); matters Page 97 of 357 related to zoning; use restrictions, or other factors that can or will limit the wildfire prevention proposed activity? * Wildfire Ready SLO is not expected to be limited by existing forest or land management plans, conservation easements, zoning restrictions, or other land use constraints because the project consists exclusively of wildfire prevention education, Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), technical assistance, Firewise USA Community development, professional education, and public outreach. The project does not include hazardous fuels reduction, prescribed burning, vegetation treatment, construction, or other ground - disturbing activities that would typically require environmental permitting, land management approvals, or compliance with forest management plans. Rather than limiting project implementation, several existing plans, policies, and community initiatives provide a strong foundation that supports and reinforces Wildfire Ready SLO's objectives. These include:  CAL FIRE San Luis Obispo Unit (SLU) Strategic Fire Plan, which identifies the City of San Luis Obispo as a Priority Community for pre-fire management activities, including public education and community wildfire preparedness.  City of San Luis Obispo Wildfire Preparedness and Vegetation Management Plan.  City of San Luis Obispo General Plan policies supporting climate adaptation, community resilience, wildfire preparedness, and public safety.  California Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) Code, adopted by the City and effective January 1, 2025, supports home hardening, defensible space, and wildfire-resilient development.  Emergency preparedness and evacuation planning initiatives.  City open space, natural resource management, and vegetation management programs.  Firewise USA Community initiatives that promote neighborhood-level wildfire preparedness and shared responsibility. The City currently supports three recognized Firewise USA Communities:  Buena Vista Estates (recognized March 11, 2026)  Laguna Lake Mobile Estates (recognized May 12, 2026)  San Luis Drive (recognized May 20, 2026) The City is also actively assisting additional neighborhoods pursuing Firewise USA Community recognition. These existing programs provide established neighborhood Page 98 of 357 leadership, communication networks, and volunteer engagement that will enhance project implementation rather than limit it. The City recognizes that some homeowner associations maintain Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs) that may influence landscaping, architectural improvements, vegetation management, or exterior modifications. In addition, some older or historically significant homes may require property owners to consider design compatibility when implementing certain home hardening improvements. Wildfire Ready SLO addresses these situations through an education-first approach, providing individualized recommendations, technical assistance, and practical wildfire resilience strategies tailored to each property's unique circumstances. Participation in Detailed Home Assessments and implementation of recommended wildfire resilience measures are entirely voluntary. While homeowner participation ultimately determines the implementation of recommended improvements, the City has already demonstrated that voluntary education is highly effective. Through approximately 100 completed Detailed Home Assessments, more than 50 percent of participating homeowners have implemented one or more recommended wildfire resilience measures. The program's same-day assessment reports, GIS-based Survey123 tracking, quarterly follow-up communications, one-year reassessment opportunities, and continued technical assistance are designed to encourage long-term homeowner participation and sustained behavior change. The City also recognizes that some residents may face financial, physical, or other barriers to implementing wildfire resilience improvements. To help overcome these challenges, the project provides practical, cost-conscious recommendations; Fire Smart Landscaping education; home hardening guidance with estimated implementation costs; Firewise USA Community support; professional education for landscape and design professionals; and ongoing technical assistance, allowing homeowners to prioritize improvements over time based on their individual circumstances. Because Wildfire Ready SLO is a voluntary, education-based community resilience project, the City does not anticipate any significant planning, zoning, conservation, environmental, or regulatory constraints that would prevent successful implementation. Instead, existing City policies, the CAL FIRE SLU Strategic Fire Plan, Firewise USA Communities, and established community partnerships provide a strong framework that supports successful project delivery and long-term wildfire resilience throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. Page 99 of 357 Section V Administration 1. Describe any previous experience the project proponent has with similar projects. Include a list of recent past projects the proponent has successfully completed if applicable. Project applicant or manager having no previous experience with similar projects should discuss any past experiences that may help show a capacity to successfully complete the project being proposed. This may include partnering with a more experienced organization that can provide project support. * The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department has extensive experience implementing community risk reduction, wildfire preparedness, public education, emergency management, code compliance, wildfire resilience, and managing grant-funded programs. Wildfire Ready SLO builds upon several existing programs and initiatives that demonstrate the City's ability to successfully implement and manage the proposed project. Most notably, the City has successfully developed and implemented a pilot program with temporary and limited funding for a Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program focused on wildfire preparedness, home hardening, defensible space education, Fire Smart Landscaping, and homeowner wildfire resilience. The funding terminates and without grant assistance the program will cease. To date, the City has:  Completed approximately 100 Detailed Home Assessments.  Documented homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50 percent following assessments.  Established three recognized Firewise USA Communities.  Supported additional neighborhoods pursuing Firewise USA recognition.  Developed GIS-based wildfire risk assessment and tracking tools.  Implemented Survey123-based data collection and performance tracking systems.  Established a waiting list for Detailed Home Assessments, demonstrating strong community demand for wildfire preparedness services. The City has also demonstrated successful administration of federal, state, and local grant-funded projects. The department has successfully managed both FEMA Assistance to Firefighter Grants Fire Prevention and Safety Grants. They have been for both equipment and training. FEMA conducted a desk review of an AFG grant project that involved training firefighters to become paramedics and concluded the grant project and management was progressing satisfactorily. Other successful grant projects have been with the Office of Traffic Safety for the purchase of extrication equipment and a Page 100 of 357 CALFIRE Wildfire Prevention Grant for hazardous fuels reduction with chippers that is currently ongoing. The proposed project will be supported by an established team of experienced professionals, including Fire Prevention personnel, Community Risk Reduction staff, Emergency Management staff, the City Arborist, the City Biologist, GIS support personnel, and community partners. These individuals already collaborate on wildfire preparedness, Firewise Community development, vegetation management education, open space stewardship, and community resilience initiatives. The project type of work is the same work identified in the SLU Plan and supported by many different departments within the City organization. 2. Identify who will be responsible for tracking project expenses and maintaining project records in a manner that allows for a full audit trail of any awarded grant funds. * The City of San Luis Obispo has established financial management, procurement, record retention, and auditing procedures to administer and document all activities associated with the proposed project. The Fire Department's Business Analyst, Nicole Vert, will be responsible for tracking project expenditures, monitoring grant budgets, maintaining financial records, coordinating reimbursement requests, and ensuring compliance with all applicable grant requirements in a manner that allows for a full audit trail of any awarded grant funds . The Business Analyst has experience supporting grant -funded projects and coordinating financial reporting, budget tracking, and documentation requirements. Nicole is also the Department Fiscal Officer where she has successfully managed a n $18MM+ annual operating budget, and multiple grants. Nicole will work with other department and City staff, the City Finance Department, and Enterprise Resource Planning software to ensure all costs are able to be audited and tracked. The Fire Marshal, serving as Project Manager, will be responsible for overall project oversight, monitoring project progress, verifying deliverables, reviewing expenditures for consistency with approved project activities, and ensuring compliance with grant performance requirements. The City of San Luis Obispo has successfully administered federal, state, and local grant-funded programs and has established internal controls, financial oversight procedures, and documentation practices necessary to support grant compliance and future audit requirements. These systems will ensure that all awarded grant funds are properly tracked, documented, and managed throughout the life of the project. Section VI Page 101 of 357 Budget A detailed project budget should be provided in the online budget included in this solicitation. The space provided here is to allow for a narrative description to further explain the proposed budget. 1. Explain how the grant funds, if awarded, will be spent to support the goals and objectives of the project. If equipment grant funds are requested, explain how the equipment will be utilized and maintained beyond the life of the grant. * Grant funds will be used for the primary activity of the project which is Wildfire Ready SLO, a community wildfire resilience and wildfire prevention education initiative designed to increase homeowners' implementation of wildfire risk -reduction measures, expand home hardening education outreach, and increase home hardening for structure survivability throughout the City of San Luis Obispo. The City of San Luis Obispo is facing significant financial challenges that impact our ability to fund projects, equipment or staff beyond critical frontline emergency response capabilities. Available resources are prioritized toward critical life and safety programs. Slowing sales tax revenue combined with increasing expenses has created projected shortfalls to the General Fund of approximately $9.4 million in Fiscal Year 2025-26, with continued deficits projected through FY 2028-29. In response to the City’s financial challenges, all departments were directed to reduce expenditures. Because of those reductions, SLOFD was forced to eliminate 3 firefighter positions as of June 2026. As a result, SLOFD cannot fund the intern positions or any project costs without grant funds. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s FY 2025-26 operating budget is approximately $19.1 million, with personnel costs accounting for nearly 93%, or $17,746,785 of the department’s total budget. The City of San Luis Obispo is a participating agency in California’s Public Employee Pension Fund (CALPERS) which experienced significant investment losses during the Great Recession creating an unfunded pension liability crisis that continues to affect current budgets. In response, CALPERS increased the employer contributions to the funds. As a result, the Fire Department must dedicate $4.5 million, or nearly 24% of the total budget, for unfunded liability payments to CALPERS. Leaving only about $1.3 million available for operational costs, including apparatus maintenance, training, and equipment replacement. Personnel and Program Capacity Grant funds will support a Limited-Term Wildfire Resilient Intern and two CRR Interns. These positions are critical to expanding service capacity and meeting growing community demand for wildfire preparedness services. A FEMA grant for $62,000 over a two year period allowed SLOFD to hire and train interns that have successfully launched the program and demonstrated measurable progress toward its intended goals. CAL FIRE grant funds will allow the department to expand the program and continue community education beyond the FEMA grant period that is reaching its end date. Page 102 of 357 The Wildfire Resilient Intern will support project implementation, coordinating DHA’s, assisting with Firewise USA community recognition and renewal efforts, developing public education materials and maintaining project databases and inspection records. This includes tracking homes assessed and the mitigation measures taken. It will also coordinate outreach events and workshops and track program metrics and evaluation of program effectiveness to ensure goals are being attained. The CRR Interns will conduct Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), participate in community outreach events, support wildfire preparedness workshops, assist with Firewise Community development, and provide direct education to residents regarding home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, and emergency preparedness. Together, these positions will enable the City to expand a proven wildfire prevention education program that currently maintains a waiting list and has already demonstrated homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50%. Community Outreach and Public Education Expenses Grant funding will support educational materials, outreach supplies, preparedness campaigns, community workshops, educational mailers, digital communications, outreach displays, and public engagement activities , including radio advertisements and billboard messaging that could not be otherwise created. These resources will allow the City to expand wildfire prevention messaging related to:  Zone 0 readiness  Home hardening  Fire Smart Landscaping  Defensible space awareness  Emergency preparedness  Evacuation readiness  Firewise Community participation Educational materials and outreach activities will be used during Detailed Home Assessments, community events, homeowner association meetings, Firewise Community gatherings, neighborhood outreach, and public workshops. Fire Smart Landscaping Education and Community Assistance Grant funds will support Fire Smart Landscaping Education activities . These efforts will provide residents with practical information, technical assistance, and implementation support that encourage wildfire-resilient landscaping practices and Zone 0 improvements. Page 103 of 357 The program will be implemented in collaboration with the City Arborist and City Biologist to ensure wildfire resilience objectives remain aligned with urban forest management, environmental stewardship, and open-space protection goals. Firewise Community Support Grant funds will support continued growth of the City's Firewise USA Community program through technical assistance, educational resources, outreach materials, community engagement efforts, and neighborhood preparedness activities. These investments will help strengthen the City's three existing Firewise Communities and support additional neighborhoods pursuing recognition. Program Evaluation and Performance Tracking Grant funds will support data collection, GIS-based tracking, homeowner follow-up surveys, performance measurement, and project evaluation activities. The City of San Luis Obispo has a GIS team of specialists, and the program will be supported by this team. The resource specialists will allow the City to document project accomplishments, measure homeowner implementation rates, evaluate program effectiveness, and report outcomes to CAL FIRE. The team uses the entire GIS Suite, and our Specialists have currently built a Survey123 program that is in use . Long-Term Sustainability The proposed budget is intentionally focused on building long-term community wildfire prevention capacity rather than supporting short-term activities. By investing in personnel, outreach infrastructure, community partnerships, and proven education programs, the project will create lasting benefits that extend beyond the grant-funded implementation period. The City has already demonstrated success through its Detailed Home Assessment Program, Firewise Community development efforts, wildfire prepared ness outreach, and the implementation of the Wildland-Urban Interface Code. Grant funding will allow the City to scale these successful efforts and create a sustainable framework for continued wildfire resilience activities well into the future. 2. Are the costs for each proposed activity reasonable for the geographic area where they are to be performed? Identify any costs that are higher than usual and explain any special circumstances within the project that makes these increased costs necessary to achieve the goals and objectives of the project. * The costs for the activity are reasonable for the San Luis Obispo geographic area. The only special circumstance related to project costs may be the geographic Page 104 of 357 distance from major metropolitan areas. The City is situated between Los Angeles and San Francisco, where more vendors are situated, thus improving competition. Travel and delivery costs may also be higher for delivery. This can be avoided by utilizing local firms, however, at times the prevalence of lo cal vendors can be limited. 3. Is the total project cost appropriate for the size, scope, and anticipated benefit of the project? * The City of San Luis Obispo believes the total project cost is appropriate, reasonable, and proportional to the size, scope, and anticipated benefits of Wildfire Ready SLO. The $720,590 in funding for interns and educational support materials will allow for dedicated resources City-wide, prioritizing areas most at risk. For a total project cost of $720,590.00, the anticipated benefit is staggering. These resources will help improve the City’s ability to provide individualized guidance and instruction to homeowners on wildfire prevention and home resilience during a wildfire ultimately saving what could be billions of dollars in property loss from a wildfire that the County assessor’s office estimates is within the new FHSZ within the City. According to Zillow the average home value in the City of San Luis Obispo is $1,155,000, if this project prevents a single home from being destroyed by wildfire, the project cost of $720,590 would result in a cost-benefit ratio of over 2, each additional home saved increases the ratio. Additionally, the project benefits the entire City area, which has 6 census tracks with identified low-income communities under the California Climate Investments Priority Populations and would provide tremendous benefit to populations that are often most negatively impacted by wildfire. The proposed budget is intentionally structured to maximize direct community benefit while building long-term wildfire prevention capacity. Most grant funds are dedicated to personnel, public education, wildfire preparedness outreach, and community resilience activities that will produce measurable results over the five -year grant period. A significant portion of the budget supports personnel responsible for delivering approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), conducting community outreach, supporting Firewise Community activities, providing homeowner education, and tracking project performance. These staff investments are essential to achieving the proposed scale of service delivery under the project and are proportional to the project area's size and the number of residents expected to benefit. The budget also makes substantial investments in direct community benefits. The Fire Smart Landscape Education Program will provide homeowners with the education they Page 105 of 357 need for wildfire-resilient landscaping and Zone 0 improvements identified through Detailed Home Assessments. Grant funding supports educational mailers, public awareness campaigns, outreach displays, workshop materials, and community engagement efforts necessary to reach residents at a citywide scale and to encourage measurable behavior change. The City has already demonstrated that this approach is effective. The existing DHA Program has completed approximately 100 assessments, documented homeowner implementation rates exceeding 50% , established three Firewise USA Communities, and generated a waiting list for wildfire preparedness services. Wildfire Ready SLO will build on this proven foundation by expanding service delivery, increasing homeowner participation, and scaling successful wildfire prevention activities. The total project cost is appropriate because it supports a five-year, citywide wildfire prevention education and resilience effort that will deliver approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments, expand Firewise Community participation, improve wildfire preparedness, increase home hardening and Zone 0 awareness, and strengthen long-term community resilience. Given the scale of wildfire risk in San Luis Obispo, the City's documented increase in Fire Hazard Severity Zone exposure, the number of parcels and residents expected to benefit, and the project's emphasis on direct homeowner action and measurable outcomes, the City believes the total project cost represents a prudent and cost - effective investment in wildfire prevention, community preparedness, and long-term resilience that are far-reaching and will continue to provide community benefit for year beyond the life of the grant. 4. Using bullets please list each object category amount that you are requesting and the detail of how that would support meeting the grant objectives. *  Wildfire Resilient Intern (5 Years) – $165,000 o Working 30 hours per week to support overall project coordination, wildfire prevention program administration, community outreach, grant reporting, performance tracking, GIS coordination, homeowner engagement, Firewise Community support, and implementation of project activities throughout the five-year grant period.  CRR Intern Extension (2 Interns / 5 Years) – $207,000 o These staff members will work twenty hours per week and be paid $20 per hour with no benefits. They will be responsible for completion of approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), wildfire preparedness education, home hardening outreach, Zone 0 education, Fire Smart Landscaping education, homeowner association presentations, community workshops, Firewise Community support, and neighborhood- level engagement activities. Page 106 of 357  Outreach Displays, Equipment & Materials – $26,500 o Supports educational displays, portable exhibits, demonstration materials, preparedness workshop equipment, home hardening displays, Zone 0 educational materials, Fire Smart Landscaping exhibits, and other public- facing outreach tools used during workshops, community events, Firewise activities, and neighborhood meetings.  Educational Mailers & Printed Materials – $45,000 o Supports development, printing, and distribution of wildfire preparedness mailers, educational brochures, Firewise materials, home hardening resources, Zone 0 educational guides, and community outreach materials distributed to residents throughout the project area.  Community Outreach Supplies & Educational Materials – $17,700 o Supports community workshops, educational handouts, homeowner resources, preparedness demonstrations, outreach supplies, event materials, wildfire prevention educational tools, and other public engagement resources used to support project delivery and wildfire education efforts.  Demonstration Materials - $5,800 o Demonstration items for Home hardening, Zone 0, Fire Smart Landscaping,  Tablets - $3,900 o ipads and cases  Intern Uniforms - $1,500 o Shirts, Hi-Vis vests, protective gear  Battery Portable power station - $ 1,000 o Provide power in the field at community events  Portable PA - $1,000 o Voice amplifier for community events  Professional Community Partnership Program - $45,000 o Supplies to educate and partner with landscapers, arborists, nurseries, architects, and building material merchants that include tabletop exercises and perishable display items specifically targeted to these groups.  Media Campaign & Public Awareness – $55,000 o Supports community-wide wildfire preparedness messaging, public education campaigns, local media outreach, digital communications, social media promotion, public service announcements, and awareness efforts designed to increase resident participation, wildfire preparedness, and understanding of wildfire risk reduction measures.  Indirect Costs - $93,990.00  Total Grant Request -$720,590 o Supports expansion of the City of San Luis Obispo's wildfire prevention education and resilience program through approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments, home hardening education, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping implementation, Firewise Community support, public education, direct homeowner assistance, and long-term community wildfire resilience activities throughout the City. Page 107 of 357 Section VII California Climate Investments The space provided here is to allow for a narrative description to further explain how the project/activity will reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions. 1. How will the project/activity reduce Greenhouse Gas emissions? * Wildfire Ready SLO will support California Climate Investments' goals by reducing greenhouse gas emissions through zero-emission transportation, promoting climate- resilient landscaping practices, supporting urban forest health, and increasing community resilience to climate-driven wildfire risks. The project will also reduce greenhouse gas impacts through its Fire Smart Landscaping education efforts, which will promote climate-adapted landscaping practices, drought-tolerant and water-efficient plant selection, ignition-resistant landscaping design, and reduced vegetation-related wildfire risk. These practices support long-term sustainability, reduce resource consumption, and improve resilience to California’s changing climate. Wildfire Ready SLO will further support greenhouse gas reduction and climate resilience through collaboration with the City Arborist and City Biologist. This type of approach aligns with ecological restoration, healthy natural resources, and community resilience goals. Educational messaging will emphasize wildfire resilience strategies that support healthy urban forests, preserve appropriate tree canopy, protect natural resources, and balance wildfire preparedness with environmental stewardship. Maintaining healthy vegetation and urban forest resources contributes to long-term carbon sequestration and climate resilience goals. In addition to direct greenhouse gas reduction benefits, the project supports California’s broader climate adaptation objectives by helping residents p repare for increasing wildfire risks associated with a changing climate. Through Detailed Home Assessments, Firewise Community development, home-hardening education, Zone 0 readiness education, Fire Smart Landscaping, and wildfire preparedness outreach, th e project will help residents implement actions to increase resilience to climate-related wildfire impacts. Section VIII Meaningful and Direct Benefits Examples of how projects can benefit communities by: A. Preventing wildfires and reducing the risk of wildfires B. Reducing the chances that power lines, roads, or other infrastructure start wildfires C. Keeping forests and natural areas healthy and better able Page 108 of 357 to withstand and recover from wildfires D. Capturing and naturally storing carbon and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that are released during wildfires to help slow climate change E. Improving air quality, including through reducing wildfire -related smoke F. Building wildfire resilience of headwater sources to protect water supply G. Helping to ensure a more reliable water supply during droughts H. Protecting communities’ energy systems by reducing wildfire risk related to energy transmission 1. Using the above examples, describe what Benefits will the Project Provide? Meaningful and Direct Benefits Wildfire Ready SLO will provide direct, tangible, and measurable benefits to residents throughout the City of San Luis Obispo, with particular emphasis on disadvantaged communities (DACs), vulnerable populations, low-income households, fixed-income seniors, residents living within Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, and residents located within the wildland-urban interface (WUI). The project is specifically designed to help these residents understand wildfire risk and take actions that reduce the potential for structure ignition and improve community resilience. A. Preventing Wildfires and Reducing Wildfire Risk Wildfire Ready SLO will provide approximately 2,500 Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs), wildfire preparedness education, Firewise Community support, home hardening education, Zone 0 readiness guidance, and Fire Smart Landscaping assistance. These activities will help residents reduce structure ignition potential, improve wildfire preparedness, and increase resilience in the case of a wildfire with the ultimate goal to be structure survivability during a wildfire and prevent community devastation that other communities have experienced. B. Reducing the Likelihood of Human-Caused Wildfire Ignitions Educational messaging will increase public awareness regarding wildfire prevention practices, ignition prevention, vegetation management, and responsible activities within wildfire-prone environments. Community education reduces behaviors that can contribute to wildfire starts and improves understanding of local wildfire risks. Additionally, the educational materials support Emergency Evacuation. Items like Know your Zone, what routes, and early alerting. E. Improving Air Quality Wildfire preparedness, structure ignition reduction, and commu nity resilience activities help reduce the potential impacts associated with wildfire events. Reducing wildfire losses and improving community preparedness can contribute to better air quality outcomes by reducing the severity and consequences of future wildfires. Page 109 of 357 F. Increasing Community Resilience to Climate Hazards The project directly addresses increasing wildfire risks associated with climate change by helping residents implement practical resilience measures. Home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, emergency preparedness, and Firewise Community participation all improve residents' and neighborhoods' ability to withstand and recover from wildfire events. 2. Disadvantaged community (DAC): A community with a median household income of less than 80 percent of the area average or less than 80 percent of statewide median household income. Severely disadvantaged community (SDAC): A community with a median household income of less than 60 percent of the area average or less than 60 percent of statewide median household income. Vulnerable population: A subgroup of population within a region or community that faces a disproportionately heightened risk or increased sensitivity to impacts of climate change and that lacks adequate resources to cope wi th, adapt to, or recover from such impacts. Please identify the communities or populations that will benefit from the project and whether these are a DAC, SDAC, or vulnerable population.  Severely disadvantaged community (SDAC)  Disadvantaged community (DAC)  Vulnerable population  Tribe  None of the above • Ensures the creation of direct, tangible, and substantial benefits to individuals of the (S)DAC or vulnerable population that would not have materialized without its implementation. • Protects or enhances a (S)DAC or vulnerable population’s resources and quality of life by building climate resilience, such as reducing risks to the community or population from climate hazards, protecting resources threatened by climate change. • Directly responds to the (S)DAC’s or vulnerable population’s expressed need or desired benefit, either through direct project input or as part of a larger planning or engagement effort. • Does not result in a long-term degradation or reduction of any (S)DACs’ or vulnerable populations’ resources identified in. Meaningful Benefits to Disadvantaged Communities (DACs) and Vulnerable Populations Wildfire Ready SLO will provide direct benefits to disadvantaged communities and vulnerable populations by delivering free Detailed Home Assessments, educational Page 110 of 357 resources, technical assistance, preparedness information, and access to the Fire Smart Landscape Assistance Program. Priority outreach and engagement efforts will focus on:  Low-income households.  Fixed-income households.  Residents living within Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.  Residents adjacent to open space and in City WUI areas.  Residents facing financial or physical barriers to implementing wildfire preparedness measures. The Fire Smart Landscape Assistance Program will help eligible residents implement wildfire-resilient landscaping and Zone 0 improvements that may not otherwise occur without project support. These benefits are direct, tangible, and measurable because they provide participating households with resources, education, and implementation assistance that would not be available without the project. Benefits to Tribal Communities and Tribal Partnership Wildfire Ready SLO will provide benefits through the City of San Luis Obispo's ongoing partnership with the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini (ytt) Northern Chumash Tribe. The City and ytt maintain a strong collaborative relationship focused on community resilience, environmental stewardship, Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and long-term adaptation to increasing wildfire risk. This partnership is recognized in the City's Safety Element and supports shared goals for wildfire preparedness, ecological health, climate resilience, and public education. Through ongoing collaboration, the City and ytt continue to identify opportunities to increase public understanding of wildfire, cultural stewardship, and landscape resilience. Educational activities funded through this project will increase public awareness of wildfire risk, encourage implementation of home harden ing and Zone 0 practices, support Firewise Community development, promote Fire Smart Landscaping, and strengthen community preparedness. The project will also continue to foster relationships with tribal partners and support broader community conversations regarding resilience, stewardship, and adaptation to California's changing wildfire environment. By increasing public understanding and preparedness, Wildfire Ready SLO contributes to community resilience goals that benefit residents, tribal partners, and future generations alike. Page 111 of 357 3. Utilizing the points shown above, please describe how the anticipated benefits from above are “meaningful and direct” to the (S)DAC(s) or vulnerable Meaningful and Direct Benefits to DACs and Vulnerable Populations Wildfire Ready SLO provides direct, tangible, and substantial benefits to disadvantaged communities (DACs) and vulnerable populations by delivering wildfire preparedness services, technical assistance, education, and implementation support that would not otherwise be available without project funding. Many residents living within the FHSZs face financial, physical, informational, or resource barriers that limit their ability to implement wildfire preparedness measures independently. These barriers can be especially significant for low-income households, fixed-income households, and other vulnerable populations. The project directly addresses these challenges by providing:  Free Detailed Home Assessments (DHAs).  Free wildfire preparedness education.  Free home hardening recommendations.  Free Zone 0 readiness guidance.  Free Fire Smart Landscaping consultations.  Free Vegetation Management strategy assistance.  Firewise Community support and technical assistance.  Access to the Fire Smart Landscape Assistance Program.  Community workshops and preparedness events.  Educational materials and outreach resources. These benefits are meaningful because they provide residents with specific, property- level information that helps reduce wildfire risk to their homes and families. Rather t han providing general awareness information alone, the project delivers individualized recommendations and implementation support that can lead to measurable improvements in wildfire resilience. The benefits are direct because participating residents receive services, technical assistance, educational resources, and implementation opportunities that are specifically targeted to their homes, neighborhoods, and wildfire risk conditions. Through Detailed Home Assessments, residents receive personalized recommendations related to home hardening, Zone 0 readiness, Fire Smart Landscaping, defensible space, and emergency preparedness. The Fire Smart Landscape Assistance Program further enhances these direct benefits by helping residents overcome financial barriers to implementing wildfire-resilient landscaping and Zone 0 improvements. This program will provide targeted education for landscape contractors to better serve our community as they bid jobs and follow future Page 112 of 357 California vegetation practices. Without project funding, many of these improvements would not occur, particularly among residents with limited financial resources. Without implementing the Wildfire Ready SLO, many residents, particularly those facing economic or physical barriers, would lack access to the education, technical assistance, and implementation support needed to reduce wildfire risk and improve resilience. Proposition 4 funding will ensure these benefits are delivered directly to the residents who need them most. Page 113 of 357 Page 114 of 357 1. Please explain the applicant's need for financial assistance to carry out the proposed project(s). Provide detail about the applicant's total operating budget, including a high-level breakdown of the budget. Describe the applicant's inability to address financial needs without federal assistance. Discuss other actions the applicant has taken to meet their needs. Include information on efforts to obtain funding elsewhere and how similar projects have been funded in the past. Financial Need (3,940 character count – 4,000 limit) The City of San Luis Obispo is facing significant financial challenges that impact our ability to fund critical fire department staffing needs. Slowing sales tax revenue combined with increasing expenses has created a projected shortfalls to the General Fund of approximately $9.4 million in Fiscal Year 2025-26, with continued deficits projected through FY 2028-29. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s FY 2025-26 operating budget is approximately $19.1million, with personnel costs accounting for $17,746,785 or nearly 93% of the department’s total budget. The City of San Luis Obispo is a participating agency in California’s Public Employee Pension Fund (CALPERS) which experienced significant investment losses during the Great Recession creating an unfunded pension liability crisis that continues to affect current budgets. To navigate through the crisis, CALPERS increased the employer contributions to the funds. As a result, the Fire Department must dedicate $4.5 million, or nearly 24% of the total budget, for unfunded liability payments to CALPERS. Only about $1.3 million remains available for non-personnel operational costs, including apparatus maintenance, training, and equipment replacement. This leaves no available funds to purchase additional equipment for inspection activities. In response to the City’s financial challenges, all departments were directed to reduce expenditures. Because of those reductions, SLOFD was forced to eliminate 3 firefighter positions. Available resources have been prioritized toward maintaining frontline emergency response capabilities, staffing, fire apparatus operations, regulatory compliance, and critical life safety programs. As a result, the replacement of specialized fire investigation equipment has been repeatedly deferred despite increasing operational demands and emerging investigative challenges. The department's fire investigations unit currently operates with portable radios that are over 15 years old and behind current communications technology. Existing radios experience degraded battery performance, software support limitations, broken operational components, and reduced reliability during investigations. Fire investigators routinely coordinate with suppression personnel while conducting origin and cause investigations. Reliable communications are essential to investigator safety, operational coordination, and timely collection of information necessary to determine fire causes and identify prevention opportunities. Replacement of these Page 115 of 357 radios has been deferred due to competing budget priorities resulting in continued reliance on aging equipment that is increasingly difficult to maintain and less reliable during critical fire prevention and investigation actives. The financial constraints facing the City are particularly challenging due to increasing investigative demands. Fires investigated have risen from 136 in 2023 to 150 in 2025. Suspicious and arson-related fires increased from 17 incidents in 2023 to 27 incidents in 2025 and 37 incidents through the first half of 2026 alone. During the same period, lithium-ion battery-related fires emerged as a significant new hazard, rising from zero incidents in 2023 and 2024 to three in 2025 and ten in the first half of 2026. The requested equipment is replacement and modernization of critical investigative equipment that has exceeded its expected service life and can no longer reliably support current operational demands. Current fiscal realities prevent the department from independently funding the specialized equipment required to safely and effectively investigate increasingly complex incidents involving lithium-ion batteries, suspicious fires, and arson. Without federal assistance, replacement of these critical investigative resources will likely continue to be as limited local funding remains focused on maintaining emergency response staffing and essential operational functions. Please provide an explanation for other funding sources in the space provided below. Character Count – 480- limit 500 Currently we have one active FEMA grant, EMW-2024-FP-00527 for Wildfire Risk Reduction. The department also has an active Wildfire Prevention grant award from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) for fuels reduction equipment. These are not listed under the percentage of declared operating budget above because the grant related training is not built within the operating budget but incurs unbudgeted costs that are reimbursed through the AFG project. 2. Please describe your organization and/or community that you serve. The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department is an all-hazards, career fire department that protects approximately 49,000 residents across 13.2 square miles and serves a daytime population that routinely exceeds 100,000 people. As the county seat and regional economic center for San Luis Obispo County, the City supports County government operations, tourism, higher education, healthcare services, and critical infrastructure that serve both local residents and the surrounding region. The department also provides fire and emergency services protection to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), serving more than 22,000 students and staff and adding significant seasonal population fluctuations to the community. Page 116 of 357 San Luis Obispo presents a diverse and complex risk profile. The department protects a historic downtown district containing older commercial structures, growing mixed-use and commercial developments, major transportation corridors, industrial occupancies, and over 4,000 acres of designated open space and wildland-urban interface areas. The community hosts more than one million visitors annually and serves as a regional destination for recreation, tourism, education, and commerce. These factors create a broad range of fire risks requiring a comprehensive prevention and fire investigation program. While the department continues to address traditional fire risks, the fire environment in the community has evolved significantly in recent years due to the rapid rise in lithium-ion battery fires. Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly present in residential occupancies, commercial businesses, personal transportation devices, energy storage systems, industrial applications, and manufacturing operations. Currently, the City of San Luis Obispo is home to 6 Department of Defense (DoD) commercial businesses, and 4 of them exclusively operate with Lithium-ion batteries. The impact of this emerging hazard is clearly demonstrated through local fire investigation data. The department investigated no lithium -ion battery-related fires in either 2023 or 2024. In 2025, investigators responded to three ba ttery- related fires. Through the first half of 2026 alone, investigators have already responded to ten battery-related fires. This trend represents the emergence of an entirely new fire risk category that is increasing both the complexity and resource demands associated with modern fire investigations. The department has also experienced a significant increase in suspicious and arson-related fires. Investigators responded to seventeen suspicious or arson- related fires in both 2023 and 2024. That number increased to 27 incidents in 2025 and has already reached 37 through the first half of 2026. These investigations frequently require extensive scene processing, evidence preservation, witness interviews, law enforcement coordination, and support for criminal prosecution. The increasing volume of these incidents further increases the demand on the department's fire investigations program. Despite growing investigative demands and the increasing complexity of fire incidents, the department's fire investigations unit continues to operate with aging communications equipment, limited scene documentation resources, non- standardized PPE, and inadequate scene lighting capabilities. These deficiencies impact investigator safety, operational effectiveness, evidence preservation, and the department's ability to efficiently identify and evaluate emerging fire hazards. Modernizing the fire investigations unit will enhance the department's ability to safely and effectively investigate lithium-ion battery fires, suspicious fires, arson incidents, and other complex fire events. Improved investigative capabilities will support more Page 117 of 357 accurate origin and cause determinations, strengthen the department's ability to identify emerging hazards, reduce future fire risk, and support the long-term safety and resilience of the San Luis Obispo community. 3. What is the estimated size of the target audience? 6 4. Please provide a brief synopsis of the proposed project and then identify the specific goals and objectives of your project. (Limit 1,000 Characters 978) The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department seeks funding to modernize and equip its fire investigations unit in response to the rapid rise in lithium-ion battery fires, rising numbers of suspicious and arson-related fires, and growing investigative demands. The department is requesting funding to purchase six portable radios, six investigation - specific PPE ensembles, two portable tripod scene-lighting systems, a battery-charging system, supplemental lighting batteries, and a digital camera package. The total project cost is $34,900. The project goals are to reduce fire inspector exposure to harmful situations when entering a post burn environment, operational readiness, evidence preservation, scene documentation, and communications interoperability. The project will support six staff members assigned to the department's fire investigations program, that respond to fire scenes throughout the City and participate in regional mutual-aid fire investigation operations. 5. Please explain hw this project will assist you in reaching this goal (Limit 1,000 Characters 867) Should this request be awarded this grant the department will be able to purchase equipment that addresses critical operational deficiencies that currently limit the fire investigator’s ability to safely and effectively investigate increasingly complex fire incidents. The requested equipment will provide investigators with the tools necessary to safe ly evaluate incidents in post burn environments that are still filled with contaminants and debris and accurately document critical findings. Radios will improve communications reliability; PPE will improve investigator safety in post-fire environments. Lighting and a camera will provide improved investigation abilities. Page 118 of 357 By improving the department's investigative capabilities, this project will strengthen its ability to understand the growing threat posed by lithium -ion battery fires and other emerging hazards. 6. Explain your jurisdiction's training requirements for fire investigation personnel (Characters – 770/ limit 800) SLOFD investigators are required to complete California State Fire Marshal Fire Investigator coursework, including Fire Investigator 1A, 1B, and 1C. Investigators also complete a Fire Investigator Task Book. The department's training program is aligned with nationally recogn ized fire investigation standards, including NFPA 1033: Standard for Professional Qualifications for Fire Investigator and NFPA 921: Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations. Investigators are expected to apply these standards during all fire origin-and-cause investigations. In addition to technical fire investigation training, investigators complete training on California Penal Code Section 832. They are also required to attend the BATI Training Program Interview and Interrogation Course. 7. Please explain your experience and ability in developing and conducting (i.e., timely and satisfactory project completion) past fire prevention and safety projects. Additionally, please demonstrate the experience and expertise you have in managing the type of project you are proposing. (Characters 1736- limit 2000) The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department has experience developing, implementing, and successfully completing fire prevention, community risk reduction, and managing various grant-funded projects. The department is successfully managing Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant projects including grant EMW-2024-FP-00527 and grant EMW -2021-FG-07554 which has successfully been completed and is in the process of being closed out. While in progress FEMA conducted a desk review on now closed AFG grant EMW-2022-FG- 08062 and determined it was progressing according to the authorized statement of work and follows FEMA guidelines and federal regulations for the AFG program. SLOFD has demonstrated the ability to achieve project objectives while maintaining compliance with federal grant requirements. Project work with grant EMW-2024-FP-00527 has included Page 119 of 357 implementing a Detailed Home Assessment (DHA) Program focused on wildfire preparedness, defensible space education, home hardening, and community risk reduction. The proposed Fire Investigations Modernization Project aligns closely with the department's existing operational responsibilities and areas of expertise. Fire investigators currently manage fire scene documentation, evidence preservation, communications equipment, PPE, scene safety, and regional mutual-aid operations. SLOFD staff has experience successfully following City procurement policies to obtain grant-funded equipment. Once obtained staff follows department policy for training, maintenance, and upkeep of the equipment. If the grant request is awarded the department is well-positioned to successfully complete the proposed project on time, within budget, and in full compliance with all grant requirements. 8. Sustainability: Is it your organization's intent to deliver this program after the grant performance period? If so, how will the overall activity be sustained and what are the long-term benefits? Examples of sustainable projects can be illustrated through the long-term benefits derived from the delivery of the project, the presence of non-federal partners likely to continue the effort, or the demonstrated long-term commitment of the applicant. (Characters 1723- limit 2500) SLOFD will complete the project prior to the end of the grant performance period. The department will develop strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability and continuity of equipment operations beyond the grant period. The equipment acquired through this project will be incorporated into the department's existing fire investigations program and maintained throughout its useful service life. Portable radios, investigation-specific PPE, scene lighting systems, and photographic documentation equipment will be assigned to fire investigators, incorporated into existing operational procedures, and maintained through established equipment management and replacement programs. The department is committed to sustaining these resources through future budgeting processes as equipment reaches the end of its service life. The project also supports the department's long-term commitment to staff safety and operational readiness. Standardized PPE, improved communications equipment, enhanced scene documentation capabilities, and dedicated scene lighting resources will Page 120 of 357 improve investigator safety and effectiveness for many years while supporting hundreds of future fire investigations. The department's participation in the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team (SLO FIST) further enhances project sustainability. Through this regional partnership, investigators routinely collaborate with neighboring agencies to share resources, exchange investigative findings, identify emerging hazards, and support mutual -aid operations. These partnerships will continue beyond the grant period and help ensure that the knowledge, capabilities, and benefits generated by this project extend throughout San Luis Obispo County. 9. 10. Narrative The narrative statements must provide all the information necessary for you to justify your needs and for FEMA to make an award decision. A panel of peer reviewers will evaluate the applications by using the narrative statements below to determine the worthiness of the request for an award. Please ensure that your narrative clearly addresses each of the following evaluation criteria elements to the best of your ability with detailed but concise information. You may either type your narrative statements in the spaces provided below or create the text in your word processing system and then copy it into the appropriate spaces provided below. Please note the narrative block does not allow for formatting. Do not type your narrative using only capital letters. Additionally, do not include tables, special fonts (i.e., quote marks, bullets, etc.), or graphs. Please review the Notice of Funding Opportunity for additional narrative details. 11. Commitment to Mitigation: Fire Department applicants that can demonstrate their commitment and proactive posture to reducing fire risk will receive higher consideration. Applicants must explain their code adoption and enforcement (to include Wildland Urban Interface and commercial/residential sprinkler code adoption and enforcement) and mitigation strategies (including whether or not the jurisdiction has a FEMA- approved mitigation strategy). Applicants can also demonstrate their commitment to reducing fire risk by applying to implement fire mitigation strategies (code adoption and enforcement) via this application. (Limit 3,000 /Currently at 2,355 Page 121 of 357 The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to fire prevention, risk reduction, code enforcement, and community resilience through a comprehensive approach that integrates inspections, public education, wildfire mitigation, fire investigations, and proactive code adoption. The City has adopted and enforces the California WUI Code, California Fire Code, California Building Code, and California Residential Code, including local amendments designed to address community-specific fire risks. The City’s local ordinance requires all new construction over 1,000 square feet to have sprinklers installed. The division reviews plans and construction sites prior to signing an occupancy permit to enforce fire safety regulations. SLOFD is mandated by the State of California to complete inspections annually on all public and private schools, hotels, motels, and apartment/condominium buildings within the City. The department achieves 100 percent inspection compliance with all 701 state- mandated inspections and maintains oversight of approximately 2,352 fire protection systems throughout the community. The City is home the Cal Poly University, with over 20,000 students enrolled and only 8,000 of those students reside on campus the remainder live in the city resulting in an abundance of apartment buildings needing inspections. Through focused compliance efforts, fire protection system compliance has increased to approximately 97%. The department also implemented a New Business Inspection Program to ensure newly established businesses comply with applicable fire and life safety requirements at the start of occupancy. The City participated in a countywide development of a Wildfire Preparedness Plan and Vegetation Management Plan and continues to support community education efforts focused on wildfire risk reduction, defensible space, home hardening, and emergency preparedness. The City has begun an outreach program encouraging local neighborhoods to become Firewise Communities. Firewise USA is managed by the NFPA and has required activities such as creating fuel breaks, using fire-resistant landscaping and hosting community wildfire preparedness events. These areas within the City work together to implement wildfire risk-reduction strategies to improve resilience against wildland fire threats. 11. Vulnerability Statement:  The assessment of fire risk is essential in the development of an effective project goal, as well as meeting FEMA’s goal to reduce risk by conducting a Page 122 of 357 risk assessment as a basis for action. Vulnerability is a “weak link,” demonstrating high-risk behavior, living conditions, or any type of high-risk situation. The Vulnerability Statement should include a description of the steps taken to determine the vulnerability and identify the target audience. The methodology for determination of vulnerability (i.e., how the vulnerability was found) should be discussed in-depth in the application’s Narrative Statement.  The specific vulnerability that will be addressed with the proposed project can be established through a formal or informal risk assessment. FEMA encourages the use of local statistics, rather than national statistics, when discussing the vulnerability.  In a clear, to-the-point statement, the applicant should summarize the vulnerability the project will address, including who is at risk, what the risks are, where the risks are, and how the risks can be prevented, reduced, or mitigated.  For the purpose of this application, formal risk assessments consist of the use of software programs or recognized expert analysis that assess risk trends.  Informal risk assessments could include an in-house review of available data (e.g., National Fire Incident Reporting System [NFIRS]) to determine fire loss, burn injuries or loss of life over a period of time, and the factors that are the cause and origin for each occurrence, including a lack of adoption or enforcement of certain codes. CURRENT Word Count 4295 The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department identified the vulnerability addressed by this project through a comprehensive review of local fire incident data, fire investigation reports, NFIRS/NERIS reporting, internal ImageTrend records, CAL FIRE publicat ions, NFPA guidance, and information shared through the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team (SLO FIST). The department routinely analyzes fire trends, origin -and- cause determinations, injury data, and emerging hazards to evaluate risks that and inform prevention, mitigation, and community risk reduction efforts. This assessment identified the rapid emergence of lithium-ion battery fires as a significant and growing risk within the community. The department investigated no lithium-ion battery-related fires in 2023 or 2024. In 2025, investigators responded to three battery-related fires. Through the first half of 2026 alone, investigators have already responded to 10 battery-related fires. This trend represents a rapidly growing fire hazard that is increasing in frequency and complexity throughout the community. The target audience for this project includes the approximately 49,000 residents of the City of San Luis Obispo, more than 22,000 California Polytechnic State University Page 123 of 357 students and staff, local businesses, visitors, City personnel, and emergency responders who may be affected by fires involving lithium-ion battery technologies. Lithium-ion batteries are increasingly common in homes, apartments, commercial occupancies, energy storage systems, personal transportation devices, industrial facilities, and manufacturing operations throughout the City. The community is also home to multiple Department of Defense-affiliated businesses that rely on lithium-ion battery technologies as part of their operations. SLOFD Arson and Fire investigators enter a burn area post IDLH atmosphere and when carbon monoxide levels are reduced, however, particles and gasses still exist. The composition of the post-fire scene particulate matter depends on the nature of the burning fuel and conditions of combustion. Investigators frequently dig through debris, handle burned materials and examine areas with chemical residues. The risk associated with this vulnerability has already resulted in significant consequences. A recent residential lithium-ion battery fire caused severe burn injuries to a resident, injuries to a City building inspector, and the recovery and disposal of three drums of damaged lithium-ion batteries. A separate lithium-ion battery fire at a local aerospace manufacturing facility injured a firefighter and required extensive hazardous materials coordination and investigation. These incidents demonstrate that lithium -ion battery fires present unique hazards including thermal runaway, hazardous off -gassing, reignition potential, contamination concerns, and complex fire origin -and-cause determinations. The department has also identified a significant increase in suspicious and arson - related fires. Investigators responded to 17 suspicious or arson -related fires in both 2023 and 2024. That number increased to 27 incidents in 2025 and has already reached 37 incidents during the first half of 2026. These incidents often require extensive scene processing, evidence preservation, documentation, and coordination with law enforcement agencies, placing additional demands on investigative personnel and resources. The vulnerability exists throughout the City of San Luis Obispo because lithium-ion battery technologies are increasingly integrated into residential, commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors. As the use of these technologies continues to expand, so does the potential for fires involving hazardous battery failures and more complex investigations. The identified risk can be reduced through effective fire investigation, hazard identification, public education, enforcement , and community risk reduction strategies. By enhancing the department's ability to safely investigate these incidents, identify root causes, preserve evidence, and recognize emerging hazards, the proposed project will strengthen fire prevention efforts and help reduce future fire loss, injuries, and Page 124 of 357 community impacts associated with lithium-ion battery fires and other complex fire incidents. 12. Project Description: Applicants must describe in detail not only the project components but also how the proposed project addresses the identified capability gap, due to financial need and/or the vulnerabilities identified in the vulnerability statement. The following information should be included:  Project Components  Review of any existing programs or models that have been successful.  Detailed description of how the proposed project components fill the identified capability gap  If working with Fire Service Partners/Organizations, identify each partner/organization and the role(s) they will fill in the successful completion of the proposed project. Currently at 4891- 5000 limit The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department operates an established fire investigations program that serves as a critical component of the department's community risk reduction strategy. The program is responsible for determining fire origin and cause, identifying emerging hazards, supporting public education and fire prevention efforts, assisting law enforcement investigations, and providing information that helps improve community safety. The department has identified a growing capability gap between rising investigative demands and its ability to safely and effectively investigate complex incidents. Through review of local fire investigation data, the department identified a significant increase in lithium-ion battery fires and suspicious fire activity. These incidents require extensive documentation, evidence preservation, scene safety measures, communications coordination, and prolonged investigative operations. However, the department's fire investigations unit continues to rely on communications equipment that is over 15 years old, non-standardized investigation-specific PPE, limited scene lighting resources, and a single digital camera shared among investigators. The proposed Project will address these capability gaps through the acquisition of six portable radios, six investigation-specific PPE ensembles, one digital camera package, two portable scene lighting systems, a battery charging bank, and supplemental batteries. These resources will enhance investigator safety, improve communications Page 125 of 357 reliability, strengthen scene documentation, evidence preservation, and expand the department’s ability to conduct effective investigations during extended and nighttime operations. The portable radios will replace aging communications equipment that currently experiences degraded battery performance, software support limitations, damaged operational components, and reduced reliability. Reliable communications capability will improve investigator safety, accountability and coordination during complex investigations involving suppression personnel, hazardous materials specialists, law enforcement agencies, building officials, utility representatives, and regional partners. The investigation-specific PPE ensembles follow the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) guidance for PPE. The sets include NFPA 2112 and ANSI/ISEA 107 coveralls, NFPA and CAL OSHA standard helmets with straps, helmet shields, NFPA 1951, 1977, 1992, and 1999 boots, and NFPA 1999 work pants. Standardized PPE will improve investigator safety and operational readiness while reducing reliance on aging structural firefighting gear. The department has respiratory protection in possession from a prior FP&S grant. The digital camera package will include a professional-grade camera, interchangeable lenses, external flash, memory storage, and associated accessories capable of producing high-resolution images in a variety of lighting and environmental conditions. Required features include low-light performance, optical zoom capability, image stabilization, GPS and metadata retention, durable field operation, and the ability to capture detailed photographs of fire patterns, evidence, and other scene conditions. These capabilities are essential for documenting fire origin and cause, supporting criminal investigations, preserving evidence, and creating accurate records that may be used for enforcement actions, court proceedings, training, and future preventions efforts. The portable scene lighting systems will address a significant operational limitation within the current program. Investigators currently rely on apparatus-mounted lighting systems during nighttime investigations, often requiring fire apparatus to remain committed to scenes after suppression activities have concluded. Dedicated scene lighting will improve investigator safety, enhance scene documentation, and allow emergency response apparatus to return to service more quickly, improving overall response readiness. The project also supports our regional partners’ fire investigation capabilities through the department's participation in SLO FIST. Local partner agencies routinely collaborate on complex investigations, suspicious fires, arson cases, and incidents involving Page 126 of 357 emerging hazards. Equipment acquired through this project will improve interoperability, strengthen mutual-aid capabilities, and improve regional fire investigation effectiveness throughout San Luis Obispo County. By addressing identified capability gaps in communications, investigator safety, scene documentation, and scene lighting, the proposed project will improve the department's ability to investigate lithium-ion battery fires and other emerging hazards, strengthen community risk reduction efforts, and enhance firefighter safety while supporting long- term fire prevention and mitigation strategies. 13 Implementation Plan: Each project proposal should include details on the implementation plan which discusses the proposed project’s goals and objectives. The following information should be included to support the implementation plan:Implementation Plan: Each project proposal should include details on the implementation plan which discusses the proposed project’s goals and objectives. The following information should be included to support the implementation plan:  Goals and objectives  Details regarding the methods and specific steps that will be used to achieve the goals and objectives  Timelines outlining the chronological project steps (this is critical for determining the likeliness of the project’s completion within the period of performance)  Where applicable, examples of marketing efforts to promote the project, who will deliver the project (e.g., effective partnerships), and the manner in which materials or deliverables will be distributed  Requests for props (i.e., tools used in educational or awareness demonstrations), including specific goals, measurable results, and details on the frequency for which the prop will be utilized as part of the implementation plan. Applicants should include information describing the efforts that will be used to reach the high-risk audience and/or the number of people reached through the proposed project (examples of props include safety trailers, puppets, or costumes)  Where human subjects are involved, describe plans for submission to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) (for further guidance and requirements, see the Human Subjects Research section of the NOFO)  NOTE: For applicants proposing a complex project that may require a 24-month Period of Performance, please include significant justification and details in the implementation plan that justify the applicant’s need for a Period of Performance of more than 12 months. Characters 3993 The goal of the Fire Investigations Modernization Project is to improve the San Luis Obispo Fire Department's ability to safely and effectively determine fire origin and cause, identify emerging hazards , enhance firefighter safety, and strengthen community risk reduction efforts. The project is specifically intended to address the increasing complexity of fire investigations involving lithium-ion battery fires, suspicious fires, arson investigations, and other emerging hazards identified through the department's risk assessment process. Page 127 of 357 The primary objectives of the project are to establish a standardized investigation - specific PPE program for personnel assigned to fire investigations, replace obsolete communications equipment, enhance scene documentation capabilities, establish dedicated lighting resources for nighttime investigations, and strengthen the department's ability to identify and evaluate emerging fire hazards through fire investigations. The department will implement the project using existing personnel, administrative systems, procurement processes, and operational procedures. No additional staffing will be required. Following deployment, all six personnel assigned to the Fire Investigations Unit will be equipped with standardized PPE following IAAI guidance and modern communications equipment. Dedicated scene lighting resources and enhanced photographic documentation capabilities will be placed into service and made available for fire investigations throughout the City and during regional mutual-aid responses. Equipment utilization and operational effectiveness will be monitored through existing fire investigation reporting systems and departmental records. The anticipated implementation timeline is six months from the date of award. Months 1 and 2 will be the procurement phase. Upon award, the department will initiate procurement activities in accordance with City purchasing policies and applicable federal grant requirements. The department will begin identifying the most suitable items for the project, finalize equipment specif ications, identify vendors, and begin procurement, following the City’s established purchasing guidelines and policy. During this phase, the department will purchase six portable radios, six investigation -specific PPE ensembles, one digital camera package, two portable scene lighting systems, a battery charging bank, and supplemental batteries. During Months 3 and 4, equipment will be received, inventoried, assigned, and prepared for deployment. Investigators will begin training on proper equipment use with the department’s existing training and usage policies. During Months 5 and 6, equipment will be fully integrated into operational procedures and placed into service. SLOFD investigators will develop equipment maintenance and inspection schedules that will evaluate the condition of the equipment and ensure proper upkeep. Following implementation, the department will continue monitoring project outcomes and equipment utilization throughout the remainder of the grant performance period. The project builds upon an established and successful fire investigations program. Existing relationships through the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team (SLO Page 128 of 357 FIST), including County Fire and five local, partner agencies, will support continued mutual-aid operations and regional fire investigation activities. While these partner agencies are not responsible for project implementation, they will benefit from the enhanced capabilities provided through the project and will continue collaborating on complex investigations involving emerging hazards. The department anticipates completing all project activities within a standard 12 -month period of performance. Because the project consists primarily of equipment acquisition, deployment, and integration into an existing program, no extended period of performance is anticipated or required.  12. Evaluation Plan: Projects should include a plan for evaluation of effectiveness and identify measurable goals. Applicants seeking to carry out awareness and educational projects, for example, should identify how they intend to determine that there has been an increase in knowledge about fire hazards, or measure a change in the safety behaviors of the audience. Applicants should demonstrate how they will measure risk at the outset of the project in comparison to how much the risk decreased after the project is finished. There are various ways to measure the knowledge gained about fire hazards, including the use of surveys, pre- and post- tests, or documented observations. Applicants are encouraged to attend training on evaluation methods, such as the National Fire Academy’s “Demonstrating Your Fire Prevention Program’s Worth.” (Characters 3593) The City of San Luis Obispo Fire Department will evaluate the effectiveness of this project through a combination of operational performance measures, equipment deployment metrics, and fire investigation outcomes. The evaluation process will focus on determining whether the project successfully improves investigator safety, enhances investigative capabilities, and strengthens the department's ability to identify and mitigate emerging fire hazards. Prior to implementation, the department will establish baseline conditions using existing findings, equipment inventories, and operational practices. Current conditions include reliance on aging communications equipment, limited photographic documentation capabilities, inconsistent investigation-specific personal protective equipment, and dependence on fire apparatus-mounted lighting systems during nighttime investigations. The department will also utilize existing fire investigation data maintained through Page 129 of 357 NFIRS/NERIS reporting, ImageTrend records, and internal fire in vestigation tracking systems to establish baseline incident trends. Project success will be measured through several objective performance indicators. The department will track the deployment of six portable radios, six investigation-specific PPE ensembles, one digital camera package, and dedicated scene lighting equipment. Upon project completion, 100 percent of personnel assigned to the fire investigations unit will be equipped with standardized PPE and modern communications equipment. The department will also establish dedicated nighttime scene lighting capability and enhanced photographic documentation capability for fire investigations. The department will evaluate operational improvements by documenting the use of grant-funded equipment during fire investigations, particularly incidents involving lithium- ion batteries, suspicious fires, and arson investigations. Investigators will track equipment utilization, scene lighting deployment, communications reliability, photographic documentation improvements, and investigator safety benefits. The department will also evaluate reductions in reliance on fire apparatus-mounted lighting systems and the resulting improvement in apparatus availability for emergency response. The department will continue monitoring f ire investigation trends through NFIRS/NERIS reporting, ImageTrend records, and internal investigation data. Particular attention will be given to lithium-ion battery fires and other emerging hazards identified through fire investigations. Information gathered from these investigations will be used to support public education efforts, prevention strategies, enforcement activities, and community risk reduction initiatives. The long-term effectiveness of the project will be measured by the department's enhanced ability to safely investigate incidents, identify emerging hazards, preserve critical evidence, and utilize investigative findings to support prevention efforts. The department will compare post-project operational capabilities to established baseline conditions and document improvements in investigator safety, investigative effectiveness, equipment reliability, and community risk reduction outcomes. Through this evaluation process, the department will ensure that grant-funded equipment directly supports the project's goal of improving fire investigation capabilities and strengthening the community's ability to identify, understand, and mitigate emerging fire hazards before they result in additional injuries, property loss, or community impacts. a. Page 130 of 357 13. Cost Benefit: Projects will be evaluated and scored by the Peer Review Panelists based on how well the applicant addresses the fire prevention needs of the department or organization in an economic and efficient manner. The applicant should show how it will maximize the level of funding that goes directly into the delivery of the project. The costs associated with the project also must be reasonable for the target audience that will be reached, and a description should be included of how the anticipated project benefit(s) (quantified if possible) outweighs the cost(s) of the requested item(s). The application should provide justification for all costs included in the project in order to assist the Technical Evaluation Panel with their review. Character limit 2,500 -1311 The proposed project will support six members assigned to the department's fire investigations program while benefiting approximately 49,000 residents, more than 22,000 California Polytechnic State University students and staff, local businesses, visitors, and regional partner agencies. The award provides needed equipment without placing a significant burden on local taxpayers. The total projected cost of $34,900 equates to approximately $0.71 per resident, representing a highly cost-effective investment in firefighter safety, community risk reduction, and fire investigation capabilities throughout the City of San Luis Obispo Increase morale in the SLOFD for the investigators as budget reductions have reduced operating budgets and equipment for staff. The ability to provide updated equipment through the FP&S program demonstrates support for essential emergency services. Increased fire investigator safety during fire investigations. One hundred percent of requested funding will be used to purchase essential fire investigation equipment, including portable radios, investigation-specific personal protective equipment, scene lighting systems, a digital camera package, and supporting batteries and charging equipment. The project also strengthens regional capabilities through the department's participation in the San Luis Obispo Fire Investigation Strike Team. 14. Additional Comments: If you have any additional comments about your project, please provide them here. The City of San Luis Obispo respectfully requests consideration for funding to address this growing risk and to express their sincere gratitude for to DHS, FEMA, and SAFER for the opportunity to apply for the relief to solve our critical equipment needs. We would also like to thank the reviewers for donating their time and efforts. Page 131 of 357 Page 132 of 357 Page 133 of 357 Page 134 of 357 SLO SAFER 2026 Describe your financial need to include descriptions of the following:  Income vs. expense breakdown of the current annual budget  Budget shortfalls and the inability to address financial needs without federal assistance  Actions taken to obtain funding elsewhere (i.e. state assistance programs or other grant programs)  How your critical functions are affected without this funding (4,000-character limit) 3,965 characters) The City of San Luis Obispo is facing significant financial challenges that impact our ability to fund critical fire department staffing needs.. Slowing sales tax revenue combined with increasing expenses created an initial General Fund shortfall of approximately $9.5 million in FY 2025-26. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department’s FY 2025-26 operating budget is approximately $19.1 million, with personnel costs accounting for nearly 93%, or $17,746,785 of the department’s total budget. The City of San Luis Obispo is a participating agency in California’s Public Employee Pension Fund (CALPERS) which experienced significant investment losses during the Great Recession creating an unfunded pension liability crisis that continues to affect current budgets. In response, CALPERS increased the employer contributions to the funds. As a result, the Fire Department must dedicate $4.5 million, or nearly 24% of the total budget, for unfunded liability payments to CALPERS. Leaving only about $1.3 million available for operational costs, including apparatus maintenance, training, and equipment replacement. Leaving no available funds to hire 9 firefighters necessary to open the fifth fire station currently in development. In response to the City’s financial challenges, all departments were directed to reduce expenditures by at least five percent. Because of those reductions, SLOFD was forced to eliminate 3 firefighter positions, which ultimately increases the staffing needed to open the fifth fire station to nine positions. Emergency service demand also continues to increase due to residential and commercial development, tourism, and expansion at California Polytechnic State University. Despite these limitations, the City demonstrated its commitment to improving emergency response capabilities by entering an agreement with a housing developer to provide a parcel and the building for a new station through offsets of their Development Impact Fees (DIF), relieving the City of having to allocate funds for the build. The City has committed to purchasing a Type I fire engine for the new station. However, the City currently does not have an additional $3,600,006.67 to hire the firefighters required to place the station into service. The need for additional staffing was recently validated through the City’s Fire Master Plan and Standards of Cover analysis conducted by Citygate Associates. The study concluded that major portions of the City’s southern area are underserved and determined that a fifth fire station is necessary to maintain adequate emergency response coverage to approximately 20% of the Page 135 of 357 population. The report also found that relocating existing resources was not geographically feasible and would increase response times during simultaneous incidents. Current staffing remains inadequate to consistently provide the speed and weight of attack necessary to safely for emergencies. Given our lack of staffing, SLOFD currently only achieves its four-minute response objective on approximately 60% of incidents and the NFPA 1710 eight- minute Effective Response Force objective about 44.4% of incidents. Current staffing prevents the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710 response objectives and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements during initial structure fire operations. The department frequently seeks and applies for grant opportunities to off-set operational costs. The department applies annually for FEMA grants such as the Fire Prevention and Safety and Assistance to Firefighters Grants, California state sponsored grants, and has had nominal success in securing small private business grants. The 9 requested SAFER-funded firefighters are critical to implementing the City’s deployment strategy and place the fifth fire station into service. If awarded, this grant funding will allow us to improve response-times, enhance Effective Response Force capability, and improve the safety of the community and our firefighters. Please provide an explanation for other funding sources in the space provided below. Currently we have one active FEMA grant, EMW-2024-FP-00527 for Wildfire Risk Reduction. The department also has an active Wildfire Prevention grant award from California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CALFIRE) for fuels reduction equipment. These are not listed under the percentage of declared operating budget above because the grant related training is not built within the operating budget but incurs unbudgeted costs that are reimbursed through the AFG project. Please explain how your department is facing a new risk, expanding service to a new area, or experiencing an increased call volume. (4,000-character limit) (3,918 characters) Over the past decade, the City has experienced significant growth in the southern portion of town where the fifth fire station is going to be located. Four major residential developments and continued expansion along the busiest corridor in the city have transformed previously undeveloped areas into one of the fastest-growing regions in the City. Despite this growth, fire department staffing has decreased 6% and station resources have remained unchanged. Recognizing the operational impact of this expansion, the City commissioned Citygate Associates to evaluate deployment performance, staffing, response coverage, and future service demands. The study concluded that portions of the southern area are underserved and that the growth area falls well outside the eight-minute Effective Response Force travel-time objective Page 136 of 357 identified in NFPA 1710. Citygate further determined that an additional fire station and response company are necessary to maintain adequate emergency response coverage. Current performance data confirms these findings. SLOFD currently achieves its four-minute travel-time objective on approximately 60% of all incidents, while the NFPA 1710 standard of eight-minute Effective Response Force objective is achieved on only 44.4% of the time. Within the growing southern area, average travel times are approximately 6:02 minutes, significantly exceeding adopted response-time goals. Current staffing limitations reduce the department’s ability to consistently provide the speed and weight of attack necessary to safely control time- critical emergencies. Existing staffing also prevents the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710 response objectives and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements during initial structure fire operations. The department is also experiencing increasing demand for emergency services. Annual call volume has increased from 6,180 incidents in 2019 to 7,344 incidents in 2025, representing a 19% increase in calls for service. Emergency medical incidents account for approximately 65% of all responses, placing additional strain on available resources and increasing vulnerability during simultaneous incidents. Community risk continues to increase due to population growth, wildfire exposure, and high- density development. Updated California Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps identified approximately 2,845 parcels within the City that are now located in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, an increase from only 38 in 2011. 8,782 parcels are located within Moderate, High, or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones, up from zero in 2011. 64% of all residential and commercial properties in the City’s jurisdiction now fall within a fire hazard severity zone. The City is also surrounded by Tier 2 (Elevated) and Tier 3 (Extreme) wildfire threat areas identified by the California Public Utilities Commission. These conditions significantly increase the need for reliable staffing, rapid deployment capability, and sustained operational depth during wildfire responses. In addition, the department provides fire and emergency medical services to California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly), which serves more than 22,000 students. Cal Poly continues expanding on-campus housing capacity, with student residents projected to increase to approximately 9,300 by Fall 2026, which will further increase the number of emergency responses to campus. The City has secured a site for the fifth fire station and purchased a new Type I fire engine for deployment. However, current fiscal constraints have prevented the City from funding the personnel necessary to place the station into service. The requested SAFER-funded firefighters are critical to correct the documented deployment deficiency, improve response performance, strengthen Effective Response Force capability, and provide adequate emergency response coverage to a rapidly growing all-hazards community. Please describe your organization and/or community that you serve. (4,000-character limit) (3,820 characters?) Page 137 of 357 San Luis Obispo City Fire Department (SLOFD) is requesting $3,600,006.67 for 9 SAFER firefighters to staff a fifth fire station and improve response performance in the rapidly expanding southern area of the City. The additional firefighters will staff a new station and reduce travel times to this area from approximately 6:02 minutes to under 4 minutes, 90% of the time, while improving firefighter safety and compliance with NFPA 1710 and OSHA 1910. SLOFD is an all-hazards, career fire department providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, wildland fire response, and community risk reduction services to the City of San Luis Obispo and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly). The department currently staffs 4 fire stations with 42 sworn suppression personnel operating across three shifts. Daily staffing includes 1 Battalion Chief, 1 four-person truck company, and 3 three-person engine companies. SLOFD maintains an ISO Class 2 rating and responds to approximately 7,300 emergency incidents each year. Unfortunately, recent citywide budget reductions resulted in the loss of 3 firefighter positions, further limiting our ability to meet increasing service demands. Current staffing levels prevent the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710 travel-time and Effective Response Force objectives, NFPA 1750 deployment recommendations, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements during initial structure fire operations. The department protects a population of approximately 49,000 people; however peak-time, business-day population in the City is routinely more than 100,000 as we are the County government operations center and business center. The City is a popular year-round tourist destination with over 1,400,000 visitors annually and has a seasonal increase in population of during the academic school year. Our department also provides fire and emergency medical services (EMS) protection for California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo (Cal Poly), which sits just outside the city limits but adds over 22,000 students and staff to our service population, including 9,300 on-campus student residents. The City has a historic downtown district, high-density housing, 42 hotels with approximately 3,500 rooms, two regional hospitals, schools, commercial occupancies, industrial facilities, and critical transportation corridors. Recent industrial growth supporting Department of Defense contracts has introduced additional lithium-ion battery hazards, increasing the need for additional staffing to meet the needs of this new target hazard. The City is experiencing significant residential growth adding more than 2,000 residential units and 5,000 residents to the community. Four major housing developments have significantly increased demand for emergency services, and in the last 5 years, annual call volume has increased from 6,180 incidents to 7,344 incidents, representing a 19% increase. Wildfire risk also represents a growing challenge within the community. Updated California Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps identified approximately 2,845 parcels within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone and approximately 8,782 parcels within Moderate, High, or Very High Page 138 of 357 Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The City is surrounded by approximately 4,000 acres of open space, 53 miles of recreational trails, and Tier 2 (Elevated) and Tier 3 (Extreme) wildfire threat areas. The continued growth of the City, combined with increasing call volume, expanding wildfire exposure, and staffing reductions, has outpaced the department’s current deployment capability. If this grant were to be awarded, SLOFD could staff a fifth fire station and rebuild our response operations, improving compliance with NFPA 1710, NFPA1750, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two- out” requirements. Without grant funding, the department will continue operating with limited staffing in a rapidly growing community. Please provide details on the department's existing staffing model to include the number of shifts, number of positions per shift, chief level officer staffing per shift (i.e., Battalion Chief, District Chief, etc.), and contracted shift hours per week/pay period. If the contracted shift hours included FLSA overtime or Kelly Days, please be sure to include details. (3,000-character limit) (2,802 characters) The San Luis Obispo Fire Department operates a three-platoon system consisting of A, B, and C shifts. Suppression personnel work a 48-hours-on, 96-hours-off (48/96) schedule with a 56-hour average workweek. Personnel work approximately 2,912 scheduled hours annually. The department does not utilize Kelly Days. SLOFD currently staffs 4 fire stations and deploys 1 Battalion Chief, 1 four-person tiller truck company, and 3 three-person engine companies each day. Current minimum daily staffing consists of 13 suppression personnel and 1 Battalion Chief assigned to emergency response operations. Each shift is staffed with: • 1 Battalion Chief • 4 Fire Captains • 5 Fire Engineers • 4 Firefighters/Firefighter-Paramedics Total department staffing includes: • 3 Battalion Chiefs • 12 Fire Captains • 15 Fire Engineers • 12 Firefighters/Firefighter-Paramedics Total authorized suppression personnel: 42 The Fire Chief and Deputy Chief work a standard administrative schedule and are not included in daily suppression staffing calculations. Neither position is routinely assigned to frontline emergency response operations or minimum daily staffing. Page 139 of 357 Current staffing levels have become increasingly strained due to a 19% increase in annual call volume, significant residential growth, expanding wildfire risk, and recent elimination of 3 firefighter positions due to citywide budget cuts. These staffing reductions further limit our department’s ability to meet current service demands and will inhibit SLOFD from staffing a fifth fire station despite already securing a station site and purchasing a new Type I fire engine. Current staffing levels also prevent the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710 travel- time and Effective Response Force (ERF) objectives, NFPA 1750 deployment recommendations, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements during initial structure fire operations. SLOFD currently relies heavily on automatic aid and mutual aid resources to assemble an ERF for significant incidents, reducing response reliability during simultaneous emergencies and increasing risk to firefighters and the public. The requested SAFER-funded firefighters would increase authorized suppression staffing from 42 to 51 personnel, representing a 21.4% increase in suppression staffing. These positions would allow SLOFD to staff a new three-person engine company at the planned fifth fire station, increasing daily suppression staffing from 13 firefighters to 16 firefighters. These firefighters would staff a new station that will improve response times to the rapidly growing southern area of the City, reduce overall travel times to under 4 minutes 90% of the time, reduce reliance on outside automatic aid resources, and improve compliance with NFPA 1710, NFPA 1750, and OSHA 1910 standards. Describe the department's step-by-step hiring process (application period, written test, physical, approval) and the timeline for each step. The department initiates hiring by completing a “Request for Hire” form and forwarding to Human Resources for processing. The personnel rules identify Firefighter/Paramedic as a "competitive service" position that is subject to the City's Personnel Rules and Regulations. It is the City's policy to recruit and select the most qualified individuals. Recruitment and selection shall be conducted in a manner that will ensure open competition, provided equal employment opportunity, and prohibit discrimination or favoritism because of race, religion, sex, color, national origin, age, serious medical condition, disability, politics, sexual orientation, gender identity, and ancestry. Positions to be filled are publicized via several mediums and are visible for a minimum of 10 working days (usually 4 weeks). After review of qualifying applications, candidates compete through an examination process consisting of a written didactic test, and an oral interview. All qualifying applicants must also pass a Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) within an identified time frame. After initial evaluation, the most qualified candidates will be interviewed by the Fire Chief and provided a conditional offer of employment. Those who are offered will undergo a pre-employment physical, background check, DOJ check and a psychological exam. If successful in all phases, the candidate is given a “final offer” and is appointed. We are requesting 9 personnel via this SAFER Grant application and can start the hiring process soon after award notification. Page 140 of 357 How long after award will the department be able to start a recruit class? Upon award notification the department will begin the recruitment process, including candidate outreach, screening, interviews, background investigations, and hiring. The process is expected to take approximately six months to complete. Following the completion of recruitment and hiring, SLOFD will commence a recruit academy. City leadership fully supports this project, and the requested positions have already been identified as part of the department’s long-term staffing and deployment strategy. SLOFD maintains established hiring and onboarding procedures and does not anticipate delays related to position authorization or implementation. These positions are critical to staffing the planned fifth fire station, improving response performance, strengthening Effective Response Force capability, and improving compliance with NFPA 1710, NFPA 1750, and OSHA 1910 requirements. How often are your recruit classes held? Recruit academies are typically scheduled every other year, allowing SLOFD to efficiently onboard and train new personnel while maintaining high training standards and operational readiness. This approach provides the department with a consistent and sustainable staffing pipeline. When operational needs and funding require accelerated hiring, SLOFD has the flexibility and experience to conduct recruit academies more frequently. In recent years, the department has completed back-to-back recruit academies to meet staffing demands and support expanding emergency response needs. Provide details on the timeline needed to accept the grant award. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department has already coordinated with City leadership regarding acceptance of a potential SAFER award. An agenda item is prepared to present to the City Council to authorize acceptance of the grant, if awarded. Because this approval process will occur prior to, or concurrent with, the anticipated award announcement, the City will be positioned to immediately execute the grant agreement and begin implementation activities upon notification of award. City leadership fully supports the project and recognizes the importance of staffing the planned fifth fire station to address significant response deficiencies, increasing call volume, and expanding community risk. SLOFD does not anticipate delays related to grant acceptance, position authorization, or implementation. Page 141 of 357 Describe how the analysis was conducted and the outcome of the analysis or ISO rating. (1,000 Characters) (991 characters exactly) Citygate Associates conducted a comprehensive Standards of Cover analysis evaluating station locations, staffing, response performance, deployment reliability, community risk, and Effective Response Force capability. The study recommended a fifth fire station and additional staffing to improve deployment reliability and firefighter safety. SLOFD maintains an ISO Class 2 rating. The analysis identified response deficiencies in the City’s southern growth area, concluding that portions of the area fall outside NFPA 1710 travel-time and ERF benchmarks. The study also identified limited ability to consistently establish OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” compliance during structure fire operations. Since completion of the study, more than 2,000 residential units have been constructed or approved, 5,000 residents added, and annual call volume has increased 19% and the department is only able to meet the four-minute travel-time 60% of the time and eight-minute ERF objectives 44.4% of the time. Why does the department need the positions requested in this application? (3,000 Character limit) (2,881 characters) SLOFD is currently operating below its desired staffing ratio, maintaining approximately 0.9 firefighters per 1,000 residents despite a department goal of 1.1 to 1.3 firefighters per 1,000 residents. Existing personnel are working significant overtime to maintain minimum daily staffing and sustain emergency operations. Unfortunately, current staffing levels no longer meet call volume. SLOFD currently meets its 4-minute travel-time objective approximately 60% of incidents and its 8-minute ERF objective on only 44.4% of incidents. Within the area of the fifth station under construction, average travel times are approximately 6:02 minutes, significantly exceeding NFPA 1710 response objectives and delaying critical fireground operations. Limited staffing and 20% expansion of the city prevents the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710 travel-time and ERF objectives, NFPA 1750 deployment recommendations, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements during structure fire operations. First-arriving crews frequently cannot safely initiate simultaneous rescue, fire attack, ventilation, and rapid intervention functions until automatic aid resources arrive, usually arriving 10-12 minutes after the first arriving unit. This reliance on automatic and mutual aid resources places a significant burden on neighboring jurisdictions. As outside agencies respond into San Luis Obispo, emergency coverage is simultaneously reduced in neighboring communities. The department is also experiencing increasing strain from simultaneous incidents. In 2025, all first-due apparatus were committed to active incidents 424 times, averaging more than once per day without an immediately available first-due company for subsequent emergencies. Because approximately 65% of all calls for service are EMS-related, fire companies are routinely committed to medical incidents, reducing response reliability throughout the system. Page 142 of 357 The requested SAFER positions will finally allow SLOFD to staff the fifth fire station and close a growing coverage gap impacting approximately 20% of the community and more than 5,000 residents. The additional staffing will reduce average travel times in this area from approximately 6:02 minutes to below 4 minutes, significantly improving compliance with NFPA 1710 and improving department-wide response times well above the current 60% compliance rate. Most importantly, these positions will help reduce reliance on automatic and mutual aid partners, and provide safer, faster, and more effective emergency response coverage to a rapidly growing community. The requested SAFER-funded firefighters are critical to restoring safe and effective emergency response coverage within San Luis Obispo. These positions will allow SLOFD to finally align our staffing with community demands created by rapid growth, increasing call volume, and expanding community risk. How will the positions requested in this application be used within the department? (e.g., 4th on engine, open a new station, eliminate browned out stations, reduce overtime)? (3,000 character limit) (1,572 characters) If awarded, the 9 additional firefighters would increase SLOFD’s daily minimum staffing from 14 firefighters to 17 firefighters and allow the department to place a fifth fire station into service to keep up with increasing call volume and rapid residential growth in the southern area of the City. Recommended through the City’s independent Standards of Cover analysis, the fifth station is strategically located in an area where current average travel times are approximately 6:02 minutes, significantly exceeding NFPA 1710 response objectives. The additional staffing will improve emergency response coverage to approximately 20% of the community and more than 5,000 residents while helping reduce pressure on the department’s four existing stations. The department’s annual call volume has also increased 19% over the last five years, rising from 6,180 incidents in 2019 to 7,344 incidents in 2025. Most importantly, the additional firefighters will move SLOFD closer to meeting NFPA 1710 travel-time and Effective Response Force objectives, NFPA 1750 deployment recommendations, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements. Additional staffing will improve the department’s ability to safely initiate rescue, fire attack, ventilation, and rapid intervention functions during structure fires without waiting for outside resources to arrive. Overall, SLOFD will be less dependent on neighboring agencies, reduce strain on the regional emergency response system, improve firefighter safety, and provide faster and more reliable emergency response coverage to the community. Page 143 of 357 What specific services will the requested positions provide to the fire department and community? (3,000 character limit) (2,961 characters) With increasing call volume, rapid residential growth, expanding wildfire risk, and only 4 frontline companies protecting a growing community, staffing a fifth fire station has become critically important for SLOFD. The City’s Standards of Cover analysis evaluated station locations, response performance, staffing levels, and community risk and recommended a fifth fire station to reduce response times, improve response capability, and improve firefighter and resident safety. Nine additional firefighters will join the existing 42 firefighters at SLOFD in protecting the City in all-hazards response, including all out-of-hospital medical emergencies, structure fires, wildland fires, hazardous material releases, technical rescues, structural collapse, active shooters, and all natural or human caused disasters. These additional firefighters will allow the City to open an additional station in the rapidly growing southern area of the City that is currently underserved. Within the fifth station response area, these 9 SAFER positions will cover 20% of the city, provide emergency services to more than 2,000 residential units and approximately 5,000 residents. The firefighters will help SLOFD reduce average travel times by 66% from 6:02 minutes to well below 4-minute responses. Currently, SLOFD operates with 42 operational personnel staffing 4 fire stations and responding to approximately 7,344 calls annually. In a city serving approximately 49,000 residents, more than 22,000 Cal Poly students and staff, and nearly 1.4 million annual visitors, the department is currentl y operating at approximately 0.9 firefighters per 1,000 residents, below the department goal of 1.1 to 1.3 firefighters per 1,000 residents. Nine SAFER firefighters would increase daily staffing by 20% from 14 firefighters to 17 firefighters, improve compliance with NFPA 1710, NFPA 1750, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements, and allow the department to place a critical fifth fire station into service. Without this funding, SLOFD will remain unable to staff the fifth fire station, continue relying heavily on automatic and mutual aid resources, and continue experiencing extended response times within the southern growth area. This SAFER grant would directly improve emergency response coverage, firefighter safety, and deployment reliability while providing faster and more effective emergency response service to the community. Describe how funds awarded through this grant would enhance the department's ability to protect critical infrastructure within the primary response area. (3,000 character limit) (2,572 characters) Page 144 of 357 Additional firefighters will improve emergency response capabilities during structure fires, vegetation fires, traffic collisions, hazardous materials incidents, and medical emergencies throughout the City. Faster staffing of an ERF will improve firefighter safety, reduce reliance on automatic and mutual aid resources, and improve compliance with NFPA 1710, NFPA 1750 deployment recommendations, and OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements. Currently, with only 42 operational personnel staffing 4 fire stations, SLOFD serves approximately 47,000 residents, more than 22,000 Cal Poly students and staff, and nearly 1.4 million annual visitors each year. The department currently operates at approximately 0.9 firefighters per 1,000 residents, below the department’s target staffing ratio of 1.1–1.3 firefighters per 1,000 residents. Without assistance, the City cannot fund the 9 additional positions necessary to place a fifth fire station into service despite already securing the station site and purchasing a new Type I fire engine. SLOFD currently struggles to keep pace with increasing call demand generated by more than 7,300 annual calls for service, and a rapidly growing area of town with average travel times of approximately 6:02 minutes. These 9 SAFER firefighters would increase staffing by 20%, allowing SLOFD to open a fifth fire station, which would significantly improve response capabilities reducing travel times to below 4 minutes 90% of the time, meeting NFPA 1710. Increased staffing and response reduces the department’s reliability on neighboring jurisdictions to accomplish ERF in 8:00 minutes reducing the impact on our allied agencies. With nearly 1000% increase of properties increase of properties, from 38 to over 8,000, in Fire Hazard Severity Zones and the City surrounded by Tier 2 (Elevated) and Tier 3 (Extreme) wildfire threat areas, the 9 SAFER firefighters would allow for faster response to all areas of the City when threatened by a fast-moving wildfire. Additional staffing is also critical to protecting the City’s most vulnerable populations and critical infrastructure, including 22,000 Cal Poly students, public schools, hospitals, assisted living facilities, unhoused population, utility infrastructure, and the 2,800 homes located within the wildland-urban interface. In all emergency scenarios, these 9 SAFER firefighters will make SLOFD operations safer, faster, and more effective for both the community and neighboring jurisdictions that currently support SLOFD operations. Explain how the community and the current firefighters employed by the department are at risk without the positions requested in this application. (3,000 character limit) (2,663 characters) Today, SLOFD struggles to consistently meet NFPA 1710 standards even with the inclusion of automatic aid agencies responding to structure fires within the City. Due to limited staffing, crews often rely on our automatic aid partners from greater distances in order to meet OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements and safely begin critical fireground operations. First-due crews frequently wait several minutes for additional companies to arrive before safely initiating rescue, fire attack, ventilation, and rapid intervention functions. Engine companies responding Page 145 of 357 from outside the City also leave significant coverage gaps within neighboring jurisdictions, increasing strain on the regional response system and impacting public safety regionally. Our lack of staffing also leads to increased response times during simultaneous incidents. In 2025, all first-due apparatus were committed 424 times, averaging more than 1.16 times per day without an immediately available first-due company to respond to additional emergency calls. Because approximately 65% of all calls for service are EMS-related, suppression companies are routinely committed to medical emergencies, reducing response availability across the system. As the City continues to expand, response times continue to increase within the southern growth area where more than 5,000 residents have moved into the service area. Average travel times within this area are currently approximately 6:02 minutes, significantly exceeding NFPA 1710 response objectives. Given the increasing call volume, expanding wildfire risk, longer response times, and limited staffing, our community members are at constant risk of delayed emergency response and reduced firefighter availability during critical incidents. Current staffing levels also prevent the department from consistently meeting NFPA 1710, NFPA 1750, and OSHA 1910 requirements during structure fire operations. Attempting to reach NFPA 1710 response times in an area with documented challenges to do so increases firefighter emotional and physical stress and can add to work related injuries. The results can be increased time out of work and increased overtime and fatigue for remaining staff. Reduced staffing numbers add challenges to achieving compliance with NFPA equipment testing and maintenance standards as well. The 9 requested SAFER firefighters will allow SLOFD to place a fifth fire station into service increasing department capabilities during critical incidents, reduce response times by 66% in the newest area of town, offer faster and safer service to approximately 5,000 residents, and decrease our reliance on automatic aid partners. How will that risk be reduced if awarded? (3,000 character limit) (1,742 characters) By funding these 9 positions, SLOFD will be able to assemble 17 personnel within 8 minutes to a single-family residential structure fire, allowing the department to consistently meet NFPA 1710 objectives. Increased staffing will also allow SLOFD to place a fifth fire station into service, significantly improving response times to approximately 1,500 calls for service annually, or nearly 20% of the department’s projected call volume. Additional staffing will greatly improve firefighter and civilian safety by enhancing the department’s ability to safely perform rescue, fire attack, ventilation, and incident command functions while meeting OSHA 1910 “two-in/two-out” requirements. The additional personnel will also reduce reliance on automatic and mutual aid resources, improving response capabilities throughout the region and reducing strain on neighboring agencies. Additional staffing will improve the overall health and safety of department personnel by reducing physical and emotional stress decreasing fatigue associated with current mandatory Page 146 of 357 overtime, reducing injuries, and creating a safer working environment consistent with NFPA 1500 firefighter health and safety principles. The additional personnel will also help SLOFD to maintain compliance with critical NFPA equipment testing and maintenance standards, including hose testing (NFPA 1962), ladder testing (NFPA 1932), and pump testing (NFPA 1911), ensuring reliable and fully operational equipment during emergency incidents. Overall, the 9 SAFER-funded positions will provide faster and more effective emergency response coverage, improve firefighter and civilian safety, strengthen regional emergency response capability, and better protect a rapidly growing community. Describe the benefits (e.g., quantifying the anticipated savings and/or efficiencies) the department and community will realize if awarded the positions requested in this application. (3,000 character limit) (2,653 characters) SLOFD is seeking $3,600,006.67 to hire 9 additional firefighters, and if awarded the SAFER grant, our community would immediately realize substantial benefits. Perhaps the greatest benefit is that a 9-person SAFER award will increase staffing by 20% and allow the department to staff a fifth fire station and place a new engine company into service in the fastest growing area of the City. Currently, average travel times within the southern growth area are approximately 6:02 minutes, significantly exceeding NFPA 1710 objectives and the department’s adopted response-time goal of 4 minutes, 90% of the time. Staffing a fifth station will reduce travel times by 66% in this area to below 4 minutes and improve response coverage to 20% of the community and more than 5,000 residents. Additionally, the introduction of a fifth fire station will improve service delivery within a rapidly expanding part of the City and offer faster response to 1,500 calls annually, or 20% of our call volume. Over the past five years, call volume has increased 19%, rising from 6,180 incidents in 2019 to 7,344 incidents in 2025. As the community continues to grow, we plan to exceed 10,000 calls annually by 2030, which further justifies the need for additional staffing. Without these 9 SAFER positions, SLOFD will continue to have extended response times in the fastest growing area of town. This grant will also improve firefighter safety and enhance the level of service currently provided to the community. SLOFD currently struggles to consistently meet NFPA 1710 and often relies on automatic aid agencies responding from greater distances in order to meet OSHA 1910 “two- in/two-out” requirements during structure fires. Additional firefighters will allow crews to more quickly establish an Effective Response Force, initiate rescue and fire attack operations sooner, reduce reliance on neighboring agencies, and improve firefighter and civilian safety. Additional staffing will also improve deployment reliability during simultaneous incidents. In 2025, all first-due apparatus were committed 424 times, leaving no immediately available first- due company for additional emergencies. Staffing a fifth station is critical to meeting current and future service demands while improving response reliability throughout the City. Page 147 of 357 This award will provide needed staffing without placing a significant burden on local taxpayers. The total projected cost of $3,600,006.67 equates to approximately $24.24 per resident per year over the performance period, representing a highly cost-effective investment in firefighter safety, emergency response capability, and resident safety. Additional information If you have any additional information you would like to include about the department and/or this application in general, please provide below. The San Luis Obispo Fire Department, our automatic aid partners and our citizens offer sincere thank you to DHS, FEMA, and SAFER for the opportunity to apply for relief to resolve our critical staffing needs. We would also like to thank the reviewers for donating their time and efforts. Please provide a brief description on how the positions will be sustained. (975 characters) The City is committed to sustaining the 11 SAFER positions beyond the grant period. These positions are a vital part of our long-term deployment strategy and are required to place the newest fire station into service. The need for additional staffing has been validated through the City’s Standards of Cover analysis. In response, the City is currently building a new fire station through a development agreement and has already purchased new Type I fire engine, demonstrating its long-term commitment to this project. While current budget constraints limit the City’s ability to hire these firefighters today, long- range financial forecasts project improved fiscal stability by FY 2028-29. Continued residential and commercial growth is expected to generate additional recurring revenues that will support these positions. The City fully intends to retain these positions and continue operation of the 5th fire station as a permanent component of our emergency response system. Page 148 of 357 Page 149 of 357 Page 150 of 357