With the East San Francisco Bay Area in California facing escalating threats from wildfires, earthquakes, and other emergencies, Hayward, CA, firefighter-paramedic Nicolas Stevens saw the need for area first responders to have sufficient air support to tackle the increasing challenges.
So, the Center for Homeland Defense and Security Emergence Program alum (Cohort 2401) who also serves as a CH-47F helicopter pilot for the California Army National Guard set about finding a solution. The result was his Emergence change initiative entitled “Air Support: A Strategic Advantage,” which calls for the formation of a 24/7 interagency air support unit through a joint powers agreement among East Bay fire agencies to help “bridge a response gap for wildfire and disaster response in the East Bay.”
Stevens, a seven-year U.S. Marine veteran bomb tech, said his change initiative research showed there was a “significant need for more aviation resources in the area,” especially when comparing his home Alameda County to similar agencies in Southern California including Los Angeles, Orange County, and San Diego, who all have organic aviation assets. His proposal for a regional air support unit is based on what he found were “successful Southern California models” and would focus on “providing critical response capabilities for firefighting, rescue, medevac, command and control, and logistics” in a way that would “bolster initial attack efficacy, lower disaster risks, and speed up recovery” while sharing the cost among several agencies.
“Strategic partnerships will enable sustainable funding, staffing, and program growth, safeguarding public safety and regional resilience“
– Nicolas Stevens
“Strategic partnerships will enable sustainable funding, staffing, and program growth, safeguarding public safety and regional resilience,” Stevens wrote in his executive summary, noting that his cost projections showed that his agency—the Hayward Fire Department—could participate in the JPA for about $1.2 million per year, or about 2 percent of its overall $60 million annual budget, based on participation by between 5–7 agencies. “So it’s not a significant impact to the budgets if you get a bunch of agencies to participate.”
Stevens said his research indicates that local air assets could respond much faster than those currently available, reducing critical response times. “Not having that puts us at a significant disadvantage,” he said. He noted that the region greatly values and appreciates CALFIRE’s aviation support, which has been instrumental in responding to wildfires and other emergencies. Through mutual aid, these resources have provided critical assistance when needed. However, he added that because CAL FIRE’s aircraft are typically staged at a distance, response times can sometimes be extended. By adding local aviation assets, he said, the region could improve its ability to respond more quickly to emergencies, enhancing preparedness and resilience while continuing to benefit from CALFIRE’s support.
According to Stevens, his agency leadership responded positively to his proposal and he is now looking for an opportunity to present it to regional fire chiefs. His immediate goal is to get the go-ahead to create a working group of regional agencies to work out further details.
He said his CHDS educational experience helped him immensely in providing him the time and motivation to pursue his change initiative, as well as the feedback from Emergence Program Director Cynthia Renaud that helped him focus on the root causes undergirding his proposal. He said the opportunity to network with fellow Emergence participants including emergency managers from across the nation who offered him different perspectives on homeland security helped immensely with his change initiative research including the root cause analysis.
Encouraged by his fellow CHDS alum and Hayward Fire Deputy Chief Ryan Hamre (Master’s Program cohort 2301/2302) to apply to CHDS, Stevens said feedback from his professional peers was also very helpful.
In addition to creating the working group, Stevens said immediate goals include the formation of the JPA, and formalizing governance, roles, and funding; program development, including definition of structure, securing funding, and staffing the unit; equipment specification and procurement of suitable multi-mission aircraft and equipment; comprehensive foundational training to prepare personnel; and, ongoing program development to ensure continuous evaluation, training, and adaptation.
Long term, Stevens said his vision for the proposed regional air unit “extends beyond immediate response, aiming for a cohesive regional air strategy.”
Future enhancements, he said, include integrated UAS operations, predesignated air routes, and coordinated landing zones, which “will streamline air support across agencies during emergency response,” as well as regular regional disaster drills that will “further strengthen multi-agency readiness, ensuring rapid, unified responses to major events.”
