Welcome

There are 72 communities and 18 tribal groups at risk from wildfire in San Diego County.  Thousands of trees have died as a result of continuous drought and bark beetle infestation.  The 2003 and 2007 wildfires resulted in furthering the threat to the forested neighborhoods by leaving lifeless trees in hazardous situations.  The amount of dead trees and chaparral in the forested areas of San Diego County continue to present a major threat to public safety.

The Forest Area Safety Taskforce (FAST) was formed in the fall of 2002, and formalized in the spring of 2003, to address life and property safety concerns related to declining forest health and the increasing number of dead, dying and diseased trees and brush in San Diego County.  Formed as a collaborative effort, FAST is made up of various government agencies, tribal groups, as well as local, state and federal elected officials, community organizations and private citizens.  The priority of this joint venture is to remove the dead, dying and diseased trees in and around evacuation corridors and communities at risk in the forested areas of San Diego County.

FAST is an advisory body that helps to direct where money is spent in the best manner to protect the communities of San Diego County.  FAST is divided into five committees: Evacuation and Community Protection, Outreach and Public Education, Forest Health and Restoration, Vegetation Management and Fuels Reduction, and Legislative Outreach.  FAST will continue to work toward mitigating the threat to the life and property of the citizens of San Diego County while fostering forest health.