Meeting set after fire
Author: Monica Rodriguez , Staff Writer
POMONA - To some people, the leadership of Diamond Ranch High School and Pomona Unified School District acted appropriately when a brush fire broke out near the campus this week.
Other people though, think the leadership could have acted differently.
District officials have heard the praise and criticism and have scheduled a meeting with parents to listen to suggestions that could become part of the school and the district's emergency plans, interim Superintendent Richard Martinez said.
The parent meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Diamond Ranch High School, said Fernando Meza, interim administrative director of pupil and community service.
Students were never in danger during the fire and they gathered patiently in the school's gym waiting for directions from school and fire officials, district officials said.
The brush fire broke out in what fire officials said were eight possible locations between Diamond Bar and Ontario.
Although the fire is under investigation, authorities think it may have been sparked by a pickup with multiple mechanical problems that was driving on the 60 Freeway.
Martinez said the high school and his office received many suggestions from parents and students on improving operations in an emergency, including some related to campus access and students' release.
"There have been a lot of good suggestions and good recommendations," he said.
As the district reviews its emergency plans for the school and the district, it may be possible to incorporate some of those ideas, he said.
Arrangements are being made so that representatives from agencies - including the Pomona Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department - also participate in the meeting, he said.
Martinez has also asked district staff to research the matter of access to the Diamond Ranch campus.
Diamond Ranch High has one access point, a long road that connects the campus to Diamond Ranch Road.
Martinez said staff will research the feasibility and costs of carrying out any of the following:
• Expanding the current road leading from the street to the campus.
• Adding another route to the campus.
• Accessing a fire road that runs behind the campus.
The fire road traverses pieces of land owned by various entities and that could be a stumbling block to gaining access to it, Martinez said.
On Wednesday, district disaster preparedness coordinator George Hunter provided board members an overview of operations during an emergency, including how school administrators serve as the initial incident commanders at their campuses but turn over those responsibilities to fire or law enforcement agencies when they arrive.
During Tuesday's brush fire, district personnel established a separate incident command center at the district offices that focused on carrying out the school's evacuation had it become necessary, Hunter said.
Other people though, think the leadership could have acted differently.
District officials have heard the praise and criticism and have scheduled a meeting with parents to listen to suggestions that could become part of the school and the district's emergency plans, interim Superintendent Richard Martinez said.
The parent meeting is planned for 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Diamond Ranch High School, said Fernando Meza, interim administrative director of pupil and community service.
Students were never in danger during the fire and they gathered patiently in the school's gym waiting for directions from school and fire officials, district officials said.
The brush fire broke out in what fire officials said were eight possible locations between Diamond Bar and Ontario.
Although the fire is under investigation, authorities think it may have been sparked by a pickup with multiple mechanical problems that was driving on the 60 Freeway.
Martinez said the high school and his office received many suggestions from parents and students on improving operations in an emergency, including some related to campus access and students' release.
"There have been a lot of good suggestions and good recommendations," he said.
As the district reviews its emergency plans for the school and the district, it may be possible to incorporate some of those ideas, he said.
Arrangements are being made so that representatives from agencies - including the Pomona Police Department, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department - also participate in the meeting, he said.
Martinez has also asked district staff to research the matter of access to the Diamond Ranch campus.
Diamond Ranch High has one access point, a long road that connects the campus to Diamond Ranch Road.
Martinez said staff will research the feasibility and costs of carrying out any of the following:
• Expanding the current road leading from the street to the campus.
• Adding another route to the campus.
• Accessing a fire road that runs behind the campus.
The fire road traverses pieces of land owned by various entities and that could be a stumbling block to gaining access to it, Martinez said.
On Wednesday, district disaster preparedness coordinator George Hunter provided board members an overview of operations during an emergency, including how school administrators serve as the initial incident commanders at their campuses but turn over those responsibilities to fire or law enforcement agencies when they arrive.
During Tuesday's brush fire, district personnel established a separate incident command center at the district offices that focused on carrying out the school's evacuation had it become necessary, Hunter said.
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