Authorizing the Joint Committees on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation to hold hearings to examine the interdepartmental protocol, administered by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Office of Emergency Management, for urban-fire management in public parks and park adjacent neighborhoods, considering the recent unprecedented droughts and wildfires across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Authorizing the Joint Committees on Public Safety and Parks and Recreation to hold hearings to examine the interdepartmental protocol, administered by Philadelphia Parks and Recreation, the Philadelphia Fire Department, and the Office of Emergency Management, for urban-fire management in public parks and park adjacent neighborhoods, considering the recent unprecedented droughts and wildfires across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, An interdepartmental protocol is required to ensure that the city is prepared to respond to an event such as a wide-spread park fire that could impact surrounding neighborhoods, infrastructure, and wildlife. The Philadelphia Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, and the Office of Emergency Management must work in tandem to develop a definitive and specific plan to mitigate an event of this nature; and WHEREAS, For over a month, Philadelphia has experienced its most severe drought since 1874, with 42 consecutive days without rain. 2024 has been the driest year on record in Philadelphia, breaking the 130-year-old precedent. Pennsylvania’s Drought Task Force has declared a severe drought watch for 33 counties, including Philadelphia, and is asking people to voluntarily conserve water; and WHEREAS, The imminent threat of climate change is becoming more apparent in recent years. With over 6 active wildfires in Pennsylvania, and more across the tri-state area, we are witnessing what could be the future of our climate in real time. Thus, our Cit…