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This paper will outline how 15 government agencies in California worked together using GIS to plan for, develop mitigation plans and respond to the catastrophic fires in Southern California in the fall of 2003. The focus of the presentation will detail how several different agencies and the private sector created a shared GIS data base to collaborate on how to provide protection, prevention and response to a pending wildfire catastrophe. Examples of how innovative uses of GIS and mobile GIS were used to assist first responders will be highlighted. This project resulted in creating a common vision of the problem, identification of priority problems that required shared resources and cooperative efforts. GIS was used throughout the incident to planning, support public information and provide the framework for high level briefings including the President Bush. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]