Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA): These alerts are sent by authorized government agencies such as the National Weather Service, FEMA, and local police and fire departments to WEA-capable phones via your provider. Using these methods must meet codes. Zone 2 allows for some taller trees and bushes, trimmed to minimize risks from flames and flying embers. This includes swaths of the Oakland and Berkeley hills. What should I know about wildfire safety? PVr{`u5Gy{FL)|P^I'&7Xn{ L58QS'1a_V"wiev{Twg)/5B^z5Y~Q{T?ss=y0Q-8F1UGuGx Local neighborhood Community Emergency Response Teams and other volunteer organizations aim for faster-paced action at the neighborhood level, often competing for the same pots of funding as other groups. Nearly 6,000 of the 8,600 parcels have already passed inspection. Whats being done to reduce the risk of wildfires in Berkeley? If you live in Fire Zone 2 or 3 (the Berkeley hills) ,the Berkeley Fire Department recommends that you leave during Extreme Fire Weather, before a fire starts. Leaving early gives you the most control over how you will get down the hill and what you can bring. Were in the same boat as Waze and Google, Crocker said. How at-risk is the urban East Bay to wildland fire? Wetting down decks, siding, roofs, etc. The information contained on this site is the opinion of G. Blair Lamb MD, FCFP and should not be used as personal medical advice. Talk to friends and family who you might be able to stay with, or consider putting aside money to stay in a hotel. Free for all, funded by readers. Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. Local agencies can also create stricter regulations than state authorities. How do distant fires cause pollution in the Bay Area? Text DRC and your zip code to see a list of disaster recovery centers near you. %%EOF Dont plant water hogs. Wood such as siding, shingles, roofs or decks are kindling to embers and fuel for flames. This includes Northern California wildfires in Napa, Sonoma, Butte, Yolo, Lake, Colusa, Plumas and Yuba counties, as well as the 1991 Oakland firestorm, also called the Tunnel Fire. The hope, he said, is that the message doesnt change as it goes from person to person. The more you clear space in high-risk fire zones, the better your chances of slowing a fire. Businesses are located in zones, as well. If you are requesting a AB38 inspection please contact LAFD.AB38Inspection@lacity.org For further assistance, please contact the LAFDs Brush Clearance Unit: lafdbrush@lacity.org or at (800) 994-4444. It refers to a buffer zone of landscaping around a structure to give it the best shot at not catching fire. An evacuation zone is a portion of the community that has been sliced out to most effectively call for and manage evacuation, Crocker said. City Map - 2008. Zones almost always stay constant unless there is a significant change such as new development buildings or roadways. Yet this narrow range of weather conditions is when the most destructive fires happen. The East Bay Municipal Water District has installed back-up generators at its wastewater facilities and rented additional generators for pumping facilities to ensure operations during planned or sudden power outages in fire season. Information overload can be an issue as you plan for emergencies. To access: Sign up for warnings on the AC Alert website or by downloading the Everbridge app. If your insurance company didnt give you a 75-day notice before cancellation, or if you dont understand why you were dropped, contact the California Department of Insurance at 800-927-HELP. The utility is under intense legal and public pressure to improve the condition and maintenance of its infrastructure, having been charged with several serious fire-related safety violations, including being convicted of starting the deadly 2018 Camp Fire in Butte County which killed 84 people. Berkeley residents must change how we prepare and respond. They cite large Eucalyptus groves, aging Monterey Pine, and hillsides thick with dry, flammable brush in Tilden Park, smack against residential neighborhoods. Explore city services, report issues online, pay parking tickets, Explore news and events, adopt a pet, visit acity park or pool, Get vaccinatedfor COVID-19,report a crime,access homeless services, Apply for a permit,schedule an inspection, research zoningpolicies, Apply for a business license,get business assistance,find bid & proposal opportunities, Attend a City Councilor commissionmeeting, apply for jobs,look up City holidays, Research properties for conditions, history, or zoning information. All of these areas, called the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), are in the states very high fire hazard severity zones. If you havent yet heard of the wildfire plan, thats because work just kicked off in May. EBRPD closes many parks on Red Flag days. Download our step-by-step guideto creating your household fire weather plan. What do wildfires have to do with air pollution? How can I find out if there is a power outage scheduled for my area? The biggest wildfire risk to Berkeley, he noted, comes during extreme fire weather, when conditions are extremely windy or extremely dry. If you do not agree with these terms and conditions, please disconnect immediately from this website. Many residents of East Bay high risk fire zones say not enough is being done to help reduce dangers. Am I legally required to evacuate? Your insurance broker should be able to help with this. You can enter your zip code or zoom in on the map. The guide first published on July 29, 2021, and last updated on June 7, 2022 was written by Kate Darby Rauch and Brian Krans, edited by Zac Farber and Jacob Simas, designed by Doug Ng and illustrated by T.L. In the event of a fire, we will send evacuation notifications overAC Alert. Her work as a journalist has encompassed everything from 10 years as a daily news reporter for the East Bay Times, The utility says its also making its wire system safer in high risk fire zones, including in the Berkeley Hills by putting in stronger utility poles, covering power lines and installing wires underground in targeted areas. To access: Sign up for Nixle alerts online. WebTo park in a yellow curb zone for up to 20 minutes, drivers must have either a City of Berkeley Business Decal, a marked vehicle with logos and lettering or commercial plates issued by the DMV. Clearing brush and trees 10 feet back from roadways and ensuring fire access roads are not obstructed. If those things go down, there are things that dont work anymore. First responders use the program to guide decision-making around if, when, and where to order evacuations or evacuation warnings. Changes are immediately made available on the community Aware site, Crocker said. For many emergency planners, this is exciting, with the roll-out of products like real-time evacuation software and solar-powered warning sirens with voice capacity. How can I reduce the impact of wildfire smoke inside of my home? Once again, the recommendation is creating or maintaining a defensible space. Protect yourself and your family. Sealing openings in your garage with weather stripping or wire mesh to prevent embers from entering. California and the rest of the Western United States are seeing an increase in serious wildfires, which many experts link to climate change. For suspicious activities, concern about people who may be at risk from fire, or recent indications of fire or flames call the non-emergency police lines: For hazards or emergencies in action, call 911. Single evacuation view is needed across multiple counties. Incident level information needed, not jurisdictional level. For renters, most of the same advice on wildfire preparation applies to you, such as preparing a go bag, signing up for emergency alerts, and having an evacuation plan. What is a go bag and how do I make one? DAVID GOINES: Remembering an iconic printmaker | CULTURE WAR: Hopkins bike lane | SNOW! The hazard is ranked in three categories: moderate, high and very high. WebA map showing CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) within the city of Berkeley as well as the designated planning : Photos + videos | WE'RE HIRING. Fire Zone Map C.A.R. Pinto also described how the city has expanded its hillside inspections by 7,200 parcels this year. Why should I preemptively relocate during Extreme Fire Weather and Diablo winds? As a rule, landscape with drought-tolerant, fire-resistant plants. City Map - 2013. Free for all, funded by readers. Donate to Berkeleysideand support independent local journalism. Making property more fire-resistant can minimize this effect. What do I need to know? The Berkeley Wildfire Guide is a collaboration between Berkeleyside and The Oaklandside. He spent seven of those years at Station 7 in the Berkeley Hills. As soon as the program is live, you can enter your address, Sign up for Alameda County emergency alerts, or, Repopulation takes longer than evacuations (five days to evacuate, several months to recover). Our multi-year drought is drying out our plants and vegetation. Technology is rapidly expanding the capacity of wildfire preparedness, prevention and prediction. The safest place for you to be on a day like that is out of the hills.. For details: The Diablo Firesafe Council, a nonprofit serving Alameda and Contra Costa counties, offers matching grants of up to $5,000 for vegetation clearance in residential areas of the East Bay hills and in high-risk fire zones. Removing shrubs or brush from under trees. City Map - 2012. Register on the AC Alert website or download the Everbridge App to receive emergency alerts via text, email, phone call and push alert. Berkeleys fuel chipper program kicks off today, June 6, and runs through Sept. 23. WebIn 2007, CAL FIRE classified areas within its state firefighting responsibility area (SRA) as belonging to one of several fire hazard severity classifications: moderate fire severity hazard (yellow on map), high fire severity hazard (orange), very high fire severity hazard (red), and unzoned (gray). Ive had COVID-19. Terms and conditions for the use of this DrLamb.com web site are found via the LEGAL link on the homepage of this site. Save the water for the firefighters.). How should I prepare to evacuate my pets? And as long as a computer has battery power, some Zonehaven maps can still be used in static mode. For more details on Berkeleys wildland-urban interface property inspections, read a mailer from Fire Chief Abe Roman, check Berkeley Fires wildland fire information page, call the department at 510-981-3473, or email fire@cityofberkeley.info. How can I find out if there is a power outage scheduled for my area? Details Basemap Measure Hillside Fire Zones Map Location of Hillside Fire Zones in the City of Berkeley Web Map by mcotterill_berkeley Last Modified: February What if I want to protect my home? To access:Memorize your Zonehaven evacuation zone number and bookmark the map. It really does seem like fire season is upon us.. It helps us build and maintain our evacuation plans., A. Concerns over wildfire are etched in the history of the East Bay hills. Bigger roads will have more space during an evacuation. Berkeley Fire Chief Abe Roman told attendees that the biggest development for the department this year has been due to Measure FF, an $8.5-million-per-year emergency services parcel tax passed by voters in 2020. Californias wildfire season typically occurs between spring and late fall due to the warmer temperatures and drier conditions of summer. These funds are being tapped to pay for the citys new voice-capable emergency sirens, slated for installation around the end of the year. Most phones made after 2012 are WEA-capable, but confirm your phones capability with your wireless phone provider. Consider including living expense coverage to cover the time it takes for rebuilding. Under local enforcement, yards are usually inspected in the spring, at the start of fire season, with compliance required by early summer. Its well known, for example, that summer lightning storms over the Sierra Nevada start fires. The WEA system is a partnership of FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission. Read more about Zonehaven in past Berkeleyside coverage. Are we going to fight this or evacuate?. Area Map - Google Maps. 0000522594 00000 n Removing ladder fuels that let fire climb from the ground to trees. Nonprofit news. Intense radiant heat can cause combustible materials to burst into flames. You can receive alerts for up to five locations nationwide, which is good for travel planning or helping you keep tabs on loved ones. Want to know more about Firewise? Learn more about Berkeleys green building requirements. Berkeley requires that buildings in certain hillside zones use materials and construction methods that will make them resistant to wildfire. The requirements apply to fire zones 2 and 3. Look up which fire zone your property is by searching for your address in the parcel conditions map. The following counties have or will soon have contracts with Zonehaven, Crocker said: Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, Santa Cruz, Santa Clara, San Mateo, Contra Costa, and parts of San Francisco (the Presidio). And seven of the states 20 most deadly fires have occurred in the past five years. xref Officials will use the terms below to communicate current risk levels. Ive had COVID-19. A. Crocker described the two programs as intimately connected.. 0000598246 00000 n Smoking is illegal in city, regional and state parks, whether tobacco or cannabis, as are any drugs that involve matches or flames. The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board is an important resource for tenants and landlords. City officials said the evolving fire threat demands a different type of response. Seek reassurance and/or proof that fire codes are met, including the availability of fire extinguishers and smoke detectors, and that all window bars can be. How can seniors and people with disabilities prepare for wildfires? From a DWA, call 911 (510-642-3333 via cell) for assistance. This years extreme drought, likely worsened by climate change, is a major contributing factor to heightened fire danger. And remember to remove all dead and dying vegetation. To help visualize defensible space, imagine embers carried through the air by the heat of fire and winds. Perhaps more importantly, they also get access to funding and cost-sharing programs, insurance discounts with certain insurance carriers, as well as possibly keeping your home insurance from being canceled or not renewed, Revilla explained. But most emergency planners feel strongly that you should do all you can to make your property more defensible, even with the unknown. More details are available on the councils website or by calling 510-282-1265. The FEMA app also sends out safety tips, shelter locations and more. 0000445547 00000 n The program is also being used in other parts of the state as well as in Oregon. Zone 1 standards call for smaller, thinner and lower vegetation to prevent sparks from flying to your house. The firestorms combined loss of life, injuries and economic loss what would be more than $4.4 billion today made it one of the worst fires in American history. Original post, June 1: If Berkeley police and fire get their way, city residents will soon have another number etched in their memory cells, along with phone, address and date of birth. 0000523586 00000 n Thousands of homes were destroyed in recent California fires, with many people discovering they didnt have enough coverage. Non-emergency or advisory alerts such as Red Flag Warnings or traffic incidents or are sent out only by email, social media and push alerts through the Everbridge app.). For driving routes, focus on main roads that connect with major streets and highways. Removing lower tree branches at least 10 feet from the ground. The research also found three major fires that started during the more common west winds, which blow east from the Pacific Ocean. All of these activities are seriously concerning in fire season even more so on Red Flag days. It is not an effective way to prevent ignition. During a Red Flag Warning, keep your phone on and with you at all times, avoid any activities that could cause a spark, and be prepared to rapidly evacuate if necessary. Free for all, funded by readers. The headache of finding adequate coverage is hard on most people affected. What does it mean to harden my home against fire? They cite the expense of fire-proofing a house or keeping a yard cleared. The first decisions they must make, he said, are what areas can be fought, potentially saving property and lives, and what areas should be immediately evacuated, to save lives. Your address in the event of a fire, we will send evacuation notifications overAC Alert,... 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