Wooden furniture, BBQ grills, propane tanks and garbage and recycling bins should not be stored near your homes exterior. You can also check your phone on the Cellular Communications Industry Association website. This can include surprise inspections. Clearing under and around your decks to create an ember-resistant area of dirt, stones, slate, pebbles or cement. The rest of the city is subject to less-restrictive ADU regulations that were approved last As risks for wildfire increase, so too does legislation to address the consequences. Talk to neighbors in the same fire risk zone. The research also found three major fires that started during the more common west winds, which blow east from the Pacific Ocean. Are we going to fight this or evacuate?. Much is in the works. Wildfire threat is closely tied to weather conditions. The image illustrating defensible space in the property section of this guide is adapted from the Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide (publication #SP-20-11) with permission from University of Nevada, Reno Extension and the Living With Fire Program. Thats always been how weve done it; its not the best, May said. Taking responsibility for emergency preparedness differs based on the type of emergency, of course, but includes protecting your property by creating defensible space in areas of wildfire risk; reaching out in advance to neighbors who may need assistance in an evacuation to make sure they have a plan; signing up for alerts, and preemptively leaving your house and relocating in high-risk conditions such as red flag fire warnings. (We asked for the countywide cost and havent received this information yet.). Credit: City of Berkeley. Clearing brush and trees 10 feet back from roadways and ensuring fire access roads are not obstructed. 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). How can seniors and people with disabilities prepare for wildfires? Note: This feature currently directs users to the map of emergency shelters on the Red Cross website and the map of disaster recovery centers on the FEMA website. If you havent yet heard of the wildfire plan, thats because work just kicked off in May. Larger buildings may require sprinkler systems and alarm systems. Officials will use the terms below to communicate current risk levels. Councilmember Wengraf told Berkeleyside that she hopes one day to see all of District 6 in the program. Do defensible space regulations apply to my property? Make a plan with your household ahead of time for what you will do during fire weather. Law enforcement has the legal authority to order an evacuation, but during emergencies they usually work hand-in-hand with fire departments and offices of emergency services. A new evacuation software system called Zonehaven is scheduled to go live on June 15. Text shelter and your zipcode to receive a list of emergency shelters near you. Parcel Conditions - to view zoning, historic, seismic, fire zone, and other parcel information. Berkeley residents must change how we prepare and respond. We have to take ownership ourselves of that risk. But does this even help and, more importantly, is this water use OK during a drought? The fear is that fires starting in dry open space will spread quickly over the urban interface into densely populated areas with woodsy yards, homes and other structures. Am I legally required to evacuate? : Photos + videos | WE'RE HIRING. 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. What should I do if I get trapped during a fire? 0000598246 00000 n The horrific wildfires of Northern California brought attention to how renters can be impacted, including losing all their belongings in a blaze and then experiencing homelessness. What help is available if I cant afford the high costs of fire prevention? What is a go bag and how do I make one? Ask if wildfire prevention requirements are being met. These zones are Having several garden hoses in place that are long enough to reach all areas of your yard, to help with spot fires or embers on the ground. Removing shrubs or brush from under trees. Fires can ignite and spread under normal conditions. City Map - 2012. Pinto retired from BFD in 2011 after 31 years of service to the city. The biggest wildfire risk to Berkeley, he noted, comes during extreme fire weather, when conditions are extremely windy or extremely dry. Local jurisdictions including Berkeley base their own regulations on the CalFire model. Yet this narrow range of weather conditions is when the most destructive fires happen. Fire officials reminded meeting attendees about the citys fire fuel chipper and debris bin programs, designed to help community members dispose of plant materials. 0000445547 00000 n In July, BFD is going digital with its property inspections, resulting in online inspection reports once new software is up and For many property owners in high-risk fire areas, homeowners insurance is becoming a nightmare. We anticipate our compliance rate will drop.. How can I monitor air quality in my neighborhood? A. Your landlord or the property owner is responsible for making sure the building meets building codes, including fire codes and for defensible space requirements related to yard maintenance. If you live inFire Zone 2 or 3 (the Berkeley hills),the Berkeley Fire Department recommends that you leave during Extreme Fire Weather, before a fire starts. They cite large Eucalyptus groves, aging Monterey Pine, and hillsides thick with dry, flammable brush in Tilden Park, smack against residential neighborhoods. What will Zonehaven add that the city of Berkeley doesnt currently have to help with evacuations? The 1991 Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire, as well as most of Californias recent firestorms, ignited when conditions were within Berkeleys Extreme Fire Weather thresholds. During an emergency, relevant additional data is fed into the map, showing risks over zones, such as the incident location, wind speeds and directions. In 2021, the park district received a California Coastal Conservancy Wildfire Resilience grant for removal of Eucalyptus groves near the Tilden Nature Area, and at the far north end of Wildcat Canyon. The National Weather Service also has a fire weather page with professional forecasting maps, weather warnings by state, drought maps and information on WEA-alerts and weather radios. 0000001157 00000 n Every resident of Berkeley and Alameda County is being asked to memorize the number of their evacuation zone. Be ready to leave the hills when the Berkeley Fire Department proclaimsExtreme Fire Weatherdue to forecasted low humidity and high winds. Some local hotels offer special rates to residents during fire season. Deep dive research conducted in 2001 by the Hills Wildfire Working Group, a multiagency group formed in response to the Oakland firestorm, found that between 1923 and 1998, at least 10 major fires erupted in densely populated areas of the East Bay hills, claiming homes and lives. Pinto also described how the city has expanded its hillside inspections by 7,200 parcels this year. Check Permit Status. In fact, 18 of the 20 most destructive wildfires have occurred since the year 2000.. Who will be there to help during and after a wildfire? More by Emilie Raguso. Evac is a program for first responders and emergency planners and billed as an evacuation management tool. Several Berkeley hotels have offered discounts on Red Flag days, targeting people relocating from high risk fire zones. In 2020, Berkeley had 25 days of Red Flag Warnings and only 2 days of Extreme Fire Weather. Technology is rapidly expanding the capacity of wildfire preparedness, prevention and prediction. 0 We love the Bay Area. Click on the map above to see the interactive version. For evacuation orders, evacuation warnings, and Extreme Fire Weather, we send AC Alert notifications over phone, text message, and email. A. Sign up for emergency notifications. We all have to adapt to this new normal.. 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. Once you reach the Property Summary page for a subject property, click on either: Connect with us online, by phone, or in person. Text prepare to this number to subscribe to messages. What is a go bag and how do I make one? 0000182011 00000 n Leaving early gives you the most control over how you will get down the hill and what you can bring. What do wildfires have to do with air pollution? The Alameda County contract with Zonehaven is funded through a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). Call BFD at 510-981-5589 or email fire@cityofberkeley.info. Nonprofit news. In larger apartment buildings, fire inspections are conducted routinely and results must be posted on a public interior wall. 0000523424 00000 n 0000523586 00000 n But it does not eliminate risk entirely. Update your inventory of belongings and valuables, taking photos and videos inside your home. 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. See a list of Berkeley fire code violations for which you can be cited, University of California Cooperative Extension, Read the University of California Cooperative Extensions home hardening guide, Berkeleys vegetation management requirements, See if you live in Berkeleys hillside fire zones, Use the California Department of Insurances Home Insurance Finder, Use the Insurance Match-Up Finder from United Policyholders, a nonprofit consumer assistance organization, Look for insurance through the California Fair Plan, California Insurance Commissioners wildfire resources, United Policyholders disaster recovery help site, The Insurance Information Institutes guide to wildfire insurance and recovery resources, a version of the guide tailored for Oakland residents, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network, Alameda County Office of Emergency Services, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. 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. Assessing wildland fire risk is an educated guess. I rent. Q. The headache of finding adequate coverage is hard on most people affected. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, a partnership of national agencies that includes the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Bay Area is experiencing an exceptional drought this summer, the worst level. Concerns over wildfire are etched in the history of the East Bay hills. The user-friendly interactive reports will have customized checklists and other resources for residents, Pinto said. This is different from many surrounding communities outside of the fog belt, which face months-long continual extreme fire danger. : Photos + videos | WE'RE HIRING. Please save the water for firefighters. It really does seem like fire season is upon us.. Simons. (Do not leave your water running if you evacuate. For Red Flag Warnings, we send notifications via email and text message. On Wednesday, Cal Fire announced awards of nearly $118 million to fund 144 local wildfire prevention projects across the state. <<105bccc2147a294ab837fa88ff5aed6f>]>> The Lamb Clinic provides a comprehensive assessment and customized treatment plan for all new patients utilizing both interventional and non-interventional treatment methods. To help visualize defensible space, imagine embers carried through the air by the heat of fire and winds. 4 21 Youll receive WEA alerts even if youre on or using your phone, since theyre broadcast on a special channel. Flying embers and intense radiant heat pose the greatest dangers to buildings during wildfires. 0000521950 00000 n Make a household fire weather plan. The Berkeley Fire Department has proudly served the Berkeley community since 1904 and continues to build a strong bond with the people we serve. The department aims to be recognized as a leader that responds effectively with well-trained and compassionate professionals. Finally, Chin provided a brief update on Berkeleys new outdoor siren warning system, which is expected to launch with five pilot sites this summer. Never let your coverage lapse because it opens a window when many companies cancel or refuse to renew. Register on the AC Alert website or download the Everbridge App to receive emergency alerts via text, email, phone call and push alert. Keeping a small supply of tools handy to help put out small fires, including a fire extinguisher, shovel and rake. A software program that uses an algorithm incorporating various factors or inputs affecting disasters or emergency events to produce a digital evacuation map or real-time guide based on pre-set community zones. Should I use sprinklers or hose down my yard or deck during a fire? Consider purchasing a copy for your go-bag and highlighting potential routes in advance. What if Im unhoused or know people who are in my area? Download our step-by-step guideto creating your household fire weather plan. (No!). Wind speed, wind direction and relative humidity determine a vegetation fires behavior. In an emergency, listen for your zone number on the radio (1610 AM in Berkeley), look for it on Twitter and Facebook and use Zonehavens real-time evacuation map to see where to go. More by Kate Darby Rauch. The Lamb Clinic understands and treats the underlying causes as well as the indications and symptoms. All rights reserved. The image illustrating defensible space in the property section of this guide is adapted from the Wildfire Home Retrofit Guide (publication #SP-20-11) with permission from University of Nevada, Reno Extension and the Living With Fire Program. 0000001197 00000 n For driving routes, focus on main roads that connect with major streets and highways. Federal Emergency Management Administration (app, text): FEMA sends real-time extreme weather alerts from the National Weather Service via app or text message. Chin repeatedly emphasized that hillside residents must not wait until wildfire strikes to take action. In an emergency, you can also monitor KQED 88.5 FM or KCBS 740 AM for updates. Participants of the program get national recognition for their work, he said. They also might not. This includes swaths of the Oakland and Berkeley hills. Consider including living expense coverage to cover the time it takes for rebuilding. Smoking is illegal in city, regional and state parks, whether tobacco or cannabis, as are any drugs that involve matches or flames. Berkeleys hillside fire zones are made up of two zones, called 2 and 3. Credit: City of Berkeley. Resources. As a result, the department has launched a new Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) division and expanded property inspections to all of the homes in Berkeleys high fire zones. Businesses are located in zones, as well. Some also regularly hose down their wood decks and fences. The citys map shows each address fire risk zone. That fire destroyed 580 homes with an unknown number of deaths. Wetting down decks, siding, roofs, etc. Make sure all of your valuables are covered for replacement, such as antiques and artwork. Fires that spread under Extreme Fire Weather conditions can quickly become catastrophic. Why should I preemptively relocate during Extreme Fire Weather and Diablo winds? How can I volunteer to help with others wildfire needs? Receive periodic safety tips on numerous disasters by texting the type of event (blackout, earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado) to 43362. #CaliforniaWildfires pic.twitter.com/3wzkjPFvtE. We wanted to go live by this fire season. This includes active or recent signs of campfire, candles, stoves and lamps. All Berkeley residents, indeed, all Alameda County residents, will live in a zone identified by a number. Even if you mow, weed and trim bushes on your own, most people need to hire out for heavy work, such as removing or trimming trees. Look up your evacuation zone now and write it down. My fire insurance was canceled. Sign up all your devices with AC Alert, the mass notification system for Berkeley and Alameda County. We all know that, for fast-moving fires, with our narrow roads and dense population, that starting an evacuation once the fire ignites may not be enough, he said. 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