The Red Cross also has an emergency shelter map which is populated in real-time in disasters. Zonehaven reduces the time to order an evacuation. We know we have big challenges ahead, Roman said. The first incident commander sets up the command center and whips out a big map on their hood, said May, who helped fight the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa with Berkeley crews. WebA Designated Waiting Area (DWA) is a known waiting spot inside of a building for those who need help evacuating (e.g. 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. Do defensible space regulations apply to my property? Most phones made after 2012 are WEA-capable, but confirm your phones capability with your wireless phone provider. Ive had COVID-19. Its a community-building project working with your neighbors, Assistant Berkeley Fire Chief Kevin Revilla, another BFD veteran and retiree who has returned to help with the citys expanded wildfire efforts, said at the May meeting. And remember to remove all dead and dying vegetation. Do this for fences, gates and arbors especially where they are closest to your or a neighbors house. What if Im unhoused or know people who are in my area? Text prepare to 43362 to sign up for the message service. This Emergency Access and Evacuation Network map identifies roads with capacity for more cars. Much of the state is under a Red Flag Warning tonight and tomorrow, Wengraf said, kicking off the May 19 event. The app will not send local emergency action alerts, such as to evacuate or shelter in place. Chin repeatedly emphasized that hillside residents must not wait until wildfire strikes to take action. Make a plan with your household ahead of time for what you will do during fire weather. You can read a version of the guide tailored for Oakland residents on The Oaklandside. Both will be available in Alameda County. Thousands of homes were destroyed in recent California fires, with many people discovering they didnt have enough coverage. BFD is also helping neighborhoods build up their own resilience through a national program called Firewise and working to develop a Community Wildfire Protection Plan to determine where to focus efforts first. During an emergency, the map will offer real-time useful information, such as areas under evacuation and the best evacuation route for your neighborhood. 3G_yX%6Es%3'OF]a{w*!(b?r%%"0r{?rN%cxh*K(^f_nD }XS}-N-'n^yh.G%/ES;Vp]j\mm;5MhI5EX0?8$u@G"7Y73PvmBs/orY@r538:/t,{:?Vtsy&YNZ|Kj7"=s59k$5HxXKe)y^Rk5UEne-fUQ-N'Ys1:z^5:4wZ r>&}g;)C#j0?P~+ eU)nqL=? 0000000016 00000 n The information contained on this site is the opinion of G. Blair Lamb MD, FCFP and should not be used as personal medical advice. In the past five years, California has experienced not only the largest wildfires in our recorded history, but some of the most destructive, Chief Daniel Berlant, a deputy director for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, said during an event last week that was organized by Sen. Alex Padillas office. Its going to be our blueprint for hazard mitigation in Berkeleys very high-severity fire zones, as well as the rest of the city, said Pinto, who is heading up BFDs new WUI division. FORM If youre a homeowner in the hills, heres what you should do now: Insurance companies have to give you a 75 day-notice of cancellation under state law. )St Every burning building is fuel for a fire, making it hotter and stronger. Check Permit Status. How can I find out if there is a power outage scheduled for my area? 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. But most emergency planners feel strongly that you should do all you can to make your property more defensible, even with the unknown. PG&E has also produced a seven-part video series called 7 Saturdays with tips about how homeowners can protect their properties against wildfires. What is a go bag and how do I make one? No to both, says Pam Temmermand, a fire prevention specialist at CalFire. Text prepare to this number to subscribe to messages. Thats why weve compared information and vetted sources for you, with the aim of providing only credible and recent information from trusted sources. Who will be there to help during and after a wildfire? If you rent in a hillside fire zone, have conversations with your landlord now about preparedness including: If you feel your landlord isnt meeting fire safety regulations or isnt sharing information with you, contact your fire or emergency services department. 0000362692 00000 n Community members should do everything possible to make it easier to leave home fast when the time comes, Chin said. What does it mean to harden my home against fire? The Berkeley Fire Department declares Extreme Fire Weathera Berkeley-specific designationwhen forecasted wind speeds and humidity levels during a Red Flag Warning would produceespeciallyrisky conditions in Berkeley. In July, BFD is going digital with its property inspections, resulting in online inspection reports once new software is up and Fire officials reminded meeting attendees about the citys fire fuel chipper and debris bin programs, designed to help community members dispose of plant materials. Hillside Fire Zones Map Details Basemap Print Measure Hillside Fire Zones Map Location of Hillside Fire Zones in the City of Berkeley Web Map by One good to come of this tragedy was disaster advice just for renters. Single evacuation view is needed across multiple counties. Incident level information needed, not jurisdictional level. Receive periodic safety tips on numerous disasters by texting the type of event (blackout, earthquake, fire, flood, hurricane, or tornado) to 43362. Wooden furniture, BBQ grills, propane tanks and garbage and recycling bins should not be stored near your homes exterior. 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. 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. Multiple (contiguous) county mapping and planning are needed. Northwestern Alameda County Why do power outages occur more often during fire season? But it does not eliminate risk entirely. There may be overlap between AC Alert and Nixle messages, but warnings for life-threatening situations will come first via AC Alert. Your plan will: Will you wait to evacuate after fire starts, or will you leave during periods of heightened threat? Along with defensible space, home hardening, once a rare term, is now finding its way to the common lingo of wildfire prevention. A. Finally, Chin provided a brief update on Berkeleys new outdoor siren warning system, which is expected to launch with five pilot sites this summer. Simons. Berkeleys vegetation management requirements include creating 30 feet of defensible space around your home and things like covering house vents with wire mesh to prevent embers from entering your home. Once decisions are made, using incident information coming in from many sources such as responders on the ground and helicopters overhead, they must be communicated quickly, to everyone coming in to help, fire, law, media, the public, May said. Work is planned as funding becomes available, guided by the districts hazard reduction and resource management plan, which includes a plan for reducing fuels in parkland atop the Berkeley and Oakland hills. 0000445547 00000 n The firestorm, which Caltrans officially called the Tunnel Fire, wasnt technically a wildfire as it started and spread in populated areas. The 1991 Oakland/Berkeley Hills fire, as well as most of Californias recent firestorms, ignited when conditions were within Berkeleys Extreme Fire Weather thresholds. Factors such as weather, season, humidity, wind speeds and directions, topography, vegetation, historical climate trends, land use and human activity all play into predicting fire risk. Removing lower tree branches at least 10 feet from the ground. State and local laws require rental properties to have smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, fire extinguishers and openable window bars. Zonehaven lets us get the information out quickly and put it on a platform that any responding agency can see., The software also allows agencies to train for various emergencies and scenarios. 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. Pinto also described how the city has expanded its hillside inspections by 7,200 parcels this year. We have to take ownership ourselves of that risk. Some local hotels offer special rates to residents during fire season. Berkeley residents, and hills residents especially, should always be ready to evacuate rapidly if needed: Download our evacuation checklistand keep it in a prominent place in your home. 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. WebObtain FRAP maps, data, metadata and publications on the Internet at http://frap.cdf.ca.gov Department of Forestry and Fire Protection DATA SOURCES For more information, We will continue to have Diablo winds, which will push fire quickly down the hill. Free for all, funded by readers. 0000522594 00000 n That was the highest number of warnings announced in May in more than a decade. 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. Evacuation management is a completely new sport, said Crocker of Zonehaven. DAVID GOINES: Remembering an iconic printmaker | CULTURE WAR: Hopkins bike lane | SNOW! As risks for wildfire increase, so too does legislation to address the consequences. The same goes for flammable vegetation. Some legal-watchers expect more regulations around home hardening or making your home less vulnerable to fire in the future, though funding for this will be challenging. When fire threatens, information may change rapidly. I rent. This year, presentations covered a range of updates from the Berkeley Fire Department, a presentation from the state insurance commissioners office and advice from an architect about what residents can do to reduce fire risks at home. The goal is to protect your home and yard from catching fire from a flying ember, or from surging flames. Fire fuel chipper program kicks off June 6. City officials said the evolving fire threat demands a different type of response. The current maps show the probability of wildfire in a given area by assessing vegetation, fire history and topography, since steeper slopes have higher fire risk. More by Emilie Raguso. 6 0 obj<>stream We love the Bay Area. The Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board is an important resource for tenants and landlords. My fire insurance was canceled. How can I reduce the impact of wildfire smoke inside of my home? 2023 In 2020, Berkeley had 25 days of Red Flag Warnings and only 2 days of Extreme Fire Weather. Its been a labor of love, said May, who oversees evacuation operations for the Berkeley Fire Department. A. For additional guidance, watch ourvideo guide to making a household fire weather plan. Defensible space is a term thats become commonplace with the increased risk of wildfires. Recreation. What do wildfires have to do with air pollution? Theres a growing variety of online tools, apps and maps out there, some of which might help save a life or a property. To save money, get a higher deductible, not less coverage. 0000523424 00000 n 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. For now, Berkeley sees these conditions for just a few days each year. Making property more fire-resistant can minimize this effect. 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). Where has Zonehaven been used to date, and lessons learned? Which masks best protect against wildfire smoke? Whats the history of wildfires in Berkeley? 0000000877 00000 n Learn what they mean so you can take appropriate action to protect yourself. How can I reduce the impact of wildfire smoke inside of my home? It takes power to run Zonehaven, and if this goes out, so does the data crunching. Is Zonehaven useful for people who dont live near wildland fire risks? WebA map showing CAL FIRE's Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) within the city of Berkeley as well as the designated planning California and the rest of the Western United States are seeing an increase in serious wildfires, which many experts link to climate change. How do I protect my property against wildfire? Temmermand offered this drought advice to those living in hillside fire zones. Thats the most simple value proposition we see coming out of this.. They cite the expense of fire-proofing a house or keeping a yard cleared. 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. Fire resistant landscaping is strongly encouraged. Visit the Community GIS Portal to search development conditions, building permit history, or zoning designation for a specific address or parcel number in the City of Berkeley. All rights reserved. It was also a wake-up call for the East Bay, exposing a vulnerability to wildland fire that is only growing. The citys map shows each address fire risk zone. Sources used in compiling this guide: CalFire, Berkeley Fire Department, Oakland Fire Department, FEMA, Alameda County Fire Department, U.S. Forest Service, National Interagency Fire Center, National Wildfire Coordinating Group, U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Weather Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Centers for Disease Control, Pacific Gas & Electric, East Bay Municipal Utility District, East Bay Regional Park District, California Fire Safe Council, Governors Office of Emergency Services, Community Emergency Alert Teams, State Council on Developmental Disabilities, University of California Cooperative Extension, Oakland Animal Services, Berkeley Disaster Preparedness Neighborhood Network, Hills Emergency Forum, Alameda County Office of Emergency Services, Oakland Firesafe Council, Diablo Firesafe Council, FIRESafe Marin, Public Health Institute, California Air Resources Board, Bay Area Air Quality Management District, American Red Cross, Kaiser Permanente, Mask Oakland, Zonehaven, ALERTWildfire, City of Mill Valley, City of Ross. 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