Friends and neighbors,
The past month, since our last update, has been fertile with news about wildfire that directly concern us.
BFD’s EMBER Proposal
First, and most important, BFD has come up with a plan, called EMBER, to improve the Hills’ fire resistance to a fire coming from Tilden during Diablo winds. It involves designating a new Fire Zone #4, that covers most of us, from Grizzly Peak going E to Wildcat Canyon. This plan involves requiring all of us to remove all combustibles from the 0-5 ft zone, as well as other possible measures, and increases enforcement on requirements. It also limits street parking on Red Flag days. Here it is in BerkeleySide, a very favorable article.
EMBER will result in improved wildfire resistance for us and for the Hills in general. We have investigated insurance impact and believe that, if anything, it will improve access to insurance because it will make the neighborhood more resilient to wildfire. BFD will present the plan at a special City Council Meeting On Feb 11 at 4:00pm.
Please write the city council at council@berkeleyca.gov in support of the plan (model letter) and, if possible, show up at the meeting in support of the plan.
Governor Newsom’s 0-5ft zone enforcement
Governor Newsom wants to compel enforcement of the 0-5 foot zone (i.e. clearing all combustibles within 5 ft of all structures) in all California fire-prone areas by the end of the year. Here is the Associated Press’s take on it, as well as the CA.gov press release. In the past years we were wondering how watered down this regulation would be. Now it looks like it will be very strictly written and enforced.
Berkeley’s Grizzly Peak Project
The City of Berkeley is deploying the Grizzly Peak Project, which will clear some vegetation in the Right Of Way along many roads around our neighborhood, starting this month. We are in full support of the project, which will also contribute, although in a limited way, to decreasing dangerous fuels in our neighborhood. Here is a webinar of the project.
Free Mesh Program
The City of Berkeley has a FREE PROGRAM that provides mesh guards for vents, gutters, and decks. The program is free to all Firewise neighborhood members. The application asks about inspections: all of us already had a partial or full inspection (depending upon whether you were there last summer when inspectors passed by), and that is what you should reply. Here is how to measure for the mesh.
Our March 23rd Firewise meeting at 3:00pm
Please come to our Creston Firewise March 23rd 3:00 pm meeting, at Joy’s home (981 Creston). We will discuss and decide our common 2025 Firewise program. We will offer two short presentations discussing what to think of when planning (a) new landscaping this year and (b) new house remodels this year.
Other Creston Firewise updates
We need people to volunteer with Creston Firewise as block captains and in other roles. Please contact Sara or Michel!
Neighbor helping neighbor: we created a Mutual Aid Committee, headed by Susan B (—@—) and Miye G (—@—) to provide resources or personpower for neighbors who are unable to make their home and property more fire resistant. Please contact them if you would like to volunteer to help other neighbors, and let them know how you are able to help.
Please volunteer for our first Neighbor helping Neighbor project on April 12! We will clear defensive perimeters in at least one property , with help from a group of UC Berkeley students. We need people to plan, supervise, clear by hand, and provide food and transportation to the students. Contacts: Miye G and Susan B.
Reminder: free chipper appointments and vegetation debris bins
Starting in spring, as in the past years, the City of Berkeley will offer free chipper appointments and vegetation debris bins where we can get vegetation chipped or removed for free. We are all eligible as we pay a special tax for it.