Fwd: Summer Challenges
Diane Tokugawa
From: Vice-Mayor Susan Wengraf <swen...@berkeleyca.gov>
Date: June 23, 2024 at 12:45:00 PM PDT
To: dtok...@comcast.net
Subject: Summer Challenges
Reply-To: swen...@berkeleyca.gov
Vice-Mayor Susan Wengraf
June 23, 2024
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
==Summer is here and we are gearing up our wildfire safety programs. Fire inspections are currently in progress in Fire Zone 2. To check on the schedule and get step by step instructions, you can visit: www.BerkeleyFireSafe.org.
==The two webinars that I produced on the insurance crisis and on wildfire safety are now available for your viewing if you missed them or want to take a second look. Please feel free to share the links below to the webinars with friends and neighbors who may be interested.
==I am also including a list of resources if you want to follow up and learn more on topics covered in the Fire Safety webinar.
==Here in Berkeley, we have an amazing team of fire professionals working hard to try to keep us safe under very challenging conditions. Your cooperation and participation are critical to the hard work of our Fire Department Team. Please show them the appreciation they deserve as they knock on doors to work with you to do your part in trying to reduce the risk of wildfire in our community.
==While on the topic of community cooperation, please take care when parking on our narrow, curvy hills streets to ensure that there is at least 14 feet of unobstructed clearance. This allows our first responders to access you and your properties in the event of an emergency.
==With your generous support of Measure FF, and under the leadership of Chief Sprague, Berkeley has quickly become a leader in wildfire mitigation efforts in the region.
==I am very excited to share that I was recently elected to be Chair of the recently formed East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments, which includes the cities of Hercules, Rodeo, Pinole, Richmond, Kensington, Berkeley, and Oakland, and Contra Costa and Alameda Counties. It is an honor to lead the launch of this new organization as we forge the path of regional cooperation and collaboration in the face of increasing risks.
Best,
Fire Trucks & Personnel on Grizzly
==The Berkeley Fire Department, in coordination with Albany, Moraga Orinda, Richmond, and Contra Costa County Fire, will conduct a wildfire response exercise during the week of June 23rd. During these exercises, multiple fire engines and firefighters will operate throughout the area, practicing area familiarization, structure defense, and water zone reviews.
==Exercise Schedule:
Dates: June 24, 26, and 28
Time: 8:30am - 3pm
Location: Grizzly Peak/Tilden Park area
==Residents should be aware that there will be an increased presence of fire apparatus in the hills during these dates. This may look like a real incident, but it is a planned exercise, and there is no cause for concern. Instead, take this opportunity to note our first responders in action and talk to your loved ones and neighbors about wildfire and disaster preparedness.
Community Fire Safety Town Hall
==If you didn't have an opportunity to watch the Fire Safety Town Hall webinar, here is the link to the video:
Fire Safety Resource Guide
Learn more
- Defensible Space and Home Hardening
- Fire Weather and Evacuation
- Household Fire Weather Planning Tool
BerkeleyCA.gov/EmergencyAlerting
- Emergency Alerting Systems
- UC Master Gardeners Fire Smart Landscaping
Sign Up
- ACAlert.org (emergency alerts to your mobile phone and email)
- Note: If you need assistance signing up, email o...@berkeleyca.gov or call the Fire Department (510) 981-3473
- Bit.ly/berk-cert-news (Berkeley Ready Newsletter)
Bookmark
- Community.Zonehaven.com (Berkeley Emergency Map)
Download the App
- Download Genasys Protect App onto your SmartPhone from the App Store or Google Play. Sign up to get alerts for the zones you care about.
Listen
- Listen to the alerts you could hear from Berkeley’s Outdoor Warning System Sirens: Soundcloud.com/CityofBerkeley
Contact Us
Fire Department
(510) 981-3473 / (510) 981-6903 TDD
- Fire Chief
- General questions
Wildland Urban Interface Division
- Defensible space and home hardening
- Firewise coaching
- Safe Passages
Firewise USA Guidance: KRev...@BerkeleyCA.gov
Office of Emergency Services
- Fire weather and evacuation
- Alerting system questions (AC Alert, Berkeley Emergency Map, Outdoor Warning System Sirens, 1610 AM radio)
Presentation References
CAL FIRE perimeters of California wildfires by decade: https://hub.arcgis.com/apps/
NIST Report on WUI Structure/Parcel/Community Fire Hazard Mitigation Methodology
https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/TechnicalNotes/NIST.TN.2205.pdf
IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home Designation
Insurance Crisis Webinar
If you didn't have an opportunity to watch the Insurance Crisis webinar, here is the link to the video:
Grizzly Peak Closed on July 4th
==As in past years, Grizzly Peak Blvd. will be closed from 5a.m. on July 4th to 5a.m. on July 5th.
==In Berkeley, Grizzly will be closed off to through traffic at Centennial Drive and in Oakland it will be closed at Fish Ranch Rd.
==Oakland Radio Communications Club (ORCA) will be on patrol in the hills as will NALCO (Northern Alameda County Amateur Radio Emergency Service) in Berkeley
==Multiple jurisdictions, including Berkeley, Oakland, UC Berkeley, East Bay Regional Parks, and Orinda are working together to keep fireworks and bad behavior off Grizzly Peak Blvd during the July 4th holiday. Past efforts have been successful.
311
- Need a new refuse can?
- Have a favorite pothole you want filled?
- Want to report illegal dumping?
CALL 311
Sign Up for Emergency Notifications
==Receive emergency notifications through ACAlert.
==Sign up here.
Susan Wengraf
Berkeley City Council District 6
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Berkeley City Council District 6 | 2180 Milvia St. | Berkeley, CA 94704 US
