The photos coming from Southern California serve as a sobering warning of what can occur locally, according to the fire chief of Berkeley.
The vegetation and geography of some places, such Berkeley Hill and Oakland, are comparable to those of Los Angeles. Local fire departments are already working to draw lessons from the incident.
“If we didn’t do that, I think it would be criminal,” stated David Sprague, the fire chief for Berkeley. “We have to learn, we’re always learning.”
In order to acknowledge what is happening, try to instill hope, and accept that there are other mitigation activities that can help the community protect itself from a mega-fire, Sprague wrote a message to the Berkeley Scanner community.
Sprague remarked, “We know that it can happen here,” “Climate change has only made it more likely.”
Living close to the Berkeley Hills, Sprague and Emile Castanchoa have strong memories of the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm.
“It was very apocalyptic and I feel like having experienced that I know the graphic feeling, the tragic feeling of all of that and how things can change in a moment,” Castanchoa said regarding the fire in 1991.
According to Castanchoa, the sky was dark and there was ash in his front yard when he went outdoors that day.
He continues to live in the same house he did in 1991, and he is constantly concerned about the possibility of a fire.
particularly as he becomes more worried about rising insurance costs and the prospect of losing his coverage.
“Where are we going? “Why don’t we prioritize fire safety and fire risk more?” Castanchoa questioned.
That’s what Sprague says he’s attempting to do.
To protect individuals and their structures, he is urging the community to use scientifically validated methods. He is requesting that residents first determine how they will evacuate their Berkeley Hills houses in the event of a major fire. He claims that because of the constrained streets, it will be impossible to evacuate everyone at the last minute.
“When we issue pre-emptive advisory to leave early when fire weather is forecasted we really need people to take that seriously and consider leaving the hills so we can reduce the number of people left to evacuate,” Sprague stated.
Additionally, he is requesting that people create a “Zone 0” buffer surrounding their residences. Sprague advises clearing the first five feet of your home of everything combustible. This includes trash cans, plants, and wooden gates or fences that touch your house. According to him, this will establish a defendable area that firefighters can guard.
Last but not least, he is urging residents to spend time and money on upgrades that will “harden” their homes against fire.
“We have to double down,” Chief Sprague informed them. “We have to prepare because it’s a matter of when, not if.”
The websites of Berkeley Fire and Cal Fire offer fire planning tools to assist homeowners in getting their homes ready for fires.
Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.