Photo credit: Julia Sumangil Photography
In the face of increasing threats from wildfire, it is time for a new, more effective, regional approach to keep residents in the East Bay Hills and surrounding communities safe.
The East Bay Hills is a high wildfire risk zone. Wildfires do not respect political boundaries so fire prevention and vegetation management should be regional efforts. But coordinating among the many jurisdictions, fire districts, and other regional agencies in the East Bay wildfire zone is an impossible challenge without a specialized mechanism.
This is why we are proposing an East Bay Wildfire Prevention and Vegetation Management Joint Powers Agency (JPA).
Wildfires have increased in frequency and extent throughout California in recent years. A changing climate at the global scale has established the climatic preconditions for major wildfire events and an extended fire season. These preconditions include longer periods of drought, more erratic precipitation patterns, more instances of extreme heat, and more frequent high wind events.
Though primary causes are at the global level, local best practices in fire prevention and vegetation management are advancing quickly. They need to be scaled up.
Today in the East Bay, local governments are responsible for preventing and fighting wildfires in the fire risk areas of their cities and towns, counties and independent fire districts manage unincorporated areas, and agencies such as EBMUD, EBRPD, PG&E, and UC Berkeley manage their significant wildland holdings in the East Bay hills. Any gap in efforts could threaten the entire region.
We believe that cooperation is required to make our communities safer.
A regional agency with a sole focus on wildfire prevention in the East Bay Hills is the ideal mechanism to raise resources, align strategies, and implement new programs targeted at the areas at greatest risk.
The participating jurisdictions will ultimately decide the JPA’s structure, scope of work, and funding strategy.
The JPA is proposed to include jurisdictions in western portions of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties containing hill areas designated as High or Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones.
Expand the headings below to see maps of fire hazard severity zones in each county, as well as lists of potential member jurisdictions and partners.
Click image to go to view full-size PDF.
Due to the multiple jurisdictions involved, CAL FIRE does not produce a single map showing fire severity zones in all parts of the proposed JPA area. This is just one of the reasons an East Bay Wildfire JPA is needed.
CAL FIRE last updated its Fire Hazard Severity Zone maps through a process that lasted from 2007 to 2010. That work resulted in three datasets:
The map above is for illustrative purposes and represents a composite of these three datasets, for both Alameda and Contra Costa Counties. Adopted and Recommended designations are shown in solid colors, while the Draft designations are shown in hatched colors.
CAL FIRE is currently updating its data again. If new maps showing revised Fire Hazard Severity Zones become available, they will be posted here.
For more information about the CAL FIRE designations and the data shown here, visit: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/wildfire-planning-engineering/wildland-hazards-building-codes/fire-hazard-severity-zones-maps/
Contra Costa County: | |
El Cerrito | Unincorporated Contra Costa County Communities: |
Hercules | El Sobrante |
Pinole | Kensington |
Richmond | East Richmond Heights |
San Pablo | Canyon |
Alameda County: | |
Berkeley | Unincorporated Alameda County Communities: |
Fremont | Castro Valley |
Hayward | Fairview |
Oakland | |
Piedmont | |
San Leandro | |
Union City |
Although wildfire hazards exist in much of the undeveloped and Wildland Urban Interface areas of Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, our efforts to create a JPA are currently focused on the “inner East Bay,” along the Berkeley, Oakland, San Leandro, and West Contra Costa Hills, and extending southward to the westernmost portions of the Diablo Range. Relevant jurisdictions and agencies extend from Hercules in the north to Fremont in the south, and include:
Alameda County | Contra Costa County | Regional Entities |
Berkeley | El Cerrito | East Bay Regional Park District |
Fremont | Hercules | East Bay Municipal Utilities District |
Hayward | Pinole | University of California |
Oakland | Richmond | |
Piedmont | San Pablo | |
San Leandro | Lafayette | |
Union City | Moraga | |
Fairview Fire Protection District | Orinda | |
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District | ||
Kensington Fire Protection District | ||
Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District |
Caltrans |
CAL FIRE |
PG&E |
Local school districts |
Firesafe councils and public safety organizations |
Neighborhood organizations |
Forming the East Bay Wildfire Prevention and Vegetation Management JPA is a grassroots effort of a coalition of community organizations working with county staff and elected officials. Steering committee members are listed below.
Member | Affiliation |
---|---|
Jon Kaufman (Co-chair) | President, Claremont Canyon Conservancy |
Sue Piper (Co-chair) | President, Oakland Firesafe Council |
Elizabeth Stage | Vice Chair, North Hills Community Association |
Sue Duncan | Co-Founder, Make El Cerrito Firesafe |
Jerry Kent | Claremont Canyon Conservancy |
Ken Benson | Oakland Firesafe Council |
Soheila Bana | 94803 Emergency Preparedness Alliance |
Jean Henderson | 94803 Emergency Preparedness Alliance |
Lisa Jacobs | Former Oakland City Council Aide |
East Bay Wildfire Prevention and Vegetation Management Joint Protection Agency endorsements.
Last Updated: November 1, 2021
Elected Official | Position | Jurisdiction |
---|---|---|
Nancy Skinner | Senator, District 9 | State Senate |
Buffy Wicks | Assemblymember, District 15 | State Assembly |
Mia Bonta | Assemblymember, District 18 | State Assembly |
Keith Carson | Supervisor, District 5 | Alameda County |
Rochelle Nason | City Councilmember | Albany |
Jesse Arreguin | Mayor | Berkeley |
Lori Droste | Vice Mayor, City Councilmember | Berkeley |
Susan Wengraf | City Councilmember | Berkeley |
Shawn Kumagai | City Councilmember | Dublin |
Aisha Wahab | City Councilmember | Hayward |
Libby Schaaf | Mayor | Oakland |
Sheng Thao | Mayor Pro Tem, City Councilmember | Oakland |
Dan Kalb | City Councilmember | Oakland |
John Gioia | Supervisor, District 1 | Contra Costa County |
Paul Fadelli | Mayor | El Cerrito |
Gabriel Quinto | Mayor Pro Tem, City Councilmember | El Cerrito |
Janet Abelson | City Councilmember | El Cerrito |
Tessa Rudnick | City Councilmember | El Cerrito |
Tiffany Grimsley | City Councilmember | Hercules |
Gayle McLaughlin | City Councilmember | Richmond |
Rita Xavier | Vice Mayor, City Councilmember | San Pablo |
Dee Rosario | Board Member | East Bay Regional Park District |
Dennis Waespi | Board Member | East Bay Regional Park District |
Elizabeth Echols | Board Member | East Bay Regional Park District |
Vinnie Bacon | Former City Councilmember | Fremont |
Greg Lyman | Former Mayor | El Cerrito |
Rochelle Pardue-Okimoto | Former City Councilmember | El Cerrito |
Organization | Location |
---|---|
Claremont Canyon Conservancy | Berkeley and Oakland |
Claremont Elmwood Neighborhood Association | Berkeley and Oakland |
Friends of the Montclair Railroad Trail | Oakland |
Garber Park Stewards | Oakland |
Montclair Neighborhood Council | Oakland |
North Hills Community Association | Oakland |
Oakland Firefighters IAFF Local 55 | Oakland |
Oakland Landscape Committee | Oakland |
Piedmont Pines Neighborhood Association | Oakland |
South Hills Beat 35Y | Oakland |
El Cerrito Trail Trekkers | El Cerrito |
Make El Cerrito Fire Safe | El Cerrito |
94803 Emergency Preparedness Alliance | El Sobrante |
Kensington Neighbors for Wildfire Safety | Kensington |
Kensington Public Safety Council | Kensington |
Richmond Firefighters Local 188 | Richmond |
Oakland Firesafe Council | Alameda County |
Phreed (Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, El Sobrante for Equity and Diversity) | Regional |
Regional Parks Association | Regional |
The Sierra Club | Regional |
The JPA Community Organizing Committee has coordinated an outreach effort to secure endorsements for the JPA concept throughout the region. The group has made preliminary presentations to elected bodies and commissions to obtain support for a joint resolution that will allow local jurisdictions to explore formation of the JPA.
More than 20 jurisdictions and agencies have now agreed to participate in workshops for jurisdiction and agency representatives to consider a governing structure, goals, funding strategies, and implementation approach for the JPA. These JPA formation discussions will begin in December 2021 and continue into 2022.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore… Continue reading Sample Update 3
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore… Continue reading Sample Update 2
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore… Continue reading Sample Update 1
Description: Vit, mactusp iendiortemum pernic moventi aecrium atemque quervius, cum aus ortelus, quam tem nonsulv… Continue reading Sample Upcoming Event 1
Past events and presentations will be posted here.
Oakland Firesafe Council | Website |
Make El Cerrito Fire Safe | Website |
Diablo Firesafe | Website |
Claremont Canyon Conservancy | Website |
East Bay Regional Park District – Preparing for Wildfire Season | Website |
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority | Website |
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones Maps | Website |
California Government Code Article 1 – Joint Powers Agreements | Website |
An Introduction to Joint Powers Authorities, Their Funding Mechanisms, and Why California Should Utilize One in Order to Create an Effective Forest Management System to Prevent Wildfires (Anna Bernstein, Hastings Business Law Journal, Summer 2020) | View Article |
Joint Powers Authorities: Opportunities and Challenges (Joan L. Cassman and Jean B. Savaree) | View Article |
The Failure of Planning to Address the Urban Interface and Intermix Fire-hazard Problems in the San Francisco Bay Area (Joe McBride and Jerry Kent, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2019) | View Article |
Remembering the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm (Brian Kranas, The Oaklandside, October 19, 2021) | View Article |
Survivors’ stories captured in new ABC6 documentary ‘Firestorm’ (Juan Carlos Guerrero and Brandon Behle, ABC7 News, October 20, 2021) | View Article |
View links to references, organizations, and articles by expanding the list below.
Oakland Firesafe Council | Website |
Make El Cerrito Fire Safe | Website |
Diablo Firesafe | Website |
Claremont Canyon Conservancy | Website |
East Bay Regional Park District – Preparing for Wildfire Season | Website |
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority | Website |
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones Maps | Website |
California Government Code Article 1 – Joint Powers Agreements | Website |
An Introduction to Joint Powers Authorities, Their Funding Mechanisms, and Why California Should Utilize One in Order to Create an Effective Forest Management System to Prevent Wildfires (Anna Bernstein, Hastings Business Law Journal, Summer 2020) | View Article |
Joint Powers Authorities: Opportunities and Challenges (Joan L. Cassman and Jean B. Savaree) | View Article |
The Failure of Planning to Address the Urban Interface and Intermix Fire-hazard Problems in the San Francisco Bay Area (Joe McBride and Jerry Kent, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2019) | View Article |
Remembering the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm (Brian Kranas, The Oaklandside, October 19, 2021) | View Article |
Survivors’ stories captured in new ABC6 documentary ‘Firestorm’ (Juan Carlos Guerrero and Brandon Behle, ABC7 News, October 20, 2021) | View Article |
Oakland Firesafe Council | Website |
Make El Cerrito Fire Safe | Website |
Diablo Firesafe | Website |
Claremont Canyon Conservancy | Website |
East Bay Regional Park District - Preparing for Wildfire Season | Website |
Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority | Website |
CAL FIRE Fire Hazard Severity Zones Maps | Website |
California Government Code Article 1 - Joint Powers Agreements | Website |
An Introduction to Joint Powers Authorities, Their Funding Mechanisms, and Why California Should Utilize One in Order to Create an Effective Forest Management System to Prevent Wildfires (Anna Bernstein, Hastings Business Law Journal, Summer 2020) | View Article |
Joint Powers Authorities: Opportunities and Challenges (Joan L. Cassman and Jean B. Savaree) | View Article |
The Failure of Planning to Address the Urban Interface and Intermix Fire-hazard Problems in the San Francisco Bay Area (Joe McBride and Jerry Kent, International Journal of Wildland Fire, 2019) | View Article |
Remembering the 1991 Oakland-Berkeley Firestorm (Brian Kranas, The Oaklandside, October 19, 2021) | View Article |
Survivors’ stories captured in new ABC6 documentary ‘Firestorm’ (Juan Carlos Guerrero and Brandon Behle, ABC7 News, October 20, 2021) | View Article |
© 2021 East Bay Hills Wildfire Prevention and Vegetation Management Joint Powers Agency Formation Committee