Don't be Fooled by the Cool Weather, it's Still Fire Season

October 27, 2022

Don't be fooled by the cool weather, it's still fire season

Working Together, We Can Improve Wildfire Safety

Wildfire safety continues to be one of the Park District’s top priorities. Our year-round efforts include removing flammable vegetation, maintaining 50 professionally trained full-time and on-call firefighters, maintaining specialized wildland firefighting equipment, and monitoring fire weather conditions.

Wildfire safety is especially important in the late fall when the heat of summer has dried out vegetation, and hot, dry Diablo winds come in from the east, creating potentially dangerous fire conditions.

We must remain vigilant! Make sure you are aware of fire warnings and follow all fire safety rules and guidelines, including creating defensible space around your property.

Let’s work together to prevent wildfires from becoming large disasters.

Fire Chief Aileen Theile, East Bay Regional Park District

What the Park District is Doing:

• Maintaining healthier and safer parklands by annually thinning and removing thousands of acres
of brush and hazardous trees.
• Addressing 1,500-acres of sudden tree die-off in parks with environmentally permitted tree removal projects that utilize $10 million in state funding.
• Maintaining a professional fire department with 50 full-time and on-call firefighters.
• Operating two helicopters with firefighting capabilities.
• Maintaining four remote weather stations that monitor temperature, moisture, and wind to help determine fire dangers, staffing levels, and deployment of resources.
• Partnering with CalFire and other local agencies to quickly suppress wildland fires.

What You Can Do:

• Maintain 30 feet of “clean and green” defensible space around your home.
• Maintain 100 feet of “reduced fuel” defensible space around your home.
• Do not smoke in the regional parks, includes vaping.
• Be aware of Red Flag Warnings, fire danger levels, and fire safety rules.
• Be alert for any potential fire hazards and report them. If you see a fire, call 911 immediately.
• Parks may be closed depending on conditions. Do not enter closed parks.

Wildfire Safety Information: