1 week Ago
BERKELEY, Calif. — Homeowners in the Berkeley hills may need to change the outside of their homes to keep them from catching fire in the event of a wildfire. The city council is set to vote on an ordinance that would require homeowners to make a host of changes to their properties.
“The risk is real," said Brent Blackaby, city council member for District 6. "The urgency is real, and it is going to require collective action from all of us to address it.” If passed, homeowners would need to change the outside of their homes to cover it in non-combustible material.
They will also need to move all large plants and wood fences at least five feet away from their homes. That concept is called "zone zero" defensible space. "It's humbling," said Isabelle Gaston, who lives in the hills with her husband.
"We realize we don't have a choice." Gaston and her husband, Steve Robey, removed all of the trees and plants that lined their homes. Many of them are now in pots outside of that five-foot zone.
Their house is covered in redwood shades to keep it from catching fire. “We’ve enclosed our eves, which is a relatively large deal," Robey said. "It used to be open, and that is a big warning.
The embers could catch in there if there was ever a fire." The city council first introduced this ordinance following the Los Angeles fires at the start of the year. Cal Fire also released updated maps showing which areas are in the highest danger of a wildfire.
The Berkeley hills fall in the "very high risk" zone. "Everything from Tilden Park in the East down to Grizzly Peak on the west side," Blackaby said. "It's all based off our history and what we see as a likely fire path here in Berkeley.
" If it passes, residents will have a lengthy period of time to start making changes. The city will have grant funding available to help some residents pay for the changes. Gaston and Robey have lived in the hills for over 20 years.
They say the vegetation is getting drier each year, and that only makes them more worried about a wildfire. "The oak trees are dying left, right and center," Robey said. "I am out there every day and it's changed.
That is how I know we are in a different time." Blackaby says it's important to be proactive. "We used to only worry about earthquakes," he said.
"As we prepared for those, we also now need to be prepared for a large fire." Here are key websites that are important for all Californians during wildfire season. Cal Fire wildfire incidents Wildfires on federal land Preparing for power outages Keeping informed when you've lost power and cellphone service Be prepared for road closures | MORE | A 2024 guide for how to prepare for wildfires in California | Track fire conditions across Northern California regions with our Fire Threat Index See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel.
