Berkeley Approves Tough New Wildfire Plan for Most Vulnerable Neighborhoods

Recognizing the challenging and expensive tasks awaiting certain residents, Berkeley authorities gave unanimous approval on Tuesday to a rigorous strategy aimed at reducing wildfires in the city’s most susceptible areas.

The most significant alteration within the initiative, dubbed EMBER for “Effective Mitigations for Berkeley’s Ember Resilience,”
restricts planting anything beyond 5 feet from the building foundation
In the areas of the city with extremely high fire risk, there is a region referred to as Zone 0 (“zone zero” when spoken) within the terminology used for defendable spaces.

For hardscaping, options like gravel, stones, or soil are suggested instead.

Plants in non-flammable containers would be permitted, subject to certain height limitations, along with tree trunks or main stems, provided their leafy tops rise at least 10 feet above rooftops and do not come close to chimneys.

Wooden fences will not be permitted in this zone either, implying that a 5-foot clearance or a non-combustible barrier must be present around buildings.

Defensible space
, or reducing vegetative cover for wildfire prevention, aims to slow down fires and provide firefighters with space to operate effectively. According to city and state guidelines, this measure covers an area of 100 feet extending outward from buildings across two distinct zones, zone one and zone two.

Zone 0 revisions enhance this model.

Among the most stringent guidelines in the state are Berkeley’s newly proposed regulations, as indicated by an initial assessment conducted by The Scanner.

Only the town of Paradise, which was heavily impacted, survived damage in the
deadly 2018 Camp Fire
Essentially, they follow the same Zone 0 standards. South Lake Tahoe, Hayward, and Ventura County have implemented comparable variations, though not as thorough.

The regulation will first apply to two areas — approximately 1,000 homes — situated along the city’s east side near open spaces considered at highest risk for wildfires. This includes a strip about a quarter-mile wide running from Grizzly Peak Boulevard up to Tilden Park, as well as Panoramic Hill.

The proposal involves implementing staged regulations gradually across other major hazardous regions.

“I realize many individuals are worried about the expenses and effects tied to these enhanced regulations, however, the costs and consequences of wildfires would be exponentially more devastating,” he stated.
Councilman Mark Humbert
, reflecting the view shared by numerous officials and many members of the public. “Just as we observed in Los Angeles, wildfires can advance at an alarming and unprecedented pace, causing extensive damage, and they have been known to engulf regions considered to be at lower risk.”

I truly prefer not to postpone anything further.

Several dozen individuals addressed the gathering on Tuesday, with the majority coming from
Berkeley Hills
areas impacted by the suggestion.

Most of them were in favor of the proposal.

“I am immensely grateful that our Berkeley Fire Department is at the forefront of wildfire prevention initiatives. I hope every city in the East Bay could benefit from such fortune,” stated Nancy Gillette, a former U.S. Forest Service entomologist. “The [EMBER] program ought to serve as an example for all local authorities across the East Bay. It’s backed by the most current scientific research and endorsed by prominent wildfire organizations along with state and local firefighting agencies,” she added.

“Back EMBER, a remarkable chance to avoid a tragedy like Lahaina,” Gillette continued, alluding to the destructive event.
2023 Maui wildfire
That mostly flattened the historical town and resulted in 102 fatalities.

Many opponents, who similarly reside in regions with high risks of wildfires, primarily concentrated their efforts on a few critical points.

A few people were doubtful about the advantages of having a Zone 0 without any vegetation compared to including some plant life or using fire-resistant varieties.

Several mentioned the substantial expense associated with lawn maintenance and installing new fences, noting that this burden would affect certain homeowners more significantly than others.

Some suggested burying the utility lines underground and trimming back eucalyptus trees as well as other vegetation extending beyond the city limits.
East Bay Regional Parks District
ought to focus on wildfire prevention measures.

Tilden Park serves as our primary protective barrier. We should remove some trees,” stated long-time resident Steve Tracy, entering his fourth generation in the area. He further suggested reducing vehicular traffic on the winding roads nearby. “Zone 0 does not apply here. The verdant gardens do not pose an issue. Proceed carefully everyone. Let’s get this done correctly.

Another person, David Edwardson, a Berkeley native who still resides in the house where he was raised almost sixty years ago, stated: “This policy would impose significant financial strain on me. Our family relies on just one income, and I earn $27 per hour.”

Like several others, he requested additional evidence that the zone has an impact on the homes already.
resistant or protected from fire
with fire-resistant materials.

A woman named Lisa mentioned that the redwoods on her land make her house constantly damp. She also noted that there is still much to understand following the Los Angeles wildfires: “There needs to be a change in the blanket approach of this policy…”

However, some people had alternative viewpoints.

“I genuinely don’t wish for us to postpone anything further,” stated resident Yen Trac.

“Absolutely, I concur,” she stated. “Our community ought to bury additional power lines beneath our streets; however, we must also strive to lessen the use of fossil fuels in Tilden Park and focus on initiatives right here in our own neighborhood.”

“I’ve taken all possible precautions at my house,” Trac continued. “I’ve reinforced it, and I am about to uproot the cherished plants I’ve nurtured for 24 years… This is due to my desire to prevent our neighborhood from catching fire. My aim is to keep my neighbors secure. I want them to have a place they can come back to.”

Similarly, a Panoramic Hill resident who hails from Berkeley stated, “I can confirm that the climate is indeed altering, making things difficult right now. The situation will just deteriorate further.”

“I’m here to back up the chief,” he went on. “While I adore my plants, my primary attachment is to my home. Although I’ll be sad to part with my redwood fences, leaving behind my neighborhood means even more to me. Additionally, I value my relationships and wouldn’t want to lose touch with my friends. In my opinion, maintaining a five-foot clearing around vegetation is quite sensible and straightforward.”

“I believe this is just the beginning,” he stated conclusively. “However, I strongly advocate for us to take even greater action.”

Some speakers said that, even if Tilden’s eucalyptus trees were gone and power lines were buried underground, a grass fire could blow in from the east, engulfing neighborhoods.

“Let not perfection become the obstacle to adequacy, as EMBER presents a remarkably solid proposition,” stated Charles Scawthorn.

Blackaby: “A resource accessible to everyone in Berkeley”

At last, every member of the council, and
Mayor Adena Ishii
, lauded the fire department for their efforts on EMBER and strongly supported the initiative.

“We have listened tonight to several genuine worries, and these matter greatly to us.… However, we must find ways to address these concerns constructively and push forward with our plans,” he stated.
Councilman Brent Blackaby
, who supported the proposal and resides in an area with a high risk of wildfires.

“Passing the policy is one matter, but putting it into action and implementation is entirely different,” he stated.

Blackaby recognized the difficulties involved in covering compliance costs and parting with cherished vegetation, yet he highlighted that the alternatives would be far more detrimental.

He stated, ‘Our aim should be to prevent the structure-to-structure conflagration from starting at all because once we reach that stage, we’ll face severe consequences.’

The Zone 0 proposal focuses on areas within the city’s wildland-urban interface (WUI) where wildfires are most probable to reach developed zones from surrounding open spaces.

By initially concentrating the plan on the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI), the fire department aims to achieve
fire-prepared buffer zone
to slow incoming fire.

As per Blackaby’s statement, this provides our firefighters with the optimal opportunity to maintain their position.

He committed to seeking out financial support for those who require aid, utilizing both grants and tax incentives.

“I fully agree, at one hundred percent, that funding is a significant aspect of this, and therefore we must tackle that issue,” he stated.

“This doesn’t necessarily have to be an alarming or unpleasant thing,” Blackaby went on. “Undertaking this effort and assisting homeowners with financing benefits them personally. It’s advantageous for the community as well, and ultimately serves the greater public interest throughout all of Berkeley.”

The fire department already provides
some financial assistance
Funded through grants, this initiative aims to assist low-income residents and those requiring additional support with wildfire mitigation efforts, an effort they plan to broaden.

Combination of protected outdoor area and reinforced structure

Along with Zone 0, the EMBER strategy includes provisions for educating and incentivizing property owners.
strengthen their homes against fire
, strategies including Class A fireproof roofing, dual-layered windows, embers-proof ventilation systems, protective gutter covers, and non-flammable external cladding.

The optimal approach for safeguarding against wildfires involves integrating both defensible space creation and structural hardening techniques.
Berkeley Fire Department
refers to them as “two peas in a pod.”

State legislation already mandates that all new constructions in areas with a high risk of wildfires must comply with stricter fire-resistant standards.
strict fire codes
This encompasses numerous initiatives such as extensive renovations and accessory dwelling units, often referred to as in-law suites.

However, Berkeley is mostly developed, with infrequent new constructions. Legally, the city cannot mandate retrofitting for current residences.

Berkeley is already developing incentive programs.

During Tuesday’s gathering, the Berkeley City Council also gave approval to revised municipal wildfire risk charts, which is an essential move toward establishing Zone 0 and other provisions related to defensive spaces.

Charts outline which areas require efforts like pruning, clearing, and grass-cutting to establish “protected zones” around buildings for reducing wildfire risks.

The department requested that officials broaden the extremely high fire risk area surrounding Panoramic Hill and push the high fire danger zone further west along the slopes.

The latest version of the state’s Zone 0 proposal, currently being debated, mirrors Berkeley’s approach by prohibiting any ground-level planting. Additionally, this draft adjusts regulations for Zone 1, permitting a reduced number of plants.

According to the draft, state law will be applicable to newly constructed buildings once it’s finalized; however, current structures will have a grace period of three years to come into compliance.

On Wednesday, following the vote, Blackaby mentioned that the city intends to enhance communication strategies over the next few months to assist residents in getting updated.

We plan to conduct extensive outreach to residents living in the Grizzly Peak and Panoramic Hill mitigation zones via personal visits, postal mailings, and online platforms. This effort aims to offer additional details and instructions on enhancing home safety against fires, along with organizing implementation workshops and various community gatherings.

Blackaby mentioned that the city is “already well underway” in seeking funding solutions aimed at lowering financial barriers for property owners.

“The aim isn’t merely to pass EMBER; we want it embraced widely across homes within the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone so that Berkeley becomes safer from fires,” he stated. “Achieving this will demand collaborative efforts from everyone involved, such as the East Bay Regional Park District, EBMUD, PG&E, UC Berkeley, the local fire department, nearby municipalities, and residents—to rise to the challenge.”

Find out more information regarding the EMBER Wildfire Mitigation Proposal.