Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews are taking proactive steps to mitigate wildfire risks in the East Bay's vegetation-heavy neighborhoods well before the official start of fire season. They are conducting prescribed burns to reduce flammable material and create defensible spaces. Local officials are also urging residents to sign up for emergency alerts and prepare their homes for wildfire.
Contra Costa County Fire Protection District crews are taking proactive steps to mitigate wildfire risks in the East Bay's vegetation-heavy neighborhoods well before the official start of fire season. Captain Brandon Earhart and a team of about 18 firefighters were engaged in prescribed burns on Tuesday morning in the Rossmoore neighborhood of Walnut Creek.
Their mission is to reduce the amount of flammable material on the ground, which could act as fuel for a wildfire to spread from the ground up into the tree canopy. Earhart explained that the treated areas typically have a clearance of 8 to 15 feet between the ground and the tree canopy. This work is part of the larger Lafayette/Walnut Creek Shaded Fuel Break project, which involves crews working on approximately 268 acres along 11 miles of open terrain in the East Bay. To support this program, Cal Fire has awarded a $3 million grant to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. Earhart described the prescribed burn process, stating that crews use drip torches to ignite the piles of brush and create a scratch line around each pile to prevent the fire from spreading beyond the controlled area. He pointed out that fire season typically begins between May and June, but factors like rainfall and wind conditions can influence the actual start date. However, preparations for the upcoming fire season actually commence a year in advance. Earhart mentioned that the brush piles used in these burns were constructed about 12 months ago, and there is a minimum 60-day waiting period between cutting the brush and the burn date.Contra Costa County officials are also emphasizing the importance of community preparedness in the face of potential wildfires. Candace Andersen, chair of the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, highlighted the need to adapt fire management strategies in light of recent devastating wildfires in Paradise and Santa Rosa. She emphasized the county's efforts to enhance its technology and communication systems through the Community Warning System (CWS), which allows residents to receive alerts via text message, email, or automatic reverse 911 calls. Andersen urged residents to sign up for CWS and familiarize themselves with the Project Genasys website, which provides information on evacuation zones and wildfire preparedness resources. She also stressed the importance of maintaining clear defensible spaces around homes, removing any debris that could fuel a fire. The firefighters working in Walnut Creek expressed their heightened awareness of wildfire risks, particularly after witnessing the destructive Southern California wildfires, noting that the area's oak woodlands and grasslands, combined with homes situated on hillsides, create conditions that are susceptible to significant wildfire incidents
WILDFIRES SAFETY COMMUNITY PREPARATIONS CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE SEASON
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