Oakland Firesafe Council

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Oakland Firesafe Council

Helping Oakland and the East Bay reduce wildfire risk through education, preparedness & community action.

08/25/2026

Defensible space improvement was among the activities funded by our 2026 PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant. Reducing overgrown vegetation addressed ember exposure and radiant heat concerns in the immediate zone (Zone 0) surrounding a home located directly across from Joaquin Miller Park.

This project enhances fire resilience and supports structural protection in a neighborhood characterized by dense canopy cover, with limited clearance, and located in the WUI (Wildland Urban Interface).

We are grateful to PG&E for supporting this important work and to the homeowners who helped make these projects possible. These projects demonstrate how targeted vegetation management, homeowner participation, and community-wide preparedness can work together to reduce wildfire risk in the Oakland Hills.

08/20/2026

Funded through our 2026 PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant, intensive fuel reduction efforts resulted in an estimated 227 cubic yards of fuel removed from across eight sites in the Oakland Hills’ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

As with the previous year’s PG&E grant, crews emphasized the preservation of native vegetation where appropriate, including redwoods, buckeyes, live oaks, sycamores, and cedars, while removing invasive species and hazardous or dead vegetation. Treatments improved vertical and horizontal spacing between fuels on the properties.

We are grateful to PG&E for making this work possible. Projects focused on reducing hazardous fuels, removing invasive vegetation, improving defensible space, and protecting homes and evacuation routes, while also providing opportunities for homeowners and neighborhoods to learn more about long-term wildfire risk reduction and stewardship.

08/17/2026

Join us ONLINE this Wednesday, August 19 for our monthly community meeting. This month's presentation is "Fire Smart Plant Selection" by Jessie Godfrey, an Environmental Horticulture and Water Resources Management Advisor with University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE), an off-campus wing of UC’s Agriculture & Natural Resources (UC ANR) division.

We welcome everyone from all Oakland and East Bay communities to observe, participate and/or get involved.

Meeting starts at 7:00pm

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08/13/2026

OFSC August Newsletter (link in comment)

- PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant Report
- OFSC Community Meeting
- In Memoriam: Jerry Kent
- Wildfire in Joaquin Miller Park
- Firewise-Related Happenings
- Zone 0 Update
- Oakland Wildfire District Inspections Update

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08/08/2026

Neighbors who know each other are more likely to work together and take action to help make their community more firesafe.

This year Piedmont Pines "7 Streets" Neighborhood (MONS 24) celebrated National Night Out (NNO) with an introduction on becoming a Firewise USA recognized area. The topic was front and center at their NNO event which was visited by Oakland City Councilmember Janani Ramachandran.

If your neighborhood participated in NNO, we'd love to hear about any wildfire preparedness discussions that were had and/or resources that were shared. Please tag us, , in your social postings or if you'd like to share photos and a short blurb in our upcoming newsletter, email [email protected]

07/27/2026

Here's another project funded through our 2026 PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant – the work targeted the removal of a large amount of accumulated pine debris, tree branches and brush within a narrow, steep swale sitting between two homes. This collection of dry, fallen plant material resulted in a concentrated vertical fuel bed that could act as a fire ladder in the event of ignition.

Reduction of ladder fuels at this site addressed a high-risk condition that had significantly increased vulnerability for both neighboring structures.

Stay tuned – we'll be sharing more before-and-after photos of several high-risk sites and highlight the impact of this grant on wildfire resilience in our community.

07/23/2026

In June, Oakland Firesafe Council completed the final project funded through our 2026 PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant. Crews tackled hazardous vegetation, removed invasive species, improved defensible space, and strengthened evacuation routes across multiple Oakland Hills properties.

In this example, the project focused on targeted w**d management/invasive species overgrowth on a hillside property. Seasonal grasses and fast-growing vegetation pose a recurring threat during fire season, particularly on sloped lots where fine fuels can accelerate fire spread uphill.

This preventative FUEL REDUCTION work contributes to broader neighborhood resilience by interrupting potential surface fire pathways and reducing ignition risk along a residential corridor characterized by narrow streets.

Stay tuned – we'll be sharing more before-and-after photos of several high-risk sites and highlight the impact of this grant on wildfire resilience in our community.

07/16/2026

Looking for a contractor to help reduce wildfire risk around your home? Oakland Firesafe Council is excited to share our new directory which connects residents with local businesses that provide wildfire preparedness and mitigation services including:

- Assessments
- Defensible space
- Fences & Gates
- Fire-smart Landscaping
- Home Hardening
- Tree Work
- Vegetation Management
- Yard Clean Up

While inclusion on the list does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by the Oakland Firesafe Council, we hope it serves as a helpful starting point for homeowners seeking qualified professionals to help.

07/13/2026

Join us ONLINE this Wednesday, July 15 for our monthly community meeting. This month's guest presenter Joel Laucher of United Policy Holders will give us the latest on new insurance regulations aimed at increasing fire insurance policies written in high-risk areas.

We welcome everyone from all Oakland and East Bay communities to observe, participate and/or get involved.

Meeting starts at 7:00pm

07/09/2026

OFSC July 2026 Newsletter

• New OFSC Vendor Directory
• OFSC Meeting
• In Memoriam: Barbara Goldenberg
• Castle Court Firewise community
• PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant
• ORCA 4th of July Radio Patrol
• Fuel Reduction In & Around Oakland Parks
• Zone 0 Update
• National Night Out
• New RedFlag Check App

SUBSCRIBE by using the blue "Join Our Email List" button above the newsletter

Address

6114 La Salle Avenue, Box 462
Oakland, CA
94611

Telephone

(510) 575-0916

Website

http://oaklandfiresafecouncil.org/

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