Diablo Firesafe News: Autumn winds, home inspections, and lots of pancakes

Autumn winds, fresh podcasts, and more pancakes!

This month’s Diablo Firesafe newsletter includes something for everyone, including a podcast you’ll be telling friends about.

SPOTLIGHT: Fire Prevention Week

This Saturday is a day of special events for many fire departments, including demonstrations, open houses, and pancakes for all. Our top picks are below, but be sure to check with your local fire department to see what they have cooking (probably pancakes).

Livermore-Pleasanton is going all-out for Fire Prevention Week.

The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department hosts a full-on Fire Expo this Saturday, including fire and police K-9 demonstrations, a dunk tank, and more (including pancakes). Festivities run from 8:00 to 12:00 at the Fire Training Center at 3333 Busch Road.

The City of Albany FD Pancake Breakfast and Open House will feature live fire demonstrations, a special visit from Sparky the Fire Dog, raffles, and more. Breakfast starts at 8:00 at the Albany Fire Station, 1000 San Pablo Ave.

And of course the event that got everyone excited in our last newsletter: The Moraga-Orinda annual Open House and Pancake Breakfast from 8:00 am to 10:30 at Station 41, 1284 Moraga Way. Come check out the firehouse and get to know your local firefighters while raising money for the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation.

Recommended Podcast: All Things Wildfire

The latest episode of All Things Wildfire focuses on insurance risk and wildfire preparation. Guest Mike Thayer shares insights as an NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist who spent 8 years performing home inspections for AIG.

He offers especially useful information for homeowners, including:

How insurance inspectors see properties differently from homeowners and firefighters.
Why fire inspections can be more important than firefighting.
How firefighters decide which homes to protect when they have to choose. Would yours be a priority?

Catch the episode on Spotify or Apple Podcasts right now.

Autumn Winds and Winter Storms

Last week’s heat and the inevitable autumn winds ahead are good reminders that ‘fire season’ isn’t over when summer ends. Light debris accumulates quickly this time of year and higher winds can carry embers even further.

Piedmont Fire Department has drawn attention to seasonal hazards and offers a fire-safe yard checklist to save and print. Many of these life-saving tasks are simple and can be done in your spare time.

It’s easy to forget that winter storms create fire hazards as well. Clogged gutters, debris-filled streams, and blocked roads create new fuel and increase hazards for firefighting and evacuation.

Fortunately, the same home hardening and debris clearing we do for wildfires protects us from harm on wet and wild days. Taking care of downed trees and clearing flammable debris is needed year-round.

Hunsacker Canyon photos courtesy of Leslie Krikorian

Professional Resources (for Everyone)

The California Wildfire & Forest Resilience Task Force has completed its Regional Resource Kits, now available for all four regions of California. These provide granular data, user-friendly mapping, and decision-making tools for hazard mitigation and resource management.

The toolkits include details like wildfire history, risk of flying embers to structures in particular locations, and unique community vulnerabilities. Advanced mapping and decision-making tools will soon be available with granular detail (early access is available to beta testers).

While designed for high-level professional users, the kits are useful for anyone engaged in WUI planning and preparation. Local leaders and Firewise communities may find these especially helpful as guides and communication tools.

Please share this email with neighbors and friends!

This newsletter is part of a communications initiative made possible by generous support from CAL FIRE and California Climate Investments. Please subscribe for updates and tips for preparation throughout the year.