Wildland Fires

Now Available: "Fire Evacuation" -- 10-minute video that details the LBNL plan for a Diablo wind-driven wildfire in the East Bay Hills, including evacuation of employees. Available now through the Emergency Preparedness office (x7033). Or click HERE to watch it on streaming video (select "EH&S Safety Programs - Fire Evacuation").

Hills Emergency Forum (HEF) -- Berkeley Lab is a charter member of this coalition of public land-owners in the East Bay Hills. The mission of the HEF is to coordinate the collection, assessment and sharing of information on the East Bay Hills fire hazards and to provide a forum for building interagency consensus on the development of fire safety standards and codes, incident response and management protocols, public education programs, multi-jurisdictional training, and fuel reduction strategies.

Tips to Stay Safe This High-Risk Fire Season

• Pay attention to the signs posted at the gates alerting people about general fire conditions. Remain watchful, especially on red flag days (low humidity, high temperatures, winds from the East).
• Remember that smoking is strictly prohibited in areas with dry grass/vegetation.
• Park vehicles on paved or shielded surfaces only. (Roughly 25 percent of California’s wildfires start along roadsides, most often from vehicles’ hot catalytic converters touching roadside grass or from discarded cigarettes.)
• Prior to starting any work that can create flames, sparks or heat sufficient to start a fire (welding, torch cutting, burning, metal grinding, brazing, copper sweating, heat gun use, etc.) make sure to obtain a “Hot-Work” permit from the Fire Department. The permit requires that a fire watch be present during the work and a minimum of 30 minutes after completion of the work (additional time will be assigned when warranted).
• Know the location of a phone closest to your work site. If you see or smell smoke, report it immediately by calling x7911 (or 911 from a cell phone).

Should it ever become necessary to evacuate buildings because of a fast moving wildfire, follow these steps:

1. Listen to the public address system. Information and instructions will be broadcast and repeated over the building manager radio system.
2. Pay attention to instructions regarding the type of evacuation being requested — vehicular and/or pedestrian (on foot).
3. Understand how to Shelter-In-Place, if you are asked to do so.
4. Follow directions!

Homeowner's Checklist -- "How To Make Your Own Home FireSafe" -- a brochure from CDF, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

Last updated 04/10/2008