When Ken Benson and the late Dinah Benson and I created the Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) in 2014, our goal was to provide local residents with timely, accurate and practical tips and tools to help make them more firesafe. In seven years, the Oakland Firesafe Council established itself as a respected voice and advocate for wildfire prevention, not only in Oakland, but regionally, in the state and beyond.
Now, OFSC faces a new opportunity, with new leadership and a renewed sense of purpose. My husband and I are moving to Oregon in January to live closer to our children. As of January 1, 2022, co-founder Ken Benson will become chair of OFSC. Elizabeth Stage, vice chair of the North Hills Community Association and one of our architects of OFSC’s advocacy efforts, will become Vice Chair. Lisa Jacobs, formerly an aide to Oakland Councilmember Dan Kalb, will become Secretary. Our stalwart Treasurer, Michael Kilian, will continue in that role.
I feel confident that OFSC is in good hands, and will continue to be a strong and respected advocate for wildfire prevention regionally as well as statewide. We have established great partnerships with a variety of homeowner associations, neighborhood councils and other groups focused on wildfire prevention. My wish for the coming year is that we continue to educate, advocate, and help local residents learn to live with the risk of wildfire, which is part and parcel of living in our beautiful and vibrant community.
Sue Piper
Co-founder and outgoing ChairOakland Firesafe Council