News and Notes
Weigh in on Oakland’s update of its Local Hazard Mitigation Plan
February 10, 2021
The City of Oakland is in the process of updating its 2016-2021 Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP). The LHMP serves as a meaningful guide to increasing the Oakland community’s resilience in the face of natural disasters, such as earthquakes, floods, […]
15 Lessons Learned from the Webinar “Protecting Your City from Wildfire”
February 9, 2021
February 2-3, 2021 Sue PiperSecretary, United PolicyholdersChair, Oakland Firesafe Council The virtual conference “Protecting your City from Wildfire” offered two days of webinars and Q & A on a wide variety of topics that would interest planners, fire fighters and […]
Add a 5th Alternative to the Draft EIR
January 13, 2021
The Oakland Firesafe Council, along with more than 20 other neighborhood associations and local residents believes the current draft 10-year Vegetation Management Plan for Oakland and the Draft Environmental Impact Review (EIR) leads to a false sense of security. The […]
The East Bay Needs a Regional Approach to Wildfire Prevention

January 13, 2021
It is time for a new, more effective, regional approach if the East Bay Hills are to be safe from future wildfires. Using the Joint Powers Authority process to address the wildfire threat posed by inadequate vegetation management in the […]
May 11, 2020 Town Hall Meeting on Wildfire Prevention

May 13, 2020
More than 100 Oakland residents tuned in on Zoom and Council Member Sheng Thao’s Facebook page for the Town Hall Meeting on Wildfire Prevention on May 11) The meeting was sponsored by Councilmembers Kalb, Thao and Taylor and the Oakland […]
April 2020 Update from OFSC Chair re COVID-19 and Wildfire Prevention
April 15, 2020
April 15, 2020 Memo to: OFSC Members From: Sue Piper, OFSC Chair Despite our cancelling the April Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) meeting, I want to assure you that OFSC continues to work hard to keep the community and our city […]
Need a gardener to help with prep for the upcoming annual OFD inspections?

April 13, 2020
The current Pandemic Stay at Home orders allow gardeners/landscape/tree contractors to work on private property to reduce fire hazards. The Oakland Fire Department has announced that they will start the annual Inspections for Defensible Space in May. The Oakland Firesafe […]
Time to Prepare for Annual Fire Inspections in Oakland–starting in May, 2020
April 6, 2020
The most recent “Stay in Place” orders allow for gardeners/contractors to work on vegetation management projects on your property in preparation for the upcoming annual fire inspection in the Oakland Hills. OFSC Board member Bob Sieben has put together a […]
Connecting with Neighbors during Stay at Home Orders
March 28, 2020
The Oakland Firesafe Council’s (OFSC) focus has always been on before, during and after a disaster. While our primary interest is wildfire prevention, many of the same principals apply to local efforts to cope with the Covid 19 pandemic. One […]
In case you missed Bob Sieben's November 7 presentation on Homeowner's Guide to Wildfire Prevention
November 25, 2015
Bob gave this presentation at the Montclair Branch Library on November 7, 2015.
Q & A re Drought Tolerant/Firesafe Gardens
October 9, 2014
From K. L. North Oakland Hills, May 5, 2015 The OFSC suggestions all seem to require putting in new plants – and in my experience most new plants need plenty of water until they are well established. Is this really […]