By Maryanne Hubbard, CABS Firewise
Firewise groups across Oakland are growing!
This year, we have grown from 9 to 15 Firewise-recognized communities. With this growth comes an influx of learning, from hardening homes and improving preparedness to practicing evacuation.
Evacuation planning, in particular, has sparked many questions as groups work to ready their neighborhoods. My own group, CABS Firewise, organized our first evacuation drill in 2023. As one of the first groups to complete a drill, we’ve received many inquiries from other communities, so I decided to share our approach with Firewise leaders across Oakland.
Building Connections: The First Firewise Leadership Meeting
In September, all Firewise group leaders met together for the first time on Zoom. I shared our past evacuation plan, along with templates and guides to help others design their own drills without having to start from scratch.
Collaborating was incredible, exchanging tips, ideas, and challenges we’ve experienced. We also invited interested groups to participate in this year’s upcoming drill.
Organizing the Drill
The drill is designed to be flexible; neighbors can participate in evacuating or simply use it as an opportunity to create or update their home emergency plan.
The drill also gives neighborhood leaders a chance to test their alert system. The alert serves as a valuable reminder to those who aren’t evacuating that emergencies can happen at any time!
Partnering with Oakland Firesafe Council
Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) has been an essential partner for all our Firewise communities. Joelle from OFSC has supported groups during the recognition process, answering countless questions. She helped us organize our first leadership meeting and has been a cheerleader throughout the process. OFSC partnership with the drill was a natural fit to further support the Firewise groups for this essential educational piece. One of the most challenging pieces of drill organization is finding a safe place for neighbors to meet. This year OFSC worked with Merritt College to provide a site for Firewise groups.
The 2025 Evacuation Drill
On October 4, 2025 at 11 a.m., alerts went out to participating neighbors. This year, CABS Firewise and LaMasNa Plus took part, with Sayer-Saroni leaders observing to prepare for their own future drill.
Participants were encouraged to grab their go bags and drive to Merritt College using alternative routes through the hills. Some neighbors arrived directly, while others used the exercise to explore new routes or came to learn more and get a jump on building their home plans.
More than 25 residents evacuated, and at Merritt College, the Oakland Firesafe Council hosted a resource table and group debrief. It was inspiring to see families, neighbors, and Firewise leaders come together to learn and strengthen our preparedness.
Next year we hope to do it again!
A huge thank you to everyone who participated and supported this event. Special thanks to Oakland Firesafe Council for securing our meet-up location, to Joelle for her continued leadership with the Firewise Communities, Wendy for volunteering and supporting the effort, and Merritt College for providing a safe spot for our drill.
