In June, Oakland Firesafe Council (OFSC) completed the final project funded through our 2026 PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant. OFSC successfully executed targeted vegetation management and structural wildfire mitigation treatments across eight high-priority residential properties situated within the Oakland Hills’ Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone (VHFHSZ).
Funded generously through the PG&E Fuel Reduction Grant, we thank PG&E for making these treatments possible. They prioritized critical hazard reduction via strategic fuel removal, invasive species eradication, and ecological recovery, while advancing community wildfire risk education that leads to long-term neighborhood stewardship.
Consistent with the previous year’s PG&E grant, thinning and pruning work emphasized preservation of native species such as redwoods, buckeyes, live oaks, sycamore and cedars and removal of invasive species. The work improved vertical and horizontal spacing on all properties.
All awarded projects were within an already established Firewise USA community or those that are working towards recognition. Awarding grants to Firewise USA recognized communities ensures funding goes to groups with a proven framework of community readiness. These communities have already organized a leadership team, developed action plans, and are committed to long-term wildfire risk reduction through taking actions in home hardening and fuel reduction.
Shaded Fuel Break / Fuel Reduction on Hillsides and Slopes
Seasonal grasses and fast-growing vegetation pose a recurring threat during fire season, particularly on sloped lots where fine fuels can accelerate fire spread uphill.
Preventative work on this hillside property included weed management and removal of non-native invasive species such as Scotch broom and flammable coyote brush; removal of dead branches of toyon and cotoneaster; raising up bay trees to 8’ above ground; removal of dead, downed trees. All of this contributes to broader neighborhood resilience by interrupting potential surface fire pathways and reducing ignition risk along the residential corridor characterized by narrow streets.
This narrow, steep swale sits between two homes and had become a collection point for fallen material, creating a concentrated vertical fuel bed that could act as a fire ladder in the event of ignition. If left untreated, this high-risk condition could significantly increase vulnerability for both neighboring structures. Mitigation work included removal of a large amount of accumulated pine debris, tree branches and brush; selective tree trimming and removal; limbing up of remaining trees to 8’ above ground.
Evacuation Route Clearing / Roadside Fuel Reduction
Risk reduction is crucial on narrow streets where tight spacing and overgrowth could compromise evacuation and fire response. These two sites concentrated on trimming back/reducing trees and clearing overgrown vegetation.
Defensible Space / Fuel Reduction / Structural Protection in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)
This property backs directly onto Joaquin Miller Park and several large trees, including a Monterey pine affected by pitch canker, were overhanging the fenceline and reaching toward the rear of the home. A recent incident in which a large pine branch fell and damaged the roof and gutters underscored the immediate hazard that the diseased trees posed. Work included removing the pine; thinning, and selective removal of hazardous black acacia to reduce canopy encroachment and restore defensible space.
Vegetation management along the lower edge of a private parcel that sits above the West Trail, a well-used path within Joaquin Miller Park, included removal of several invasive black acacia, weed whacking the sloped area below grass, reducing/limbing up bay trees, and removing wood, brush, and debris. Targeting fuels at the slope break between public wildland and private structure creates defensible space and strengthens the buffer between a high-risk ignition zone and the built environment.
This residential property borders Garber Park, an area known for steep terrain and dense vegetation – encroaching tree growth increased the risk of fire transmission from open space to structure. Completed work reduced canopy density and removed low-hanging limbs, lowering the chance of ember ignition and improving vertical separation between fuels. Additionally a large oak tree limb impinging on lower utility lines was removed. Overall this project enhances defensible space and contributes to the buffer zone between wildland interface and residential development in this hillside community.
Defensible space improvement on a residential parcel directly across from Joaquin Miller Park addressed ember exposure and radiant heat concerns in the immediate zone surrounding the home (Zone 0). Treatment included reducing/limbing back of large blue cedar in front yard overhanging house and growing into utility lines, reducing jasmine and wisteria growing on front of house, limbing up bay and oaks in backyard, removing ivy suffocating cedar in backyard, removing overgrown salvia, clearing vegetation on slope with weed whacker, removing downed branches/debris from yard. The work enhances fire resilience and supports structural protection in a neighborhood characterized by dense canopy cover, limited clearance, and close proximity to Joaquin Miller Park.
Intensive fuel abatement efforts resulted in an estimated 227 cubic yards removed in total!
Vegetation clearing was performed using weed whackers and hand tools, extending beyond property boundaries into neighboring parcels when access was granted. To address resident concerns about steep-slope erosion, crews prioritized low-impact, manual vegetation management. By hand-clearing fuels and leaving root systems intact, they maintained vital soil cohesion where erosion was possible. A high-capacity wood chipper was employed for nine days, processing large volumes of biomass to reduce fuel loads on-site. All green waste was repurposed using Richmond’s Green Waste Recycle Yard.
An appreciative homeowner shared, “As someone who was here during the 1991 Oakland Firestorm, I can tell you that I learned a lot during this process – most important is that this program can reduce our fire risk and save lives and property if we all do our part.”
The immediate outcomes include demonstrable improvements in property safety, enhanced emergency access, and a reduced threat to adjacent structures and critical infrastructure. As with the previous year, homeowner feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with neighbors frequently inquiring about participating in future projects thus reflecting a strengthened community commitment to future fire safety initiatives.