From the Piedmont Fire Chief Bret Black, Saturday, October 26:
As of October 25, 2019, the entire City of Piedmont is under a RED FLAG WARNING along with a large portion of the state. CalFire has implemented a burn ban for our area. Piedmont Police and Fire Departments will be patrolling the community enforcing the burn ban and to ensure roads are kept clear during this event. Please park your vehicles in your driveway to keep the roads clear.
The Kincade Fire in Sonoma County is currently being fought. It is an extremely destructive fire and Piedmont will face similar weather conditions over the next few days; strong winds will combine with warm, dry air blowing from the north and east.
Please remain vigilant for these hazards:
- If you see smoke or fire LEAVE THE AREA and call 911. DO NOT wait to be evacuated. Keep some basic supplies in your vehicle, so you can leave immediately if you feel threatened.
- PG&E has announced a preemptive Public Safety Power Shutoff due to the wind. Piedmont has several areas within the affected zones. You should be prepared for extended power disruption, up to 5 days. Visit PGE.com for details on affected neighborhoods or call 866-743-6589.
- The wind will be a major safety hazard causing damage to trees and utility infrastructure. There will likely be additional unplanned power disruptions. We are asking all Piedmont residents to be aware of your surroundings while driving or walking in our town. You should look for leaning or broken trees or power poles and avoid the area.
- Traffic signals could also be impacted and drivers need to treat these intersections as a four-way stop if the traffic signal is out.
- The Piedmont Fire, Police, and Public Works Departments have additional emergency personnel on duty and will be in a heightened state of readiness during this event.
- The wind is expected to subside early Monday Morning, October 28th. Power disruptions could be protracted depending on the degree of damage to PG&E utilities.
- Please visit our City of Piedmont website for more information. Keep in mind when the power is disrupted your internet may not work….so DON’T WAIT. For more information on how to be prepared for emergencies, please see the Public Safety Committee’s Get Ready, Piedmont brochure.