Message from Fire Chief Bret Black: Watch out for the coming heat wave

Chris Treadway

Piedmont Fire Chief Bret Black

Over the past few days Piedmont Fire Department has enjoyed a well-deserved respite from wildfires. Our engine and crew returned earlier this week from the SCU Lightning Complex. According to this morning’s statewide fire summary provided by CalFire, over 12,900 firefighters continue to build containment on 23 major fires and lightning complexes in California.

Since the lightning siege that started on Saturday, August 15, 2020, there have been nearly 14,000 lightning strikes. During this time-period, there have been more than 900 new wildfires, which have now burned over 1.5 million acres. There have 8 fatalities and nearly 3,300 structures destroyed.

The National Weather Service has issued an Excessive Heat Warning from Saturday through Tuesday.

The region will experience a warming trend over the weekend, with the possibility of N-NE wind gusts and lowering humidity. The cycle of warm, dry winds are typical for this time of year when we see wildfires quickly get out of control. These conditions are optimal extreme fire behavior. 

With Labor Day weekend starting, Piedmont Fire Department is urging residents to take extreme caution to prevent sparking a wildfire. To learn more visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org

Piedmont residents are urged to improve the survivability of their homes during wildfire! The fire department is actively performing vegetation inspections throughout Piedmont to ensure the survivability of your home during a wildfire.

Manage the vegetation around your home

Stay informed

Please register for AC Alert to receive evacuation alerts.

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