Piedmont Fire Chief Dave Brannigan calls on residents to harden their homes against wildfire
Every July 4th parade in Piedmont is led by Smokey Bear on the fire truck reminding us all that only you can prevent wildfires. That message used to apply to camping trips in the Sierra. Unfortunately, today wildfire is a very real threat to Piedmont. The City took action this month to ensure a future Piedmont that is resistant to wildfire. Now, it’s time for the rest of us to do our part.
On December 1, the Piedmont City Council designated all of Piedmont a Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) and adopted the State’s new WUI Fire Code. That decision matters. Stronger codes will steadily improve the safety of our housing stock over time.
But adopting a code alone doesn’t make us safer today. Your actions can.
Replacing flammable siding and roofing materials makes us safer. Landscaping so vegetation is well maintained away from structures makes us safer. Buildings constructed to the highest standards of fire resistance make us safer. You don’t need to wait until the new code forces you to make these upgrades during a renovation or rebuild. California drives so much of the economy that beautiful and fire resistant materials are available for almost any design.
I live in a beautiful 1904 wood sided home just outside of Piedmont. I’m acutely aware of the time and cost of bringing a home and property into compliance with today’s wildfire safety standards. But it’s an investment my family is planning for – on a timeline we can manage – with projects in the works today, this year, and over the next five years.
The Piedmont Fire Department is here to help you and your neighbors get started. Our fire prevention experts will happily meet you at your property and help you to understand what improvements can be made right away and what you can plan to do as time and resources permit. We love it when you also organize some neighbors and we can all meet together, coming to an understanding of how you can work together to get those yards with shared vegetation trimmed up in a way that is beautiful and works for everyone. Give us a call at 510-420-3030 and request an inspection today!
Our new code sets a higher standard for future construction. But a more resilient community doesn’t need to wait for “someday.” We can all make choices now to get there faster.
Wildfire safety isn’t something that happens all at once. It’s something we build, step by step. I encourage every Piedmont resident to take the begin that process now – learning, planning, and taking the first steps that make sense for their home and their circumstance. (View/download ‘home hardening’ flyer HERE.)