KPOA Position on Wildfire and Emergency Preparedness

KPOA is concerned about the wildfire risk that is presented by the fuel load in Tilden Park.

KPOA has urged the East Bay Regional Park District to take mitigation measures to reduce the fuel load particularly at the Wildland/Urban Interface where Kensington borders Tilden Park.

KPOA also believes it is important to have a well-defined plan to ensure residents can safely evacuate Kensington should a wildfire threaten the community. KPOA has urged the Kensington Police Protection & Community Services District and the Kensington Fire Protection District to finalize an evacuation plan for Kensington and conduct evacuation drills before the next fire season.

The community of Kensington lies along the Wildland/Urban Interface bordering Tilden Park. Tilden Park presents a significant fire danger. As a result, Kensington has been designated by CalFire as residing in a very high fire hazard fire zone, which is the most extreme rating for fire hazard. In addition, the Hayward Fault runs through Kensington including along stretches of Arlington Avenue. The U.S. Geological Survey considers the Hayward Fault as very dangerous and having reached the point where a powerful, damaging earthquake can be expected at any time. Preparing for a wildfire and earthquake is critical to reducing property damage and, most important, saving lives.

Links:

The “Wildfire Preparedness & Evacuation” brochure – https://www.kppcsd.org/files/16eb05df0/Fire%2520Pamphlet%2520FINAL.pdf

Fire Hazard Reduction Standards – https://www.kensingtonfire.org/fire-hazard-reduction-standards

Ready, Set, Go! Wildland Fire Action Guide – https://www.kensingtonfire.org/files/e91e7fe25/KFPD+Ready%2C+Set%2C+Go%21.pdf

Defensible Space – https://www.kensingtonfire.org/files/5ae1364f9/DefensibleSpaceBrochure.pdf

Drought tolerant, fire resistant and highly flammable plants – https://www.kensingtonfire.org/drought-tolerant-fire-resistant-and-highly-flammable-plants

Emergency Warning Notifications

Contra Costa County Community Warning System – https://cwsalerts.com/registration/

Nixle – Sign up at nixle.com or by texting your zip code to 888777.

Putting Down Roots in Earthquake Country – https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/2005/15/

COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TRAINING (CERT) – http://www.el-cerrito.org/176/Community-Emergency-Response-Training-CE

https://www.kensingtonfire.org/cert-community-emergency-response-team