Grizzly Peak Strategic Fuel Break Collaboration

The Grizzly Peak Strategic Fuel Break Collaboration is led by East Bay Regional Parks (EBRPD) in coordination with the City of Berkely, EBMUD, and UC Berkeley thanks to a cooperative CAL FIRE grant facilitated by the Hills Emergency Forum (HEF).

Contra Costa and Alameda Counties have a long history of wildland fires, and over time, have become increasingly more prone to fires. Hillsides formerly covered by grassland are now home to non-native exotic annual grasses and densely growing non-native pine, cypress, and eucalyptus trees. The increase in vegetation also means an increase in fuel loads. Additionally, as the population of the East Bay has expanded, urban developments have expanded into wildland spaces or spaces that were predominately grass with scattered trees and shrubs. Landscaped houses nestled in among mature trees, brush, and introduced other exotic, planted vegetation have become fuels themselves.

The collaboration aims to reduce fuel loads in the urban-wildlife interface to reduce fire danger in communities surrounding open space.

The fuels reduction areas funded by the grant are shown below:

The East Bay Regional Park District's  fuels management  project aims to significantly reduce wildfire risk and enhance emergency access and evacuation capabilities by connecting to and filling in the gaps between existing fuels reduction projects in the area of Grizzly Peak Boulevard. Six units in Tilden and Sibley Regional Parks will be targeted to protect the communities of Berkeley, Oakland, and Orinda. Hazardous wildland fuels will be treated in a manner consistent with our Wildfire Hazard and Resource Management Plan and the East Bay Hills CalVTP, resulting in reduced wildfire risk and increased resilience to future threats of wildfire. This will be achieved by reducing brush and ladder fuels, thinning dense stands of trees, promoting fire-resilient species and biodiversity, and preventing the colonization and establishment of invasive weeds.