Narrow Streets, Parked Cars, Hilly Terrain All Contribute to Hazards 15 Years After CatastropheLaboring up a winding canyon road, firefighters never know if they will have clear access into the Oakland Hills to fight a fire.
Fifteen years after the Oakland Hills firestorm, the Oakland Fire Department and the Insurance Information Network of California today toured an area devastated by the 1991 catastrophe, finding that some hazards will always be a part of life in the Oakland Hills. While building materials have improved and the vegetation has been reduced, terrain, seasonal weather and road conditions continue to pose challenges to firefighters.
“With all the time, effort and money spent on reducing the threat of fire, it is just that – reduction, not elimination.” said Candysse Miller, executive director of the Insurance Information Network of California.
To help illustrate the challenges firefighters face in the wildland-urban interface, the Oakland Fire Department’s “engine-eye” view underscored the importance of aggressive fire prevention efforts. Firefighters pointed out examples of defensible space, with cleared brush and dead branches removed from trees and fire fuels pulled out from under wood decks.
Demonstrating the difficulty of navigating up the Oakland Hills’ canyon roads, firefighters urged residents to keep roadways clear of vehicles and other obstacles. Not only do these barriers impede access by fire crews, but could obstruct evacuation routes for thousands of people living in the area.
With the fire season quickly coming to a close, this year in particular showed vast improvement in part due to a successful vegetation management inspection program as well as citizens/private land owners showing their commitment to defensible space. Chief Daniel Farrell was quoted as saying “although significant improvements have been made, we in the Oakland Fire Department can never let our guard down when it comes to fire prevention efforts in the Oakland Hills”.
While physical preparation is important, homeowners also need to focus on keeping their financial house in order, Miller said.
IINC offers free home inventory software to assist homeowners with this often-overlooked task. The software helps homeowners itemize their belongings and identify any home remodels, provides insurers with information that can help homeowners determine their present insurance needs and furnishes a roadmap to recovery should homeowners ever experience a loss.
IINC is a non-profit, non-lobbying insurance communications association. For more information on this and other issues, please visit the IINC Web site at www.iinc.org.
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