Thirty-five years ago, the Oakland hills experienced the most destructive fire in East Bay history. Since then, wildfires have become more frequent and intense across California.
Today, EBMUD applies lessons from that disaster to our year-round emergency plans.
No municipal water system is designed to battle large-scale, wind-driven wildfires where urban development and wildland vegetation meet. But through investments, partnerships, training and planning, we work every day to reduce risk and strengthen our ability to provide reliable water service when it’s needed most.
Protecting watersheds and communities
EBMUD manages nearly 60,000 acres of watershed lands in the East Bay and Sierra Nevada foothills. Wildfire prevention measures include:
- Watershed fuel break construction and maintenance
- Dead and hazardous tree removal
- Prescribed fires to reduce fuels
- Fire road maintenance
- Vegetation control
Building a resilient water system
To ensure reliable water supplies during emergencies, EBMUD:
- Maintains backup generators at critical facilities
- Deploys portable generators and pumps for Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS)
- Tops off neighborhood water tanks during Red Flag Warnings to maximize water available for firefighting
Working together
-
EBMUD helped establish the Hills Emergency Forum to strengthen regional preparedness. We also work with fire departments, East Bay Regional Park District, and other agencies to coordinate planning and response.
- California’s mutual assistance network allows utilities to share resources.
These efforts combined help EBMUD build a safer, more resilient East Bay.
Learn more at ebmud.com/wildfire-preparedness
Sign up for water emergency alerts: ebmud.com/subscriptions