The East Bay Regional Park District Fire Services Department is currently using a variety of methods to reduce hazardous wildland fuels, maintain fuel breaks in the East Bay Hills, and control invasive weeds. These methods include utilizing tree and brush removal contractors, goat grazing, prescribed fire, and hand crew labor.
Prescribed fires (also called controlled fires) are fires intentionally ignited by specifically trained fire professionals to accomplish management objectives in specific areas under defined conditions identified in an approved prescribed fire plan. Unlike wildfires, prescribed fires are conducted only when conditions are acceptable.
Strategically placed prescribed fires offer the opportunity to reduce the threat of uncontrollable wildfires and increase firefighter safety. Other benefits include: 1) reduce hazardous fuels; 2) improve wildlife habitat; 3) manage competing vegetation; 4) improve access; 5) dispose of logging debris; 6) prepare sites for seedling or planting; 7) control insects and disease; 8) improve forage for grazing; 9) improves recreation and aesthetic values; 10) perpetuate fire-dependent species.
- 2009 Fuels Management Projects
- 2009 Planned Prescribed Fire Projects
- 2010 Goat Grazing Schedule
- East Bay Hills Wildfire Hazard Reduction And Resource Management Plan and EIR
- Movie - 2008 Vegetation Management Practices
2009 Fuels Management Projects
East Bay Regional Park District Fire Services is currently conducting several fire management projects in the East Bay Hills to help mitigate the effects of wildland fires and to enhance and promote native plant species. Eucalyptus and pine tree removal is funded by Measure CC and pre-disaster mitigation grants. Fuel breaks are continually being maintained by fire crews to prevent resprouting of eucalyptus and other non-native flammable vegetation.
- Round Valley Yellow Starthistle Management, June to September
- Diablo Foothills Medusahead Management, June to September
- Point Pinole Regional Shoreline Grassland Restoration, August to November
- Tilden Regional Park Alameda Whipsnake Habitat Enhancement Research Project, September to March
- Wildcat Canyon Regional Park Santa Cruz Tarplant Habitat Enhancement, October to November
2010 Goat Grazing Schedule
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Dates and locations are subject to change.
Learn more about how the East Bay Regional Park District Fire Services Department works to prevent dangerous wildfires in the Regional Parks in this short video. The Park District’s Fire Department is currently using a variety of methods to reduce hazardous wildland fuels, maintain fuel breaks in the East Bay Hills, and control invasive weeds. These methods include utilizing tree and brush removal contractors, goat grazing, prescribed fire, and hand crew labor.