Dublin Homeowners Need to be Prepared for Wildfires

Check your mailbox, Dublin residents. The Alameda County Fire Department is sending letters to homeowners who need to prepare for wildfires.

These residents need to clear space between their homes and the surrounding brush. 

"It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when fires will happen," said Chief Ken Pimlott, acting director for Cal Fire.

He was joined by Alameda County Fire Department Chief Sheldon Gilbert, among other firefighters, Tuesday afternoon at the CAL FIRE Sunol fire station for a press conference about preparing for wildfires.

The message is simple: Between 5,000 and 8,000 wildfires erupt in California each year and homeowners need to be prepared.

May 1-7 is "Wildfire Awareness Week," which requires some work: Keep grass, trees and shrubs at least 100 feet away from your home, and check your deck, patio covering, fences and roof to make sure they're built with ignition-resistant materials.

"It's a combination of both defensible space and the hardening of homes that give a home the best chance of surviving a wildfire," said Pimlott.

Residents can visit the website www.ReadyForWildfire.org for tips on getting ready for the wildlife season. 

"This year's fire season has not started as early as it has in the years past," said Pimlott. "That's why residents should take the time now, while the grass is still green, to make sure they are ready for California's wildfires."