Berkeley Fire Department Refines Wildfire Inspection Program

The Berkeley Fire Department has launched a new wildfire safety website and updated its vegetation inspection program to better align community resources with the city’s highest-risk areas.

The new approach to appointment-based, in-depth inspections helps residents in the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone receive more personalized support and improved access to services by allowing inspectors to dedicate more time to ensure residents understand current requirements and upcoming program changes.

“Our goal is to focus our resources where they can do the most good,” said Chief Arnold, Assistant Chief of the Wildland Division. “The revised inspection model gives us the chance to directly partner with residents in the areas of highest risk, providing clarity, education, and stronger community resilience.”

Using inspection data from the past several years, the Department found the need to focus on fewer properties to give each property more attention. Previously, inspectors visited more than 9,000 properties annually. The new approach enables more meaningful engagement and measurable progress in helping property owners create defensible space.

The program currently prioritizes the Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone, and within it, the Grizzly Peak and Panoramic Areas, based on new Cal FIRE maps that more precisely define high-risk zones. Other areas outside of the required vegetation management area are no longer part of the inspection focus, reflecting updated state modeling.

To improve communication and transparency, residents now have three inspection options:

1.     Schedule an appointment for a walkthrough inspection and fire safety coaching and use the self-inspection checklist as your guide to firesafe practices.

2.     Sign a Right of Entry (ROE) authorizing department access if scheduling isn’t possible.

3.     If your home is outside the required inspection area, you can still schedule an inspection

“These changes came midyear when Cal FIRE updated their mapping and gave us new insight into local fire dynamics,” said Chief Arnold. “Our priority is to ensure the community understands not just what’s changed—but why.”

Residents can learn more about the updated inspection process, area-specific requirements, view the Self-inspection checklist and review available services by visiting the new Berkeley FireSafe website at https://www.berkeleyfiresafe.org/