Disaster and Fire Safety Commission

Berkeley is sprouting with eucalyptus trees. Approximately 1,250 of these evergreen giants spread their roots in the north, posing a fire risk to the city.

With COVID-19 shifting the traditional workplace to remote work and posing a wide variety of challenges, both the city of Berkeley and UC Berkeley have developed useful virtual work strategies that may carry forward into the future. 

On Wednesday, the Berkeley Disaster and Fire Safety Commission discussed recent power shut-offs, public outreach on emergency preparedness and a possible reinstitution of a special assessment zone in the Berkeley Hills at its regular meeting.

The city's Disaster and Fire Safety Commission held a regular meeting Wednesday to discuss Measure GG and other items, but first heard a comprehensive status update on the fire that raged through the Berkeley Hills Wednesday.

Berkeley residents may soon have to travel to Oakland for health emergencies as the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center on Ashby Avenue will close its doors by 2030.

The Berkeley City Council will vote to add two new city positions to train community leaders for disaster situations, gather disaster preparation materials and start free emergency training classes at their meeting Tuesday night.