East Bay residents receive wildfire preparedness guide

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KTVU) - Thousands of wildfire preparedness guides are being mailed out to residents in the East Bay as part of a public awareness campaign.

More than 62,000 residents who live in critical wildland fire hazard areas in Lamorinda are receiving the mailers, called “The Lamorinda Residents Guide to Wildfire Preparedness & Evacuation.”

Every household in Lafayette, Moraga, Orinda, and Canyon is receiving a copy.

The guide contains information on wildfire notifications, evacuations, and emergency preparedness.

“We wanted to put this in one location where you as a resident or citizen can get your family ready,” Lafayette Police Chief Ben Alldritt said. “We want this to be easy to find, easy to use.”

The wildfire guides are part of a joint effort between the cities of Lafayette, Orinda, the Moraga-Orinda Fire District, and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, among other agencies.

“We have a lot of roads that are one way in, one way out,” Duncan Seibert with the Lafayette Emergency Preparedness Commission said. “We've developed evacuation zones where we know the direction that people will have to travel to get out.”

William Pigeon, Assistant Fire Chief in the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, advised the public to pay attention to the weather and red flag warnings, in addition to the recommendations in the guide.

“Any area that has homes surrounded by wildlife or urban interface, I would consider susceptible,” Pigeon said.

Officials are encouraging residents to register with the Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff’s Emergency Services Community Warning System (CWS) to ensure all residents receives notifications during disasters. To register for phone alerts, text messages, and emails, residents should visit http://www.cococws.com.