[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6262911,"mediaKeyId","3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7","parentId",3110562,"title","Officials urge home hardening and neighborhood Firewise action after Southern California fires; insurers, discounts discussed","audioSeconds",2252,"startMs",908000,"endMs",3160000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7&start=908&end=3160","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7/thumbnail_908000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6262911/California/Officials-urge-home-hardening-and-neighborhood-Firewise-action-after-Southern-California-fires-insurers-discounts-discussed","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262911-e8dde6f09b0be417d098db430548e59f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147093&Signature=ElhmIN5iv-Pul0nKU4W9~Ui5b~fmPAdZDN4O~tTH~1~LAAbvqjPe9grhnG0OMsMv-05HuvsvN9eEtDhVAoOFE-6OhK0o~9mY50LKnTP~dJKZJXlteerOtBo5ahVuLZkrNLcwKIv9H1hnraMoknR8v5qaj~efr8tpl86qOIoqWF3~rNPWl4NIhmCyptcPXov0MdKMLXGTuwoJ1mA6xthjaUX6yQ1l7Bk4kr~a80MVh0XJE56~ruttnMkdABro0wvqsoFegW30oyjBx5WFSEqxwjUtVL4G5Ouk42oSgkNtyPK-R7Dpz2OfIoufhgInNaaR4Eo2-xcD0ZUdSE1okggnOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town Council of Moraga CA","date","2025-04-22T23:31:31Z","article","Speakers at the Moraga preparedness meeting urged residents to harden homes, reduce combustible materials near structures and organize neighborhood mitigation to lower wildfire risk — advice informed by recent Southern California fires and local experience.

Deputy Fire Chief Lucas Lambert, who deployed to the Palisades incident with a Cal Fire incident management team, described the role of ember cast and extreme weather in moving fire rapidly from structure to structure. \"I boiled it down to three things: home hardening, removal of vegetation, reduction of fuels, and if we are lucky enough, we can interject firefighting resources to slow or contain the fire to the area of origin,\" Lambert said. He illustrated with before‑and‑after images showing adjacent homes with different outcomes and said defensible space, attic vent screens, and clearing combustible material from eaves and decks can make the difference.

Police Chief King and Fire Chief Jeff Isaacs gave practical home‑hardening examples: clearing gutters, installing fine‑mesh screens over vents, removing combustible items (wood piles, plastic garbage cans) from within five feet of the house, and using noncombustible materials where approved. Isaacs recounted a personal experience in which ember attack nearly destroyed his home and said Zone 0 would address the immediate five‑foot perimeter.

Nancy Watkins, a local insurance expert in the audience, told residents that neighborhood‑level mitigation programs such as Firewise or IBHS wildfire‑prepared neighborhood approaches can improve the community’s attractiveness to insurers and in some cases lead to better access to coverage. Watkins said there is a mandatory discount in California for admitted insurers tied to mitigation but cautioned that insurability and rates depend on market competition and actuarial decisions. \"What helps with insurability is taking action to drive down the risk,\" she said, and noted that pilots to inspect and certify groups of homes could be passed to insurance underwriters for consideration.

Residents asked about specifics — e.g., whether irrigated plantings count toward Zone 0, whether Hardie (fiber cement) siding or enclosing a small fence section in noncombustible materials would be acceptable, and whether the town could provide photo‑based preclearance guidance. Officials repeatedly said the Board of Forestry will finalize the state rule‑making and that MOFD staff will provide guidance; they also pointed to MOFD’s ambassador program that sends volunteers to consult with homeowners and the district’s chipping program and grant efforts to support neighborhood mitigation.

Speakers urged neighborhood‑level organization and drills, getting CWS enrollment, assembling go‑bags (including pet carriers), and conducting reunification and school drills. Several residents asked about insurance rate impacts; officials said that neighborhood certification and visible mitigation increase the likelihood insurers will offer coverage, but they emphasized there are no guaranteed premium outcomes absent insurer participation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town of Moraga Emergency Preparedness Community Meeting April 21,2025","oneSentenceSummary","Deputy Chief Lucas Lambert and other officials used lessons from the January Southern California incidents to press home hardening and fuel reduction. Insurance expert Nancy Watkins said neighborhood mitigation and certification can improve insurability, though specific premium outcomes depend on market factors.","taxTitle","Moraga Town, Contra Costa County, California","taxId",70874,"location","California","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262916,"Police and fire chiefs walk through evacuation zones, alert systems and a 2026 smart‑signal traffic project",2243,1653000,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7&start=1653&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7/thumbnail_1653000.jpg","/articles/6262916/California/Police-and-fire-chiefs-walk-through-evacuation-zones-alert-systems-and-a-2026-smartsignal-traffic-project","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262916-3dc01748c4744a4f07e64f48c59cd1e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147093&Signature=WQ8exgQ6Az2yBCONlTc8xl9hCQFOpPFcej-17mBKqIZn~6EITa0CdaDNuAx6Q~sQfdKyVzraayXWzphP0dnBvnGhSxvp8WQo4Rsbtma--aMqtt6dckYr2prCimTT~GyCRtMYn2I2Jgppuj98ndPFrMyibFZtBSqMDPRJ9M6UUkCT2WAQDEVL2~JR07Gvlf3J22lpHuAFa3pVgVuAWJudnrqwbPvOjJyquJzuS7UB~DDhCbTH-BVRSLbG0MsRFOWwp989PWD4~J0-eKU9et0vcTW~x54WKqvTUUciLrSAoGrQrnkg3n8TM45UkVlTOMXRfikprQxzTD21K4q3rKvVjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Police and fire leaders at the Moraga emergency preparedness meeting described how the town will warn residents, how evacuation zones are used, and infrastructure projects intended to improve evacuation movement.

Police Chief King said the town is divided into 21 evacuation zones with detailed zone plans that list estimated population, potential traffic‑control points and suggested routes. He said emergency notifications will primarily come through the Community Warning System (CWS), and officials maintain draft messages that include the “what, who, where, when and how.” He noted the wireless emergency alert system is used for more widespread, imminent threats and that officers will use public‑address systems and door knocks as needed. \"When the order comes, it's time to go,\" King said. \"It's not time to spend 15 or 20 minutes gathering stuff. It's time to get the heck out of Dodge now.\"

King described routine drills — including a Campolindo neighborhood exercise — and said the town practices both neighborhood evacuations and command‑post management drills to test decision‑making behind the scenes. He emphasized unified command between fire and police on incidents: \"We call it a unified command,\" he said. \"… if we see fire starting to move, the fire chief, the police chief, or the incident commander on both the fire and the police side will make a decision about what we need to do.\"

On communications and technology, King highlighted the Genesis (ZoneHaven) mapping product that shows evacuation zones throughout the region and the town’s use of CWS, Nixle/Everbridge, PulsePoint and other tools. He urged all residents to register for CWS and said camp‑ and neighborhood‑level exercises have revealed issues (for example, a traffic signal problem at Campolindo and Moraga Road noted during a recent drill) that the town is addressing with public works.

Town and public‑works leaders also described a smart‑signal program, funded in part by a congressional earmark secured by Congressman Mark DeSaulnier, that will link regional signals so outbound evacuation traffic can be prioritized. The project is planned for 2026. King and public‑works staff also discussed a concept for a multiuse trail along Moraga Way that could function as an additional lane for evacuations if funding is secured. Chief Isaacs and the police chief said the town will continue evacuation rehearsals and cautioned that every incident is different; officials recommended residents know multiple routes from their home and practice a family evacuation plan.","Police Chief King and Moraga‑Orinda Fire District leaders described how the town divides into 21 evacuation zones, how warnings and orders will be issued, and plans for a 2026 regional smart‑signal project intended to expedite outbound traffic during evacuations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6262921,"Moraga fire officials outline fuel‑reduction projects and explain new \"Zone 0\" rules",3649,503000,4152000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7&start=503&end=4152","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3110562-01a7ea46d51f1fb8bf44ff3fc4da1dd7/thumbnail_503000.jpg","/articles/6262921/California/Moraga-fire-officials-outline-fuelreduction-projects-and-explain-new-Zone-0-rules","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6262921-c86e9e173f751d414e32a7a690ad2a8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771147093&Signature=gi5AwF3v59JHnNJkcwDGbY3wBtfHNTHMju~6uYvbqpuKPHsGYXRVbIz7Smbe7EVDTH4rJI2GtSfqpJWCbn4JKCey8XxEHWBgKpk4tG3RIf-cB9yMwx2ecDk9uLFzLLZfA1~oMY5qK3FHVwERKie-Yu6VRCf7kjkpmdBBYPNsLi2euHPODSN~XcOvjV2ytBnMxylm5JhPfMp~dfruV5K0Cf~kBZoWUnY1JM55soo9OM6bRHsxcEyOC~5oSxn0CuotTe-fHgeGyrKeHLyTSNkf-hJpvsz1b~5XDFlAol~c5DnLcgUpJAupcRxDW6ZjPDnjJpI5jxiGsXw1ps1A5Ib9eQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fire officials and town leaders on Wednesday described ongoing fuel‑reduction work, inspection priorities and the state’s new “Zone 0” requirement as part of an evening community meeting on emergency preparedness at Saint Mary’s College.

Fire Chief Jeff Isaacs said the Moraga‑Orinda Fire District (MOFD) has been maintaining two major projects that are intended to slow wildfire spread into town: the North Orinda shaded fuel break, completed in 2020, and the Tunnel/East Bay Hills fuel break, which runs from the Wilder community through the college toward Lafayette. \"A fuel break is not going to stop a fire,\" Isaacs said. \"A fuel break is something that we use to disrupt the fire pathway and to slow that fire down so we can get in there and take offensive or defensive actions.\"

Isaacs listed other district priorities this year: inspection of evacuation routes, continued availability of the district’s residential chipping program, prescribed fire projects to maintain fuel breaks, and outreach on the recent changes to fire hazard severity maps. He said MOFD inspection teams will start targeted neighborhood inspections on June 1 and that the district’s prevention staff will again focus on evacuation‑route inspections after a one‑year pause.

Deputy Fire Chief Lucas Lambert, who deployed with a Cal Fire incident management team to the January Southern California incidents, told residents the district’s lessons from Palisades and Eaton fires reinforce three priorities: home hardening, vegetation removal to reduce fuels, and rapid firefighting response where possible. \"Home hardening to prepare your home to increase the chance of survival,\" Lambert said, \"and removal of vegetation — reduction of fuels — and if we are lucky enough, we can interject firefighting resources to slow or contain the fire to the area of origin.\"

Isaacs and other MOFD staff described the state’s incoming Zone 0 regulation as a critical change. \"Zone 0 has been law for several years,\" Isaacs said during the question‑and‑answer period. He explained that, as currently written by the legislature and in the Board of Forestry rule‑making process, Zone 0 is defined as the five feet from the exterior wall of a house or an attached deck and will apply to properties in the very high fire hazard severity zone beginning Jan. 1, 2026. He cautioned that the Board of Forestry is still finalizing regulatory details, including how \"no combustible material\" will be defined and enforced. \"We are waiting for the board of forestry to tell us that in the rule making process,\" Isaacs said.

Isaacs said MOFD’s board of directors must decide whether to apply Zone 0 only to the state‑mapped very high hazard areas or to expand it to other parts of the district; he said he is \"leaning toward increasing it\" but stressed the need to work out inspection and enforcement procedures before final action. Residents were directed to the state fire marshal and CAL FIRE websites for the updated fire hazard severity maps and were encouraged to attend MOFD and Board of Forestry meetings and submit public comments.

The district also noted its wildfire prevention strategic plan, which lists seven lines of effort including external fuel‑mitigation projects (the shaded fuel breaks), internal mitigation (defensible space/home hardening and prescribed fire), preplanning, evacuation planning with law enforcement partners, building code enforcement changes tied to wildland‑urban interface code, and community education.

Isaacs asked homeowners to consult MOFD resources and staff for questions about whether their property is in a mapped hazard area and how the new rules will apply. He said fire prevention staff and the fire marshal’s office can guide residents through the maps and any upcoming inspections.","Moraga‑Orinda Fire District leaders described fuel‑break and prescribed‑burn work, a targeted inspection schedule and the state’s incoming “Zone 0” requirements, which define a five‑foot noncombustible area around homes and take effect Jan. 1, 2026 for properties in very high fire hazard zones.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Officials urge home hardening and neighborhood Firewise action after Southern California fires; insurers, discounts discussed

Police and fire chiefs walk through evacuation zones, alert systems and a 2026 smart‑signal traffic project

Moraga fire officials outline fuel‑reduction projects and explain new "Zone 0" rules