East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments

Recognizing that wildfire does not respect jurisdictional boundaries, the East Bay Wildfire Coalition of Governments (EBWC) is a regional consortium of elected officials representing cities, counties and fire districts committed to safeguarding our communities and natural landscapes in the East Bay Hills of the San Francisco Bay Area.

We support proactive, science-based, ecologically sound and data-driven approaches to resiliency. Through preparedness, community engagement, education, and collaboration, we support mitigating the increasing threat of cata-strophic wildfires due to the climate crisis.

1. Strengthen building and fire codes and adherence

2. Support science-driven regional vegetation management priorities

3. Advocate for local, county and state legislation

4. Support evacuation and response programs

5. Secure new funding for regional priorities

Education: Create community engagement program to inform property owners, and decision-makers, about the value of home hardening and defensible space including “zone zero”

Legislation: Support adoption of state, county and local ordinances to promote consistent region-wide risk reduction measures in wildfire hazard zones

Funding: Promote and support a regional assistance program for qualified homeowners to help establish ember-resistant zones within five feet of structures, or “zone zero”

Funding: Promote implementation of best practices for various vegetative types, raise funds for situational analyses, plans for a CEQA-compliant, ecologically-sound, region-wide vegetation management plan

Project management: Apply for grants, distribute funding and support activities

Work began in 2019 when a small group of East Bay community leaders concluded that wildfire prevention efforts could not be successful on a city-by-city or fire district basis alone. Volunteers from local organizations, including Oakland Firesafe and Claremont Canyon Conservancy, solicited political and community support, raising enough money to retain a professional consulting firm (Placeworks) and legal adviser (Hanson Bridgett) which drafted the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

On April 29th 2024, the EBWC convened for the first time. As of August 2024, 10 local governing bodies have joined the coalition. The EBWC now continues to meet on a regular basis (see the “Meetings” section for more details).

The EBWC members decided on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide the legal basis for the jurisdictions to work together to accomplish agreed upon goals, in this case efforts to limit or prevent damage from future wildfires. 

The MOU can be signed by counties (Alameda and Contra Costa), all cities and towns, and all fire districts with jurisdiction in the East Bay Hills.