Berkeleyside is publishing this statement from Berkeley Fire Department Chief David Sprague in light of the Los Angeles-area fires as it provides valuable guidance for Berkeley residents on preparing for and dealing with wildfires, a perennial threat to our city.
As I write, in the Los Angeles area there are now five fires burning simultaneously, almost 200,000 people evacuated, thousands of structures destroyed, and a number of deaths and significant injuries to community members.
Our team, like the Berkeley community, is grieving for Southern California — for the people who have died, for our family members and friends whose lives have been upended, and for our colleagues working valiantly to serve their communities. Berkeley firefighters have joined over 90 firefighters from Alameda County to assist with the firefight…