Welcome to
Redtail Ridge Firewise Community
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HURRY! GRANT DEADLINE IS AUGUST 23rd
Adapting to life in the Wildland Urban Interface
Redtail Ridge Firewise Community includes 131 households in the unincorporated town of Kensington, California.
Our Community covers approximately one-third of Kensington's Wildland Urban Interface, with East Bay Regional Park along its eastern edge. Living in a designated "Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone," it's critical that we take action to reduce our wildfire risk, as individuals and as a community.
Volunteers formed Redtail Ridge to encourage and support this effort. We look forward to providing access to experts, mitigation resources, and vetted information on wildfire readiness.
Home ignition zone diagram from FirewiseUSA. Image copyright National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
Being Firewise
Being Firewise
If you live within our boundaries, you're already Firewise! You're welcome to attend our events, volunteer for projects, and get support for your mitigation efforts. The decision on how and when to mitigate your property is up to you.
Being Firewise does require a shift in thinking for most of us, so if you're unfamiliar with its principles and recommendations, here are some links to get you started.
Wildfire Guide from IBHS -- a comprehensive guide, from the organization that researches fire behavior and shapes Firewise recommendations.
Preparing your home for wildfire -- NFPA's Firewise recommendations for your home ignition zone.
An early wildfire 'post-mortem' by Jack Cohen, the fire scientist who shifted the industry focus from preventing wildfires to preventing home ignition. An older but still relevant video.
Events & Opportunities
Fall Grant Opportunity: Ditch your Juniper & Bamboo!
Fall Grant Opportunity: Ditch your Juniper & Bamboo!
Application deadline, August 23rd.
Receive up to $2,000 reimbursement per parcel to remove hazardous plants on your property. Previous grant recipients aren’t eligible, but stay tuned—the Fire Board is considering additional programs to support residents' mitigation efforts.
Here’s how the grant works:
Get a quote for the work from your tree service/gardener.
Fill out the online application & upload your quote by 8/23/25.
Schedule a visit with the program coordinator to verify your project & plant types.
AFTER receiving your grant approval, complete the work and pay your bill.
Submit proof of payment, and receive a reimbursement check by mail.
Go to kensingtonfire.org/grant to apply.
See Kensington's fire-safe and fire-prone vegetation list
How hazardous is juniper? Watch this juniper hedge burning.
Questions? Write to redtailridgefirewise@gmail.com
'Wildfire Ready': Increase your home's survivability
'Wildfire Ready': Increase your home's survivability
Learn essential strategies for creating a defensible space and hardening your home. This presentation by Diablo Firesafe Council experts identifies the techniques, materials, and actions that will protect your property from wildfires. The presenters are: Sheryl Drinkwater, a licensed architect and the DFSC President. Sheryl has worked for two years with Firewise groups across Contra Costa and Alameda counties to increase neighborhood resilience. Joelle Fraser is a certified wildfire mitigation specialist, currently overseeing DFSC's Cost-Share Program and leading Oakland's Firewise Communities. Holly Million is a funding and grant specialist and DFSC's Executive Director.
Download the workshop's Resources list and Fences info sheet.
Past Events & Projects
5 Easy Actions Workshop
5 Easy Actions Workshop
Neighbors gathered to meet with Diablo Fire Safe Council's Sheryl Drinkwater and our own Fire Marshal, Battalion Chief Chase Beckman. They discussed upcoming Zone 0 regulations, the latest home hardening techniques and materials, and best practices for shaping a defensible space.
There was time for questions and discussion, and neighbors shared ideas and challenges with wildfire mitigation on their properties.
If you missed this in-person event, you can watch an online presentation Sheryl gave for the Clayton Library.
Check out Diablo Firesafe Council's Resources list and Fences sheet, with materials and recommendations from the presentation.
Spring Grant: Redtail Hazards Removed!
Spring Grant: Redtail Hazards Removed!
Neighbors had *tons* of vegetation hauled away in round one of the Hazard Grant Program. More trees and hedges are still being removed across Kensington.
The pilot awarded over $80k across our town
Many of these fire-prone plants are evergreen, low-maintenance, and drought-tolerant, making them popular choices in the 50s and 60s when most of our homes were built. Unfortunately, you do NOT want them growing close to your structures, parking spots, or along roadways. They put lives at risk and could block your only exit during an evacuation.
Firefighters call junipers "gasoline plants" because they ignite so easily and burn with an intensity too hot to approach. They cause more damage and injury than typical plants.
Above: the dense fuel hidden inside a juniper hedge. This plant was growing along a street and driveway (aka evacuation route).
Firewise Preparedness Weekend Mixer
Firewise Preparedness Weekend Mixer
Coffee, wildfire discussions, and a unified neighborhood.
Redtail residents from every street in our Firewise Community gathered to meet new neighbors, and discuss wildfire issues. It was exciting to see our typically isolated blocks come together as a neighborhood. It was clear from the conversations that our Community is engaged, and taking actions to improve their resilience. We'll do this again, for those who missed it.
Home Wildfire Evaluation
Home Wildfire Evaluation
Fire Marshal, Battalion Chief Chase Beckman led an informative walk/discussion on defensible space. He covered how each of us can influence wildfire behavior with vegetation management, identify ember entry points that ignite homes, and prepare an ember-resistant Zone 0. The turnout was great in spite of the cold weather. Thanks to the Forrests for volunteering their property for evaluation! We plan to do this event again with another Redtail Ridge property that has unique mitigation requirements like homes on slopes. If you have questions about your defensible space, we can help. Write to redtailridgefirewise@gmail.com.
Here's is a list of best practices, from CalFire's Ready for Wildfire: Defensible Space ...and our Kensington Requirements.
Taking Action
Start now
Start now
There are steps you can take to increase your fire-readiness and reduce your risk. We'll be adding more information on specific topics like evacuation, home hardening, defensible space, and local wildfire assistance programs.
Meanwhile, here are lists with actions that could make a difference.
Ready for Wildfire -- CalFire website covering a full range of topics.
Last Minute Steps to Protect Your Home -- Fire Safe Marin video & checklist.
How to stay informed in an emergency -- Kensington Fire recommendations.
Wildfire Prepared -- IBHS self-certification program, honored by some insurers. See their free checklist for two levels of mitigation.
Remember to report your activity!
Remember to report your activity!
Each Firewise action makes our neighborhood more resilient. Reporting those actions helps Redtail maintain its Firewise status.
Simply track the time and money you spend on Firewise activities, snap a picture of your list and send it to redtailridgefirewise@gmail.com. We add your numbers to our tally. Your personal information is never recorded or shared.
Sign up for Redtail updates
Sign up for Redtail updates
We keep you up to date on Redtail events, community preparedness news, regional & local wildfire regulations, grant opportunities and more.
You'll still receive your neighborhood block emails with news that pertains to your closest neighbors.
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