Welcome to
Redtail Ridge Firewise Community
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JOIN US! Our Firewise Mixer is next Sunday, May 4th - 10am at the Grizzly Trailhead
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
Redtail Ridge Mixer
Redtail Ridge Mixer
We'll gather outdoors at the Grizzly Peak Trailhead
- Sunday May 4, 10am to 12pm -
Join us for our first Community-wide mixer! Meet your Firewise neighbors and volunteers. Bring questions, project ideas, mitigation stories, contractor recommendations, and favorite breakfast bites to share. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Everyone is welcome.
Wildfire Preparedness Day
Wildfire Preparedness Day
Unitarian Church Parking Lot, One Lawson Rd
- Saturday May 3, 10-noon - Tours at 10 and 11 -
Tour mitigation projects along Kensington's Wildland Urban Interface, starting at 10 or 11am. Kensington Firewise Community leads will be on hand to lead the tours, discuss wildfire readiness, and help you plan for evacuations, inspections, and upcoming changes to our regulations.
Home Hardening Workshop
Home Hardening Workshop
Details to come
- June/July -
Learn the "Five Easy Actions" for home hardening, including do-it-yourself projects. Architect and wildfire expert, Sheryl Drinkwater will discuss ignition-resistant materials, and bring samples. Fire Marshal Chase Beckman will join her to discuss fire behavior and mitigation. There will be plenty of time to ask questions and exchange experiences.
Our first Home Wildfire Evaluation
Our first 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 a list of best practices, from CalFire's Ready for Wildfire: Defensible Space ...and our Kensington's Requirements.
Above: the dense fuel hidden inside a juniper hedge. This plant was growing along a street and driveway (aka evacuation route) . 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. Check out this video of a juniper hedge burning.
Redtail Hazards Removed!
Redtail Hazards Removed!
Neighbors had *tons* of vegetation hauled away, thanks to Kensington's Hazardous Vegetation Removal Grants. More trees and hedges are scheduled for removal.
The new pilot grant awarded over $80k across our town. For those of you who'd like to participate, the Fire Board plans to offer this program again. Sign up for Redtail announcements and we'll keep you posted.
Here's a list of fire safe and fire prone vegetation.
Many of these fire prone plants are evergreen, low maintenance, and drought tolerant and were popular in the 50s and 60s when many of our homes were built. Unfortunately, you do NOT want them growing close to your structures, parking spots or roadways. They put homes at risk and could block your only exit during an evacuation.
If you'd like a list of neighbor-recommended contractors write to redtailridgefirewise@gmail.com
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, used by some insurers.
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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