Features

The East Bay fire season got off to an extraordinarily early start at 8 a.m. Monday, sparked by a combination of dry hillsides and winds. 

“That means that any reports of fires in the hills will be met by a massive, multi-jurisdiction response,” said Berkeley Deputy Fire Chief David Orth. 

Major early fire outbreaks have already struck Southern California, highlighting the dangers to the East Bay. Recent fires in Marin County and on the Peninsula have sparked concerns among local firefighters. 

This year’s season begins weeks before the typical starting date. 

The Berkeley Zoning Adjustment Board last Thursday gave their formal approval for a new 6,800-square-foot fire station at 3000 Shasta Road which fire department officials have cited as a crucial bastion for fighting fires in the blaze-prone hills.›