Volunteers, city work to clear hillside to prevent Indian summer wildfires

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- In the East Bay Hills, folks are concerned about more than just the heat. They're keeping their eyes peeled for fires.

It may be October, but the battle to beat back all the dry brush in the Oakland Hills is still in full force.

It's a coalition of forces including Caltrans, City of Oakland and volunteers, all working on the slope of Hiller Highlands, owned by Caltrans.

"We were one of the 3,600 homes destroyed by the 1991 fire," said Gordon Piper. He began organizing efforts like this soon after he and his wife lost their home to the massive Oakland Hills Fire in 1991.

"We have a collaborative vegetation management project that's removing brush and dry grass to expand defensible space. We are also treating the stumps of the French broom so they don't grow back," he explained.

Those who live atop the hill are especially relieved to see the hillside cleared, since no significant work has been done here in the past five years. Lamae Loo, who is also a nearby resident, doesn't think it's too late to start this work considering, "We're having an Indian summer and it's going to get hot again."

With the warm winds coming from the north and the warmer temperatures predicated for Thursday and Friday, the Oakland Fire Department will supplement this effort by putting patrols on the roads in the hills.