Firefighters in East Bay prepare for wildfire season

CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, Calif. (KRON) — As temperatures rise and vegetation dries, Contra Costa County is gearing up for fire season with preparations underway to clear fire trails near Brentwood and Antioch. Firefighters from the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District are actively clearing dry vegetation from fire trails, which are crucial for emergency access during wildfires.

Battalion Chief Tom Zurflueh emphasizes the importance of maintaining these trails year-round, with efforts intensifying in late April and early May.

“We just know right around the corner is gonna be the hot and heavy parts of the fire season,” said Wildland Battalion Chief Tom Zurflueh.

“Fires don’t always happen next to roads. They can happen anywhere and so to have fire trails we can access,” Zurflueh added.

“If the fires were to come through here and hit this they would essentially be stopped. We’re hoping to minimize the spread of fires,” Zurflueh explained. “Fire doesn’t just burn homes — it impacts infrastructure within a community. So, we’re trying to do what we can to help reduce that impact.”

The fire protection district manages and maintains up to 400 miles of fire trails, ensuring they are clear for emergency use. This work not only creates fire breaks but also provides paths for firefighters to access areas during wildfires.

With conditions drying out, Confire’s hand crew is conducting controlled burns to reduce fuel loads by clearing vegetation piles in rural areas and near homes. These efforts are part of the preparations leading up to Confire’s Wildfire Community Preparedness Day.

The public event is scheduled for Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at the Fire Protection District’s Training and Safety Division in Concord on Treat Boulevard. Attendees will learn about weed abatement deadlines, tips on defensible spacing, and receive emergency go-bags.

All facts from this article were gathered by KRON4 journalists. The article was converted into this format with assistance from artificial intelligence. It has been edited and approved by KRON4 staff.