The Regional Priority Plan Portal is Open Again!

Submit your Projects 🚜🌳 

We are excited to announce that the proposal portal for the Regional Priority Plan (RPP) has officially reopened! If you missed the first round or have a new project in mind, now is the time to submit it. We have added additional questions and an option to upload map files.

Other Updates

CAL FIRE is proposing a new grant program funded by Proposition 4 that recognizes and funds projects contained in RPPs. It is now our understanding that RPPs needn't be "done" but to be living documents / processes. We are following the progress of this grant proposal closely.

Mark your calendar for RPP #5 on May 21st, 11am - 12pm. Registration is now open.

On January 15th and 16th, 2026, 40 trainees completed the CAL FIRE Qualified Entities (QE) Training, taught by CAL FIRE personnel. The attendees were members of five regional Fire Safe Councils - West Contra Costa, Kensington, El Cerrito, Oakland and Diablo, and Firewise group members. Six DFSC board members attended the training.

The QE training is actually a Defensible Space Assessor training structured on CAL FIRE’s defensible space inspection framework. The 2-day training subject matter covered roles and responsibilities, working with the public, fire science, statutes and regulations, home hardening best practices, defensible space assessment standards, and training on the Fieldmaps app, where assessments are recorded. The class was hosted by the Alameda County Coordinator. If you have any questions about the training, please reach out to Sheryl Drinkwater at sheryl.drinkwater@diablofiresafe.org.

DFSC Board Members and advisors at the QE event from left to right: Chris Pinto, Casey Irving, Leslie Krikorian, Sheryl Drinkwater, Joelle Fraser, Rosemary Chang, and Lincoln Casimere.

Did you know that there is a nonprofit organization called United Policyholders (UP) that provides guidance when homeowners lose insurance? Please see tips below inspired by UP and check out their website for the most up to date information on the insurance market.

Home insurance dropped. Read this first.

If you’ve received a non-renewal notice from your home insurance provider recently, you aren't alone. While the news is frustrating, the most important thing to remember is that you have time. In California, insurers are legally required to give you at least 75 days' notice before a policy expires.

Here is how to navigate the transition smoothly:

1. Get the "Why"

Contact your current insurer immediately to find out exactly why you were dropped. If the reason is specific to your property, such as lack of defensible space or a roof in need of repair, you may be able to fix the issue and ask them to reconsider by providing documentation that the issue has been resolved, typically with timestamped photos or video.

2. Challenge the aerial imagery

Be aware that Insurers now frequently use high-resolution drone or satellite imagery to look at properties. Shadows or old data can lead to mistakes; be ready to provide updated photos of your own to prove the issue is resolved.

3. Search for a new insurance provider

Don't wait for the 75-day clock to run out. Start searching for a new provider as soon as you receive the notice.

4. Use your neighbors as a resource

If your neighbor across the street still has coverage, find out who their carrier is. Since that company is already comfortable with the neighborhood's fire risk, they are your best bet for a new policy.

5. Contact independent pros

Unlike agents who work for one company, independent agents can shop across multiple carriers to find the best remaining options for your specific area.

6. The FAIR Plan

If every traditional company says no, the California FAIR Plan is legally required to take you. It’s basic "last resort" fire insurance, but it ensures your mortgage remains in good standing while you keep looking for better options.

Thanks to your generous donations, we exceeded our fundraising goal! The Cheryl Miller Fund met its $25,000 funding goal on February 10th, 2026 after an anonymous donor made a $5,000 contribution. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to the 40 contributors who donated throughout the year and helped us meet this important goal. Donated funds support DFSC’s community wildfire reduction activities, through our cost share and home hardening programs.

Sincerely,

DFSC Staff and Board

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation you can do so online (more secure) or mail a check. Make checks payable to Diablo Firesafe Council.

Mail checks to:

Diablo Firesafe Council

P.O. Box 18616

Oakland, CA 94619

An Exploration of the Tilden Fire Resilience Project

April 18th, 9:30-11:30 AM

Join the Contra Costa Resource Conservation District on Saturday, April 18th, for a showcase of the East Bay Regional Park District's Wildfire Resilience Project at Tilden Regional Park. EBRPD Fuels Coordinator Colin Gallagher will lead us on a 1-mile walk through the wildfire risk reduction and ecological restoration project area, where we will observe the impacts of eucalyptus thinning and pile burning in the park. Colin will discuss the project's progress, its ecological benefits, and the importance of ecological conservation in fuels reduction.

Register Now

Girls Empowerment Camp 

May 2nd and 3rd       

(GEC) is a free 2-day camp on May 2nd and 3rd for teens ages 14-18. GEC introduces them to the fire service and provides campers with a realistic, hands-on overview of firefighting and exposure to all aspects of public safety career opportunities in the fire service. Additionally, the program empowers campers with life skills and professional guidance that encourages them to pursue a career in public safety. The camp is held at the Contra Costa Fire Training Center in Concord.

For additional information, contact ContraCostaGEC@cccfpd.org  

Register Now

Wildfire and Residential Landscapes Virtual Workshop

Reducing vulnerabilities to homes and structures in 2026

May 6, 3:00 - 5:00 pm

Hosted by UC Cooperative Extension, UC ANR Fire Network, and the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority.

Landscape designers, installers, and maintenance professionals face increasingly complex demands to deliver beautiful home landscapes that reduce fire risks. This training will provide current policy, science, and practice for the creation, implementation, and maintenance of residential landscapes that can reduce structure vulnerabilities to wildfire. 

Register Now 

PO Box 18616, Oakland, 94619 | joelle@diablofiresafe.org

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