Berkeley paths may not be the answer; early evacuation is key during wildfires

Last year, the Los Angeles fires were devastating. Driven by 90 mph winds, millions of embers shot through the air, skittered across streets in unison, and fell from the sky like fiery snow. Despite an enormous firefighting response, crews could not fight the wind. People could not evacuate fast enough. Abandoned cars clogged roadways, and chaos and confusion ensued. Ultimately, more than 18,000 homes and other structures were destroyed in multiple fires. Grief spread as lives and homes were lost. 

The Bay Area is not immune. In 1991, fire swept through the Oakland Hills. Dry vegetation, low humidity, extreme heat and 50 mph winds fueled fast-moving walls of flames. In the end, 3,000 homes and other buildings were destroyed, and 25 people died. Narrow, winding roads made evacuation difficult. Many people became trapped in their cars because of stalled traffic and blocked roads.

According to a study commissioned by the City of Berkeley, it could take more than four hours to evacuate the Berkeley Hills. The longer residents wait to leave, the more likely they are to become caught in gridlock. Timing is critical. During the Los Angeles fires, many residents relied on the Watch Duty app for emergency information.

In 2021, the Berkeley Path Wanderers Association was recognized as a Fire Safe Council, one of the grassroots, community-led organizations that mobilize neighborhoods to protect themselves from catastrophic wildfires. Fire Safe Councils partner with fire departments, local governments and volunteers to reduce wildfire risk through education and hazardous fuel reduction. That same year, BPWA led an "Escape From the Hills" walk, and the paths were deemed "a natural fit for inclusion in the two evacuation walk-out routes recommended by the Berkeley Fire Department."

For many years, the Berkeley paths have been considered possible wildfire evacuation routes. BPWA work parties keep Berkeley paths free of debris, helping reduce hazardous fuels, while volunteer path builders continue installing handrails to improve safe navigation. The paths may also serve as natural fuel breaks during low-intensity, ground-based fires. However, during high-wind events, windborne embers can travel well beyond the paths, increasing the likelihood of multiple spot fires. 

Given Berkeley's steep hills and narrow roads, the paths may appear to be a viable option to escape an urban wildfire. However, residents fleeing on foot could be exposed to intense heat, heavy smoke, hazardous gases, and traffic collisions at road crossings. Depending on how a fire spreads, evacuees could encounter impassable areas or become trapped or overtaken by flames. Wind driven fires may outpace evacuation efforts. 

That is why, in a recent interview with BPWA, Berkeley Fire Chief Dave Sprague said, "We are moving away from the idea that we are recommending people evacuate on foot after a fire ignition. We would like to emphasize that people leave early when we make that declaration." 

Being proactive is key to survival. “There is the Red Flag Warning, and then there is the Particularly Dangerous Situation weather conditions that are tagged on to that. If we have not evacuated at that point, it’s too late,” he added. A PDS signals that low humidity, high winds, and critically dry fuel conditions can lead to fast-moving, and uncontrollable wildfires, leaving little time to evacuate. 

Over the years, Chief Sprague said, "We have had a lot of opportunities to study fire behavior and human behavior and evacuation response. We know that if we don't get people out, people will die in their homes. They will die on foot. If we are evacuating downhill via paths, we have failed as a fire department, as a city."

Chief Sprague strongly recommends signing up for evacuation alerts through the Berkeley Emergency map, the Genasys Protect app, and AC Alert. "When we know the fire weather, we can start the evacuation process in an orderly fashion, which means far less need for traffic management," he said. That can be difficult given the number of intersections and the limited number of police officers available to direct traffic. 

“We are trying to avoid what we know will be chaotic and inefficient. We have learned about this from past history,” said Chief Sprague. To learn more, read Chief Sprague's 2025 article published in The Berkeley Scanner, "We cannot fall into the trap of doing nothing." As a volunteer organization recognized by the City of Berkeley, we support our first responders and the message that early evacuation is the best practice.