Carquinez Village Presents: Wildfire Preparedness Workshop

Carquinez Village and the Benicia Fire Safe Council will offer a community Wildfire Preparedness workshop at 10:30 am on Thursday, May 21, at the Benicia Public Library, located at 150 East L Street.The workshop is free and designed to bring neighbors and other members of the public together to learn how to prepare for wildfires and protect their homes, families and neighborhoods. The workshop is offered as part of the Carquinez Village Speaker Series.

“Preparedness starts at the neighborhood level. This is about giving residents the tools they need to protect their lives, homes and our community,“ said David Batchelor, chair of the Council. Benicia Fire Safe Council is a program sponsored and operating under the Benicia Community Foundation.

The workshop will feature David Horn, a former Berkeley firefighter with 15 years of experience in wildland-urban interface environments. He will be joined by Kevin Kyle, a wildfire mitigation specialist focused on community resilience and hands-on risk reduction. Additional members of the Benicia Fire Safe Council and community partners will be in attendance to provide support and answer questions to current state wildfire laws and insurance risks.

Those interested in attending are asked to register at the Carquinez Village website: https://www.carquinezvillage.com/. There is an option for a person to register to participate by Zoom on the website.

As wildfire risks continue to increase across California, the workshop will focus on practical steps that residents can take immediately. Participants will learn how to create defensible space, reduce ember intrusion, and harden their homes—especially within the critical 0–5 foot zone surrounding structures. These measures are proven to significantly improve a home’s ability to withstand wildfire exposure.

In addition to safety, this one-hour workshop will address the growing connection between wildfire mitigation and homeowners' insurance. With insurers placing greater emphasis on fire risk, taking proactive steps may help residents maintain coverage, reduce premiums, and help avoid policy non-renewal.

The session will also highlight evacuation preparedness, including the importance of having a family emergency plan, preparing “go bags,” and understanding evacuation routes and regional shelter locations. Being prepared ahead of time can make a critical difference during an emergency.

Attendees will have the opportunity to receive personalized guidance by bringing photos of their home’s exterior and landscaping. The Benicia Fire Safe Council may also offer sign-ups for home evaluations, helping residents understand how to take immediate action to reduce fire risk on their properties.

More information about the Benicia Fire Safe Council can be found atwww.beniciafiresafecouncil.org

The Dona Benicia room at the Benicia Library has an Assisted Listening System. To get access to this system the city must be contacted in advance. Hearing access can be provided by contacting Suzanne Thorson at 707-746-4382 or by email at adacoordinator@ci.benicia.ca.us.

The mission of the Carquinez Village is to help Benicia and Vallejo seniors to stay in their homes and to enrich their lives through connecting, supporting, and inspiring them.

More information about the Carquinez Village is available at https://www.carquinezvillage.com/ or by calling 707-297-2472