Overview

• The EMBER ordinance mandates the removal of combustible vegetation and materials within a 5-foot buffer zone around homes in Berkeley's highest fire-risk areas.
• Approximately 900 homes near Tilden Regional Park and Panoramic Hill will be affected initially, with potential expansion to adjacent neighborhoods in the future.
• The regulations, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, aim to reduce wildfire ignition risks by preventing embers from igniting nearby structures.
• The ordinance aligns with California's delayed statewide zone zero mandate, which Governor Newsom expedited following January's devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
• While some residents support the measures as essential for wildfire prevention, others have raised concerns about environmental impacts, erosion risks, and regulatory overreach.