Hello Neighbors,
I was able to speak with Fire Chief Lacey from the Pleasanton/Livermore Fire Department. I have summarized our conversation below. The links to the websites mentioned are also attached.
The common concern among neighbors was the one-way in/one-way out issue we face here in FHK. That does not seem to be an issue that can be fixed or changed with what we have right now. The best way to navigate this is to be well informed in the event we do have an emergency and need to evacuate.
There are several notifications in place right now throughout the city. They are listed below. These are the best ways to stay informed of any potential threats. You will need to click on the link (attached below) and register yourself to be alerted. I would advise all to do that as soon as you can.
The absolute best way to prepare yourselves is to have a plan ready and in place. Do NOT wait for an emergency to happen before making your plan.
Our fire hydrants in the city are required to be tested annually and they are. The PO test is what is conducted and that measures the water pressure of each hydrant.
The Foothill corridor (where FHK is located) is surrounded by multiple large water tanks that have maximum pressure. Those would be relied on in case of fire by the Fire Department. East Bay Regional Parks monitors the ridge and does some preventative maintenance on vegetation and shrubs. They are sometimes met with homeowners who do not want any interference with their vegetation and will not allow the department to remove trees, etc that are on their property. This can be a challenge. If it is suggested by EBPR that your property should/needs to clear trees or shrubs it is advised to do that. If you are concerned about vegetation that is not on your property you can contact the city of Pleasanton to report.
As far as pool pumps and buying your own equipment for use in your pool, that is up to you. All firetrucks are equipped to be able to use your pool water if they deem that necessary, but they would rarely if ever connect to someone’s private equipment. That would be considered more of a private prep plan for yourself.
It was a good conversation with the chief and he was very helpful. Several of our local firefighters were sent out to the Eden fire in Southern CA as well as the Pacific Palisades fires. They certainly learned a lot by being there on the ground and witnessing firsthand.
If our neighborhood has an interest in having one of the fire chiefs come out and speak to us as a group, they are happy to do that. This would be a format similar to the way we had the police department come out a few years ago and speak to us about safety.
We hope you find this information helpful and encourage you to prepare yourselves.
Janette Peterson
Joelle McConlogue
