The Diablo Firesafe Council has completed its final stakeholder meeting for an update to a regional wildfire priority plan that helps rank projects in Orinda, Moraga and Lafayette for future funding consideration.
The council held its final Regional Priority Plan stakeholder meeting Thursday, Aug. 20, via Zoom, according to a post on the council's website.
The organization said it is wrapping up the update before fine-tuning the prioritization process and adding new project maps to the final document.
The council is still accepting new project submissions and updates through Sept. 30 while it finalizes Round 2 rankings.
No date has been announced for publication of the finished plan.
Why it matters for Lamorinda
The Regional Priority Plan covers Alameda and Contra Costa counties and helps rank wildfire fuel-reduction, home-hardening, evacuation and related projects for future grant consideration.
Some state wildfire grant programs give favorable consideration to projects identified through collaboratively developed regional priority plans, making the document a useful tool for communities seeking funding.
Several Lamorinda projects received high-priority rankings in Round 1, which was finalized in March 2025. According to the council's Round 1 rankings, they include:
- Orinda Fuel Break — a 100-foot-wide, 3,000-foot-long break near Highway 24 at 501 Orindawoods Drive, estimated at $140,000 and ranked high priority.
- Shaded Fuel Break along Wildcat Canyon Road — from Camino Pablo to El Toyonal in Orinda, estimated at $132,881 and ranked high priority.
- Portable Water Supply for Aerial Firefighting — a six-site project estimated at $571,800, with the Moraga-Orinda Fire District listed as a partner, ranked high priority.
- Orinda Downs Owners Association fire abatement — work across 155 acres of conservation open space in North Orinda, with a three-year estimated cost of $235,000, ranked medium priority.
What comes next
The council is actively reviewing submissions for Round 2 ranking. Agencies and community groups can submit new projects or updates to existing proposals through Sept. 30.
Executive Director Patty Ciesla is overseeing the finalization process. She became executive director June 20 after previously leading the California Fire Safe Council and Santa Clara County FireSafe Council. She replaced interim director Joelle Fraser, who served for six months.
The council's fifth stakeholder session was held May 21, followed by the final meeting Aug. 20.
Residents interested in wildfire preparedness can also access the council's Defensible Space Cost-Share Program, which provides up to $3,500 per household, and its free Home Hardening Education Program.
More information is available at https://diablofiresafe.org.
