Oakland is changing wildfire property inspections after attacks on firefighters

OAKLAND, Calif. (KGO) -- The Oakland Fire Department has changed how it conducts annual wildfire prevention inspections in the Oakland Hills after a series of attacks and intimidation incidents involving firefighters.

Under the new policy, firefighters will conduct vegetation inspections from public property and will no longer enter private property, according to letters the department sent to staff and the city administrator outlining the changes.

"Our firefighters are doing the inspections from the public right-of-way only. Not accessing the public's private property," said Seth Olyer of the Oakland Firefighters Union.

The policy change follows what the department described as a series of intimidation tactics and intentional attacks against Oakland Fire Department personnel. The most recent incident occurred less than two weeks ago.

"On July 4th, we had a firefighter who unfortunately, was attacked by multiple dogs," Olyer said.

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The department said it had already completed about 80% of this year's vegetation inspections before the new rules took effect.

The change has drawn concern from some residents, who worry it could affect wildfire prevention efforts.

OFD's policy change is not proving popular with many of the neighbors ABC7 Eyewitness News spoke with. In fact, several of them say they worry it could increase the risk of disaster striking.

Among those expressing concern is East Bay resident Nancy Gillette, who has lived in the area for years and still has family there.

"It's just a terrible shame that there's anything that would interrupt full inspections," Gillette said.

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Gillette said her perspective is shaped by her experience during the 1991 Oakland Hills Firestorm.

"Spent that whole Sunday on our roof and on our deck with the hoses running to put out embers that were flying down," she said.

The fire department said it is considering alternative methods for conducting inspections in the future, including the use of drones and artificial intelligence.

Some residents, however, said they prefer inspections conducted in person.

"I think there are certain things that actually need a human person to actually go look and look at all the parameters and all the variables," Oakland resident Amy Brodo said.

The Oakland Fire Department said the firefighter injured in the July 4 dog attack has since made a full recovery.