September 5, 2006 > Living with the threat of a fire next door

by Clyde Morris, Refuge Manager

U.S. Fish Wildlife Service protects Newark homes from wildfire by building fire equipment access.

Protecting people, property and natural resources from wildlands fires is the primary reason for constructing a new fire equipment access road in Newark. The connection between the Mayhews Landing tract of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and Cedar Boulevard is now nearing completion. This project will allow Newark Fire Department equipment to drive into the Mayhews Landing tract in response to a wildfire threat.

Without the quick response last year by Union City's Fire Department, who arrived with off-road fire equipment, hand-made fire breaks would have been the only deterrent to a spreading wildfire.  As a result of last year's threat, improving access to the Mayhews Landing tract for the Newark Fire Department became the number one fire-prevention priority of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge.

The Service is committed to fire prevention along wildland-urban interfaces such as the refuge boundary at Mayhews Landing and collaborating with other agencies who share that goal. Funding for this project came from the Wildlands Urban Interface Program. More information about fire management in the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and how you can protect yourself and your home can be found at www.fws.gov.