Albany Hill Wildfire Resilience — A Grant-Funded Habitat Restoration

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Albany Hill — the city's most prominent natural landmark and a beloved open space — is the focus of a new wildfire resilience project that received state funding in early 2026. Albany and El Cerrito received a State Coastal Conservancy grant to collaborate on a wildfire resilience project at Albany Hill, with a series of public workshops planned to explore fire-resilient habitats, eucalyptus reuse, and habitat restoration — a community-engaged process that will shape how the hill is managed for fire risk reduction while preserving its ecological and recreational value. Albany Hill's dense eucalyptus groves are a known wildfire risk — eucalyptus is highly flammable, produces explosive volatile oils, and drops large quantities of bark and leaf litter. The project's "eucalyptus reuse" component reflects a pragmatic approach: rather than simply removing and disposing of the trees, the city and El Cerrito are exploring how harvested eucalyptus can be repurposed for biochar, timber, or other uses. Advocacy groups are also pushing for the integration of resilience hubs and solar battery storage into the city's Local Hazard Mitigation Plan — a complementary community preparedness investment.

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