Got a Letter from Berkeley Fire? Make Sure It’s Real

A North Berkeley resident recently reported receiving a misleading letter that claimed to be from the Berkeley Fire Prevention Division, according to an advisory message released by the Berkeley Police Department Community Services Bureau.

The letter was an inspection notice and warned the homeowner of a pending fine.

Berkeley fire officials declared the letter a phony and said the department only puts out two types of notices to residents: a Fire Prevention Inspection Report and a Fire Prevention Inspection Report Wildland-Urban Interface Area.

Ways you can recognize an Official Berkeley Fire Department document (from the Berkeley Fire Prevention Division):

• The forms use the City of Berkeley logo, not the Berkeley Fire Department logo.
• The forms will have the inspector’s name and contact information listed on the form.
• If you are not certain if the form is a legitimate Berkeley Fire Department document, you can always contact the Fire Department’s Main Building at (510) 981-3473 or send an Email to fire@CityofBerkeley.info.