What is a Fire Safe Council? The Malibou Lakeside Fire Safe Council is a recognized Fire Safe Council by the official California Fire Safe Council, whose mission is to be “California’s leader in community wildfire risk reduction and resiliency.”
Fire Safe Councils are grassroots, community-led organizations that mobilize residents to protect their homes, communities, and environments from catastrophic wildfires. We were formed in 2013 and have 10 volunteers attending the monthly meetings.
Fire Safe Councils are grassroots, community-led organizations that mobilize residents to protect their homes, communities, and environments from catastrophic wildfire. A local Fire Safe Council is often sparked by a catalyst – perhaps a recent fire or a group of neighbors eager to spread a fire-safe message – then embraced by the community, which turns that initial interest into a committed group that finds ways to empower the residents to do their part to make the community safer.
Fire Safe Councils throughout California educate homeowners about community wildfire preparedness activities while working with local fire officials to design and implement projects that increase the wildfire survivability of their communities. Many Fire Safe Councils have successfully implemented such projects as hazardous-fuel-reduction projects, Community Wildfire Protection Planning, and homeowner training.
By mobilizing the community members who stand to lose the most, Fire Safe Councils create a powerful group initiative that can:
- Minimize risks to life, homes, and natural and human-made resources.
- Increase the insurability of property by increasing community safety.
- Forge strong partnerships with first responders.
- Acquire resources that can assist in fire prevention efforts.
- Free Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessments for homeowners (either through Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy or our own Fire Safe Council) https://www.rcdsmm.org/what-we-do/home-ignition-zone-evaluations/ , QR Code
Homes are generally not ignited by the fire front but more often by wind-driven embers landing on combustible fuels in or on the house.
Jon Keeley
Senior Scientist, USGS
Currently we have 10 team members,
Coming soon!
What is a Firewise Community? Currently, we are working on becoming a Firewise Community. There are 5 major components of the program. The following 5 steps are required to become a Firewise-recognized community:
- Create a board or committee of volunteers to represent your community (we have 10 regular volunteers)
- Complete a Community Risk Assessment (currently working on with Fire Department)
- Develop a three-year action plan
- Host an Annual Outreach Event (9/8/24)
- Compile volunteer hours reporting home hardening activities and maintaining defensible space via the Agoura Hills Firewise Portal
A Firewise Community plan may help reduce the cost of insurance for our homeowners.
Video Series by RCD: Wildfire Defense Series Videos – A Guide to Wildfire Resilience at Your Home
City of Calabasas Videos on Home Hardening