In the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, the community is faced with the challenge of reducing wildfire risks to improve community safety and maintain access to insurance. There is a lot of advice floating around about how to fire harden individual properties and the community as a whole. The HPPOC is not an expert in these matters and is providing the following data for information purposes only.

One resource is a “Wildfire Prepared” checklist published by the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety (“IIBH”). Individual homes and communities that build and maintain properties that comply with these guidelines can obtain a wildfire resistance certification at a “base” or an “enhanced” level after inspection. The home design recommendations are pretty straightforward, and many are already in the LA building codes. However, the landscaping recommendations are a significant departure from past practice and would have a significant impact on the look and feel of the community. Much of the ornamental planting and privacy hedges would need to be removed to qualify for the certifications. Most properties would require the cooperation of neighbors to fully comply with all the guidelines.

Wildfire Prepared Home Checklist

Another resource is the National Fire Protection Association “Firewise” program, which is designed to get communities to work together to reduce wildfire risks in the community at large. The attached “toolkit” outlines a way to organize and approach such a project

Firewise Band Together Toolkit

The HPPOC woudl be happy to work with any group of community members interested in pursuing these initiatives.