PLAYWildfire Foundation Community Wildfire Mitigation Expansion
Our experience shows that the formation and success of Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities are directly related to the ability of the community to form and run these community-driven wildfire mitigation initiatives. Without comprehensive strategies and management tools, these communities do not achieve meaningful mitigation. Our services have proven to be a game-changer in the community's ability to form, execute, and deliver the wildfire prevention needed to save life and property in their community.
What is the primary issue area that your application will impact?
Community safety
In which areas of Los Angeles will you be directly working?
County of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a countywide benefit) City of Los Angeles (select only if your project has a citywide benefit)
In what stage of innovation is this project, program, or initiative?
Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)
What is your understanding of the issue that you are seeking to address?
Although the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) show us on a weekly basis the important science behind wildfire mitigation, it is not being adopted or implemented in an effective manner. We now have convincing evidence of the Wildfire Science—what causes the wildfires and how they spread—but the challenges now lie in the Social Science of Wildfire. All the stakeholders in Wildfire Mitigation tell us that the only way to have effective mitigation is at the community and "parcel level." How do you get residents to take action at the "parcel level," to harden their homes and create defensible space around their homes? Without comprehensive strategies, systems, and management tools, the communities are stuck and are not achieving the desired results. Our services enable communities to form, execute, and deliver the wildfire prevention needed to save lives and property in their community.
Describe the project, program, or initiative this grant will support to address the issue.
The Wildfire Foundation has developed a successful program that requires very few volunteers—a scarce resource—to effectively run wildfire mitigation services. Digital infrastructure, contact management systems, automation, and education are huge components. This proven, easy to use, Resident Management System empowers communities to achieve results they would otherwise not be able to achieve.
Describe how Los Angeles County will be different if your work is successful.
All the experts agree that the intensity and devastation of the Palisades and Eaton fires that occurred earlier this year in LA County are direct results of the lack of community mitigation. There are many articles and papers from experts who have completed the post-fire scientific research, which shows that those houses that survived had all done some kind of home hardening or defensible space efforts.
Approximately how many people will be impacted by this project, program, or initiative?
Direct Impact: 25,000
Indirect Impact: 250,000