April 24, 2024
Preparation ahead of wildfires is essential to mitigate potentially devastating effects on people’s homes. West Basin Municipal Water District hosted a firescaping workshop for Malibu and Topanga residents on April 23 to equip them with knowledge and resources to protect their property.
In partnership with the City of Malibu, Los Angeles County Public Works, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACFD) this firescaping workshop provided information about fire-resistant landscaping techniques and defensible space principles. Twenty participants attended the event at Malibu City Hall to learn from an esteemed group of professionals.
City of Malibu Fire Safety Liaison Gabriel Etcheverry began by speaking about the Fire Hazard Reduction Program and noticing process. Subject matter expert Douglas Kent, MS MLA, followed by sharing key topics of structures, the “first five feet” principle, defensible space, and landscaping techniques. He also referred to the extensive property damage of past wildfires that could have been minimized with proactive and preventative measures.
LACFD Forestry Assistants Daniel Sheng and Leana Setian also joined the event, answering questions during and after the presentations.
If you are interested in attending a future firescaping workshop, or learning about the resources shared at this event, please visit www.westbasin.org/firescaping.
Pictured (L-R): West Basin Senior Water Policy & Resources Analyst Gus Meza, City of Malibu Fire Safety Liaison Gabriel Etcheverry, Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Assistant Daniel Sheng, City of Malibu Environmental Sustainability Analyst Caryn De La Cruz, Firescaping expert Douglas Kent, Los Angeles County Fire Department Forestry Assistant Leana Setian
