MySafe:LA Presents on ‘The Safe Community Project’ at PPCC Meeting

By LILY TINOCO | Assistant Editor

MySafe:LA presented on “The Safe Community Project” at the Thursday, March 13, Pacific Palisades Community Council board meeting.

David Barrett joined PPCC from MySafe:LA’s Safe Community Project, an organization with multiple divisions across Southern California, with a focus on developing wildfire resilient communities.

Barrett began by acknowledging his own personal connection to the Palisades: He previously lived in the area.

“I lived up there for a while, and the house I lived in is gone,” Barrett said. “I have some friends that live up there, and not just up in the [Alphabet] Streets, in the Highlands, but also in the home estates. And as you know, all of those are gone.”

Barrett said the March 13 presentation was designed to help point PPCC forward, covering fire safety topics that would be helpful in rebuilding.

He explained the concept of defensible space—that it is not designed to stop a wildfire from occurring, but to slow it down. Defensible space is described as the area surrounding a home or property, where vegetation is managed to reduce the risk of fire spread, according to CAL FIRE.

“The key is to slow them down enough so that firefighters can get ahead of the issue, so that they have a chance to set up defensible positions to attack the fire and prevent it from turning into something other than a wildfire,” Barrett said. “We want to make sure when we’re dealing with defensible space, that the objective is to prevent a wildfire from becoming anything other than a wildfire, so reducing the spread, the intensity, the heat, and protecting homes and structures from ignition. As everyone rebuilds, we want to keep that in mind.”

Defensible space methodologies include using hardscape—like gravel, pavers or concrete—instead of bark or mulch; limiting combustible items, fencing and gates; regularly clearing dead or dry vegetation; and trimming trees.

Barrett discussed two of the most flammable things: grass and buildings.

“Grass can move at up to 40 to 50 miles an hour, or more, depending on the wind,” he explained. “Grass turns into embers very quickly. [And] buildings will burn faster and are more likely to ignite than brush or trees.”

When rebuilding, Barrett said it is important to keep these two things in mind, and to consider home hardening.

“Home hardening is the term used to describe vegetation management compliance and building materials used to resist the intrusion of flames or embers projected by a wildland fire,” according to CAL FIRE. “It can be applied to new construction.”

Barrett said a lot of information regarding home hardening can be found on the MySafe:LA website. MySafe:LA also provides free wildfire assessments.

“If you are at a place where there is a structure that needs to be inspected, we can come and do that for you and give you a report, and that’s free,” Barrett said. “There’s no charge for doing that.”

The conversation then led to the development and benefits of developing a Fire Safe Council. Barrett said Fire Safe Councils empower local communities to reduce wildfire risk, will have access to grant funding for wildfire prevention, collaborate with fire departments and emergency agencies, and more.

“Currently in Los Angeles, we’ve got … four Fire Safe Councils that have already been established, and we’re working on another four, and hopefully the Palisades will be the fifth,” Barrett said. “We’ll get you across the finish line, being a Fire Safe Council. Our people will work to make sure that you have the support that you need to become one.”

Barrett expressed hopes in returning to PPCC to provide feedback on Palisades Fire Exposure, offer rebuilding expertise and to respond to community questions.

The next PPCC meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 27, at 6 p.m. via Zoom. The meeting is expected to cover information on the rebuilding of Palisades charter schools by Los Angeles Unified School District, as well as questions on debris removal by representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

For more information on MySafe:LA, visit mysafela.org. For a link to the March 27 PPCC meeting and agenda, visit pacpalicc.org.