The Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council (AHFSC) is excited to share our inaugural Newsletter with you.
Since it is our first, we thought we would take the opportunity to share a bit about the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council and our mission and objectives. The Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council is listed by the IRS as an independent 501(c)(3).
Most of us have personally experienced the dangers of wildfires here in Agoura Hills, CA. We have been evacuated from our homes multiple times in the middle of the night and have had to leave our most valuable possessions behind.
Now more than ever we need to prepare for the future!
What are Fire Safe Councils?
The Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council is a recognized Fire Safe Council by the California Fire Safe Council (CFSC), a California non-profit corporation, which was first formed as a project of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in 1993.
It brings together community leaders, governmental agencies, and corporations to provide education to the residents of California on the dangers of wildfires and how they could be prevented.
With the threat of wildfire looming every year for many California communities, CFSC builds strong local and statewide Fire Safe Councils, that lead efforts in community wildfire preparedness, education, and mitigation to build fire-adapted communities throughout California.
What are Firewise Communities?
Firewise USA® is a national program that provides your community with a collaborative framework for reducing the risk of wildfire. The Firewise USA® program is administered by NFPA® and is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. While the NFPA® administers this program, individuals and communities participate on a voluntary basis. Meeting the criteria for becoming a Firewise USA® community helps homeowners get organized and find direction for their wildfire safety efforts.
The Firewise recognition program helps neighbors in a geographic area get organized, find direction, and take action to increase the ignition resistance of their homes and community and to reduce wildfire risks at the local level.
Firewise USA® Recognition Program has nearly 1,000 active member communities in 40 states, as well as a participation retention rate of 80 percent over the past decade.
In a press release dated October 17, 2022, Commissioner Lara of the California Department of Insurance (CDI), enforced the nation’s first wildfire safety regulation, directing insurance companies to reward consumers for being Safer from Wildfires, and Firewise Communities will benefit from these reduced insurance rates. The insurance companies were required to submit new rate filings reflecting these rewards. The new rate filings are currently being reviewed by the CDI.
CLICK HERE to read more about Firewise.
CLICK HERE to go to our Partner Resource Page to view California Department of Insurance links.
CLICK HERE to read more about insurance companies offering discounts.
Our Mission
The Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council works with the City of Agoura Hills and fire-related agencies and organizations to help protect life and property from wildfire in Agoura Hills. AHFSC’s three primary objectives help achieve this mission:
- Advancing wildfire education for Agoura Hills homeowners and residents – through programs such as “Ready, Set, Go”; Firewise; and Home Wildfire Assessments.
- Assisting with fuel mitigation for homeowners and in the Open Space areas of Agoura Hills – through Home Wildfire Assessments, Chipper Days at local parks and open spaces, and working closely with our partners.
- Providing an educational communications hub that connects our wildfire-related agencies and organizations, the residents of Agoura Hills, and the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council – through our website, social media outreach, newsletters, and collaborative relationships with outside organizations.
- Continue to enhance our partnership with the City of Agoura Hills.
We are extremely grateful to the City of Agoura Hills who has provided the initial resources to get AHFSC up and running. Moving forward we will continue to work with the City of Agoura Hills and will apply for available grants from Federal, State, Local Agencies, and Corporate Donors. This will allow us to build a solid foundation to better achieve our objectives, secure additional grant monies for additional programs, and most importantly, reduce the wildfire risk to Agoura Hills life and property now and in the future.
CLICK HERE TO RECEIVE UPDATES AND NEWSLETTERS FROM AHFSC
Please contact us to find out how you and your community can take advantage of the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council and our Firewise community programs.