(L-R) Chief Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE), Mario Contini, President of the KenCrest Ridge Firewise Community, and Deputy Chief Carmel Barnhart, California State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE).
Daniel Berlant, California State Fire Marshal (CAL FIRE) spent the afternoon in Thousand Oaks celebrating the designation of California’s 800th Firewise USA® Community at the KenCrest Ridge neighborhood.
“There has been a lot of concern about insurance, but honestly this started as an interest in protecting property and personal safety, and insurance became a byproduct after we started,” said Mario Conitini, President of the KenCrest Firewise Community.
The celebration marks a new record for wildfire-prepared communities in California. This recognition by the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA), highlights steps communities have taken to ensure that wildfire risk is reduced in their area and that residents are prepared.
In 2017, California had 137 Firewise communities, by August 2023 we were up to 700 communities, and nine months later we have crossed the 800th community mark. This trend is a celebration that more and more Golden State communities are working together to achieve Firewise recognition.
Individuals and communities participate on a voluntary basis and are recognized as a Firewise Community upon the completion of certain tasks, including forming a committee of residents and other wildfire stakeholders, obtaining a written risk assessment form, developing a three-year action plan for the community, including hosting an outreach event and ultimately completing their application to become a Firewise Community.
Agoura Hills, with the help of the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council, is in the process of forming seven Firewise Communities.
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.
