LOS ANGELES — Landscaping is an ongoing backyard project for Calabasas resident Mike Pashai.
Back in 2018, he said he saw the Woolsey Fire burn near his neighborhood.
He initially tried to push back the flames with a water hose. Seeing the flames only grow, he said he changed course and fled for safety.
“We had to give it up and pack and leave, basically. And then when those incidents happen, you notice how vulnerable and how serious the fire could be,” he said.
To prepare for the next wildfire, he signed up for a home hardening evaluation from the nonprofit Emergency Preparedness in Calabasas - A Fire Safe Council. During the evaluation, he learned about the ember-resistant zone, a new state requirement to keep anything flammable like plants and wood items more than five feet away from home walls in areas that are considered fire hazard severity zones.
“I’m a green kind of person. But, if it pertains to a threat or you know any potential threats to me and my neighborhood, we are going to do what we got to do,” Pashai said.
In May, Los Angeles County firefighters will inspect inland area single-family homes to identify fire risks up to 200 feet away. Coastal community inspections will begin in June. About 60,000 homeowners received an annual brush clearance notice for the first time, according to the LA County Fire Department. Corrections won’t be enforced until 2024. Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith with LA County Fire Department Division 7 said preparation is key after this year’s rainfall.
“We know as we get into our high-fire danger season, which usually is in fall with the Santa Ana winds, those embers can travel up to three miles in the air and can land in on or around houses,” Smith said.
The nonprofit provided about 40 home hardening evaluations in the Calabasas area this year to reach out to homeowners about upcoming inspections by LA County Fire, Cameron said.
“Home structure damage is preventable in terms of home inspections and evaluations and just recognizing the fact that we live in a dangerous environment,” Cameron said.
After the evaluation, Pashai said it helped him pinpoint some changes.
“Part of that I knew from before. But, part of it was kind of news to me and new information, which I welcome always,” he said. “I will try to practice those things that were pointed out to me.”
In 2024, homeowners will have about 30 days to correct inspection violations to avoid a fine.