Malibu Installs First Emergency Box To Help Firefighters

MALIBU, CA — The city installed the first of 30 weatherproof boxes that will be placed throughout the city to help out-of-area firefighters respond to local emergencies.

The boxes, dubbed "Beacon Boxes," were custom designed for the city to store maps, flash drives with map files and other local information for first responders, according to a news release from the city. The first box was installed on Feb. 24.

The boxes are designed to help out-of-area firefighters to respond more effectively to emergency situations like fires. The boxes will be installed at the base of canyon neighborhoods, according to the city. The maps for the boxes have already been approved by the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Fire prevention has been a key concern for the city of Malibu since the devastating 2018 Woolsey Fire, which burned down at least 670 structures within the city of Malibu including over 400 single-family homes, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The city has taken many other proactive measures to prepare for a potential wildfire, including mock evacuations and home preparation efforts. The city in September received a $65,000 grant from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for public wildfire education.