Malibu Offers Free Fire Hardening Home Assessments For Residents

MALIBU, CA — The City of Malibu is now offering a free "Home Ignition Zone Assessment Program" to help residents harden their homes against flying embers, which is a major cause of homes catching fire during wildfires, the City announced Friday. The program is part of Malibu's ongoing efforst to promote community-wide wildfire prepareness.

"The Woolsey Fire is still fresh in our memory, and we know that it is only a matter of time before we face another major fire," said Mayor Pro Tem Karen Farrer. "I encourage everyone in Malibu to make use of this valuable service and make their homes more fire resistant."

During wind-driven wildfires such as the Woolsey Fire, powerful, sustained winds can send burning embers travelling up to a few miles ahead of the fire front, the City of Malibu said. More than half of homes lost during a wildfire catch fire due to flying embers — not direct flame contact or radiant heat — which means all homes in Malibu are vulnerable, according to fire behavior experts.

Modifying landscaping around the home, sealing eaves and moving flammable materials away from structures are examples of simple and often inexpensive ways to make homes safer from wildfires, the City said.

Malibu's volunteer inspectors from the Malibu Community Emergency Response Team and Arson Watch have completed a 16-hour "Assessing Structure Ignition Potential from Wildfire" class through the National Fire Protection Association in identifying specific areas that wildfire embers can find receptive fuels in and around a home, according to the City. They will inspect Malibu homes and make recommendations on how to make it more fire resistant, the press release said.

Malibu's Fire Safety Liaison Jerry Vandermeulen is also available to meet with Malibu residents, business owners, homeowners associations, or multifamily residential property owners or managers to offer guidance on brush clearance and home hardening. Vandermeulen can also explain how to monitor wildfire conditions, how to use Pulsepoint and other tools to maintain good situational awareness well in advance of a wildfire, and how to prepare emergency and evacuation plans and supply kits, the press release said.

To schedule an appointment, contact Jerry Vandermeulen at 310-456-2489, ext. 387 or jvandermeulen@malibucity.org. For additional wildfire preparation, visit the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Ready, Set, Go program.