City of Los Angeles Wildfire Mitigation Assessment

Abstract

California, along with much of the nation’s west, is experiencing a vast increase in the number and overall severity of wildfires. According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) there has been a 358% increase in total acreage burned by wildfires in the past three years. If past trends are indicative of future results, we can expect to see even more devastation and destruction this fire season. The need for shared learning and best practice assessments has never been greater. Local governments owe it to their residents to provide up to date policy and stringent regulations in order to secure public safety. A comparison was made with other jurisdictions, both locally and internationally, based on the criteria of climate, topography and fuel source. Through the analysis and comparison of the described sample, it was established that the city of Los Angeles has comparably stringent building code and defensible space requirements. Building code and defensible space are important factors in wildfire mitigation but there is still room for improvement. Through increased collaboration with WUI communities and greater regional collaboration the City of Los Angeles can continue to be at the forefront of wildfire mitigation policy and practices.