Southern California Wildfire Response

10/07/2026

[VIDEO] Training day. No real patient, just our crews running a backcountry rescue from start to finish.

The “patient” was hidden off trail in deep brush and crews were only given a 100-foot search radius. Once they found him, it was assessment, bleeding control, then a carryout through rough terrain to a spot where an ambulance could meet us - all tactical decision making and critical thinking.

Real rescues out here don’t usually happen on a flat trail next to the road, so that’s not where we train.

09/26/2026

LIVE: Meet the SCWR Team 🚒 | 12pm, Saturday Sep 26th

Join us for a live Q&A with Southern California’s volunteer firefighters.

Meet the team, learn what we do, and ask your questions live.

09/23/2026

Wildland firefighting leaves very little room for preventable mistakes.

The 18 Watch Out Situations exist because the same hazards, communication failures, and tactical errors have repeated across generations of incidents.

This series takes those situations and puts them into a format designed to be remembered.

The Backbone Trail
18 Wildland Watch Out Situations

09/14/2026

SCWR firefighters can regularly be found training throughout the Santa Monica Mountains. This day's focus: Pump Ops. 🐻🔥

08/26/2026

https://www.westsidecurrent.com/la_city_news/new-wildfire-dispatch-center-aims-to-fill-gaps-during-major-emergencies-in-west-la/article_d5a90502-4d64-4c30-aa0e-3af744509a1d.html

Southern California Wildfire Response is opening a 24-hour dispatch center in Brentwood to boost wildfire response times across the Santa Monica Mountains.

08/25/2026

https://mynewsla.com/weather/2026/08/25/volunteer-fire-dept-opening-new-dispatch-center-in-brentwood/

A volunteer wildland fire department is expanding its coverage in Los Angeles by opening a 24/7 dispatch center near the Sepulveda Pass, officials announced Tuesday. The Southern California Wildfire Response facility will be located in Brentwood, with dispatchers answering calls, routing crews to ac...

08/09/2026

Southern California Wildfire Response (SCWR) is Recruiting

Are you serious about becoming a wildland firefighter?

SCWR is seeking motivated individuals who want to train, respond, and grow within a professional wildland fire department serving Southern California.

As a member of SCWR, you’ll have opportunities to:

California FFT2 training and qualification pathway
Type 6 engine and hand crew operations
Ongoing wildland training and drills
Real-world incident response opportunities
Leadership and instructor development
Work alongside a dedicated team committed to professionalism and service

Whether you’re pursuing a career with CAL FIRE, the U.S. Forest Service, LAFD, or simply want to serve your community, SCWR offers an opportunity to gain valuable training and operational experience.

Apply online today and a member of our recruiting team will contact you with information about the hiring process, upcoming orientation, and training opportunities.

JoinSCWR.org

Recruiting Day
📅 Thursday, August 20
🕙 6:30 PM- 7:45 PM
📍 12601 Mulholland Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90210







Have questions? Send us a message—we’d love to talk.

07/09/2026

106 pounds of illegal fireworks collected by wildland fire crew...

During Fourth of July response, SCWR firefighters collected 106 pounds of illegal fireworks throughout the wildland-urban interface to help reduce wildfire risk.

Thank you to everyone who cooperated with our crews and helped keep our communities safer.

Custody of the fireworks was transferred to the LAPD Bomb Squad for safe disposal.

06/22/2026

Did you know the Los Angeles Fire Department began as an all-volunteer fire department?

In 1871, local county clerk George M. Fall organized Engine Company No. 1, creating Los Angeles' first organized fire company. For the next 15 years, volunteers—not paid firefighters—protected the growing city from fire.

At its peak, the volunteer department had roughly 380 members. They purchased equipment, held fundraisers, and responded to emergencies simply because they believed in serving their community.

It wasn't until February 1, 1886 that Los Angeles officially transitioned to a paid fire department. Many of the city's first paid firefighters were the same volunteers who had already been doing the work for years.

While most people assume volunteer firefighting disappeared from Los Angeles after that transition, volunteer fire organizations still exist in the region today. Departments such as Southern California Wildfire Response continue that tradition by providing volunteer wildfire and emergency response services in the wildland-urban interface areas surrounding Los Angeles.

The mission may look different than it did in 1871, but the idea remains the same: neighbors volunteering their time, training, and effort to help protect their communities.

Los Angeles has one of the most respected fire departments in the world today, but its story began with volunteers—and that part of the city's firefighting heritage is still alive.

06/09/2026

Want to be a firefighter? Now's your chance!

Los Angeles burns. Your community needs you. Southern California Wildfire Response is recruiting the next generation of volunteer firefighters to defend WUI communities across the San Fernando Valley and neighboring counties. No prior fire experience required — only the commitment to show up, trai...