Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation

10/04/2026

A view of the Bouquet Fire from the home of one of our Community Brigade staff members in Santa Clarita.

They’ve prepared the area around their home and packed a go bag so they’re ready to leave if evacuation becomes necessary.

Thinking of everyone affected and the crews working to protect our communities. Stay alert and follow official evacuation instructions. ❤️

10/04/2026

Brent Woodworth, Chairman & CEO of LAEPF’s Community Brigade, joined the fun at the Westlake Village Touch-a-Truck event!

The kids used bladder bags filled with water and Dawn dish soap to spray parking cones—and, of course, their parents! 💦🚒

Who do you think was having more fun—the kids or the grown-ups? 😄

09/07/2026

Wildfire mitigation is not simply a seasonal task—it is a shared responsibility and a way of life.

Nearly one-third of the United States lies within or near areas where homes and communities meet wildland vegetation. For those of us who choose to live in these beautiful landscapes, we must also recognize the responsibility that comes with them.

Living with intent and purpose means respecting the land,
understanding the risks, and taking meaningful steps to protect our homes, families, neighbors, first responders, and communities.

Clearing combustible materials, maintaining defensible space, hardening our homes, managing vegetation, and preparing for evacuation may seem like small actions, but collectively, they can make a tremendous difference.

Mitigation cannot eliminate every risk, but it can reduce the likelihood of ignition, slow the spread of fire, and give firefighters a safer opportunity to defend our communities.

We cannot control when or where the next wildfire will occur—but we can control how well we prepare.

Live respectfully. Prepare purposefully. Mitigate continuously. Protect your community.

07/30/2026

A Federal Judge issued a comprehensive ruling allowing LAEPF to proceed. This brings us one step closer toward resolution. Read more at the link below:

According to the federal judge, the law supports our allegations. Read more here.

07/30/2026

We were featured in The Malibu Times recently in two articles about a former paid subcontractor who worked under the LAEPF’s Community Fire Brigade.

We continue to be committed to provide support for communities across Los Angeles County.

We have had developments since that article was printed in June. Here is our response to that digital release:

We are immensely grateful for our volunteers who we have and continue to partner with to serve the communities of Malibu, Topanga, Calabasas and Greater LA County.

05/16/2026

Topanga is one of the most beautiful and unique communities in Los Angeles County—but living in our canyon also comes with responsibility. Wildfire is part of our reality, and protecting lives, homes, and natural resources requires a prepared, trained, and connected community.

The Community Brigade is recruiting new Field Brigade members who are ready to move from concerned residents to trained community protectors.

As a Brigade member, you will receive more than 100 hours of comprehensive field training designed to prepare you for real-world conditions. Members learn essential wildfire safety, field operations, communications, situational awareness, and how to work as part of a coordinated team under official authorization of LACoFD.

You will also gain valuable knowledge about home hardening and wildfire risk reduction—practical steps that help make homes more resistant to embers, radiant heat, and fire exposure. This knowledge not only helps protect your own home, but also gives you the ability to share meaningful preparedness information with neighbors.

By helping harden one home at a time, Brigade members strengthen the entire canyon. Each prepared home becomes part of a larger community defense strategy and serves as a force multiplier during a fire incident. When more residents understand home hardening, defensible space, and ember-resistant practices, Topanga becomes safer and more resilient.

Field Brigade work is challenging, rewarding, and deeply meaningful. It builds camaraderie, confidence, and a stronger connection to the community we all love.

Brigade members are provided specialized Personal Protective Equipment, and participants are asked to provide their own wildland fire boots.

The next Firefighter II Academy begins June 6.

Field team members must be at least 18 years old and in good physical condition.

Your canyon needs you. Bec

Topanga is one of the most beautiful and unique communities in Los Angeles County—but living in our canyon also comes with responsibility. Wildfire is part of our reality, and protecting lives, homes, and natural resources requires a prepared, trained, and connected community. The Community Brigad...

05/14/2026

LAEPF Community Brigade attended the Topanga & Malibu Large Animal Community Meeting where Chief Smith, LACoFD & Captain Carr, LASD Lost Hills spoke about protocols for Red Flags the importance of having a plan in place before the fire.

Animal Control & Megan Silveira, Pierce College Shelter Manager discussed the importance of practicing with your animal loading & unloading into your trailer. Document the order each of them load. And remember- chip all your animals.

05/01/2026

This Saturday, May 2nd is the LASD Lost Hills open house; we will have a tent and a Type 6 engine, giveaways, signups for HIZ evaluations and Community Brigade membership applications.

The open house is from 9am to 1pm at 27050 Agoura Road in Calabasas.

Please stop by the tent, and if you want to help out for any portion of the day, wear your Brigade logo gear!

04/22/2026

Community Brigade attending Mandeville Canyon HOA meeting at Rivera Country Club with Chief Dave Updike of the US Forestry Service. This is a virtual fire propane portable water pump for a pool. It can make a huge impact in a community when installed.

04/16/2026

Grateful to the City of Malibu for recognizing the work of LAEPF's Community Brigade and all the volunteers who responded so selflessly during the fires.