Community Brigade
Our Mission is to empower communities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.
Watch the Film
The Challenge
During big wildfires,
firefighters get stretched thin.
Wildfires can blaze over thousands of square miles.
Firefighters constantly move to fight the front of the fire.
However, most homes do not ignite from direct contact with the flame front.
When intense heat combines with wind, small burning embers can travel miles away from the fire perimeter.
Flying embers are the cause of up to 90% of homes destroyed by wildfire.
Video courtesy of NBC News
Video courtesy of Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety
The Solution
We bridge the gap with volunteer Community Brigades.
We train volunteers to help their communities prepare for and respond to wildfires and other hazards.
With intimate local knowledge of their “home turf,” Community Brigade is a key resource for first responders.
The brigade helps with “mop-up” operations, reducing the risk of structures burning down from flying embers.
In partnership with LA County Fire, Community Brigade is launching in 7 pilot communities in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Our goal is to help expand this program to communities at risk across the West.
Community Brigades are volunteers committed to protecting their communities from disasters
Volunteers are trained in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery
Preparing Communities
Mitigating risk one home at a time with Home Ignition Zone Assessments.
Community Brigades are also trained in “home hardening.”
Volunteers learn key techniques and best practices to prevent wildfires from igniting homes.
Homeowners can have their home inspected by Community Brigade volunteers at no cost by scheduling a Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) Assessment.
Individualized confidential reports identify risks and make recommendations to reduce the risk of a home being destroyed.
