Rebuild:LA Episode 042: There Aren’t Enough Firetrucks for Every House with the LA County Fire Department Community Brigade’s Brent Woodworth

There have always been people who have stayed behind to try to protect their homes during a wildfire. It happened in the Palisades and in Altadena this January. As always, there were varying results. Some claimed to have saved their homes and even those of their neighbors. Others may have lost their lives trying. It’s never been a thing any emergency services department, or any professional firefighter would recommend. But just recently, LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said in some instances, his department supports staying behind. And one of the reasons, if not THE reasons for the Chief’s 180-degree turn? The LA County Fire Department’s Community Brigade - a group of civilians and home owners, who now have the training and the equipment to stay behind. It's the brainchild of Brent Woodworth, a man with 40+ years of crisis management in the private sector, who founded the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation. What is the Brigade and what does it do? You'll find out in this episode.

Resources:

• LA County Fire Department Community Brigade
• Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation
• Home Ignition Zone Assessments Sign Up
• Join the Brigade
• Woolsey Fire Assessment Report