[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6626841,"mediaKeyId","2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21","parentId",2740177,"title","LA County Fire urges home hardening and defensible-space steps as Topanga State Park announces limited trail reopenings","audioSeconds",6675,"startMs",1105050,"endMs",7780800,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21&start=1105&end=7780","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21/thumbnail_1105050.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6626841/Topanga/Ventura-County/California/LA-County-Fire-urges-home-hardening-and-defensible-space-steps-as-Topanga-State-Park-announces-limited-trail-reopenings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626841-32a3c1a9cbef054b6d03e6b7fe84b340/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206163&Signature=MNthVsKfPNcX9F2zoQeMHtDkhNJhyPhdNk7xpQtXG7EqrfqZJSw0ayz5joiMB4YAp0ZXvIQX3lhc5jxG7mR2rTZj7wOgu-CwgqiTR9MAfUG3gPA4kH4Z3-weYAOWa4t6x20nC45jQ0ptc~o8tORiH3kY0To8wGZ4uZstjF2tHkT37cmwmt6AaHwMRBzfSWyGhii4zWLxzc8bceTd21gesLAXqTqKYNksV68c1euX4Vc~wZjXQxir4TIB0sndVcTY4c~JMPUTw1~uUY-Oriy-z34FGQ2i9O~KRD02~h4WoEcqP1TaK~0qopq7~e6OiPz-47thRtpTJhZFbmD2mnHh9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-21T00:15:01Z","article","Topanga Town Council — Los Angeles County Fire and California State Parks used Thursday’s Topanga Town Council meeting to urge residents to complete defensible-space work, to participate in home-hardening inspections, and to take advantage of wildfire-prevention discounts and community programs.

Fire activity and calls: Drew Smith of the Los Angeles County Fire Department said Topanga saw a light call load in February with 19 calls: zero fires, nine medical calls, zero hazardous-materials incidents, one service call and nine good-intent calls. He stressed that the season remains active and that property-level actions now reduce risk later: “This is the time to really look at our home hardening practices,” he told the meeting.

Home-hardening programs and insurance discounts: Fire staff outlined options for home-hardening inspections and said those inspections and community mitigation can affect insurance discounts. At the meeting staff described current incentives: an inspection-based home-hardening process may provide a roughly 10% premium discount, a separate 50-foot defensible-space measure can provide another 5%, and combined measures can yield larger cumulative savings; exact programs and discounts vary by insurer and program administrator. Fire staff and community volunteers are scheduling neighborhood home-hardening talks and offered one-on-one assessment referrals through the county and resource-conservation partners.

Cal Fire rulemaking: Participants discussed a forthcoming Cal Fire draft requiring reduced combustibles within the 0–5-foot zone adjacent to structures, with a probable phased compliance timeline of several years for existing homes. County and fire staff said residents should begin implementing defensible-space measures now to ease future compliance.

Brush clearance and assistance: Multiple residents asked how to scale brush clearance for seniors and low-income households. County field deputy Daniel Vicente said the county is pursuing a mix of programs, including potential philanthropic and state funds, to subsidize fuel-modification work for vulnerable residents. He also said county teams are contacting property owners about rights-of-entry and other recovery steps.

Mental-health support: Several participants urged faster deployment of mental-health outreach for residents, including children and seniors, after the fires. Staff acknowledged the need and said county offices and partners are working on expanded outreach and would share updates on specific services.

State Parks trail reopenings: Richard Fink, district superintendent for California State Parks (Angeles District), said an array of Topanga trailheads and trails will reopen this Friday, and that the parks’ announcement and list would be posted on the Topanga State Park website. “We feel good about getting people back on the trails there,” Fink said, while noting reopenings were coordinated with MRCA and other partners to ensure safety and staffing.

What residents can do now: Fire and park staff urged residents to maintain 0–5-foot clearance around structures, sign up for a home-hardening inspection or a local home-hardening talk, document mitigation steps for insurance and community Firewise reporting, and contact county offices for assistance with fuel modification work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Topanga Town Council Meeting - March 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Los Angeles County Fire representative reported a light February call volume in Topanga and emphasized defensible-space maintenance and home-hardening inspections. State Parks said several trailheads in Topanga will reopen this Friday; residents requested expanded mental-health outreach and help with brush clearance.","taxTitle","Topanga, Ventura County, California","taxId",79253,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6626844,"Topanga sheriff reports modest rise in Part 1 crimes; CHP warns of distracted-driving crackdown April 1",666,106070,772690,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21&start=106&end=772","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21/thumbnail_106070.jpg","/articles/6626844/Topanga/Ventura-County/California/Topanga-sheriff-reports-modest-rise-in-Part-1-crimes-CHP-warns-of-distracted-driving-crackdown-April-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626844-2b91141c67a1cec69b966410cf60d63e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206163&Signature=IBQ1zJeBGh6fGXO3Z85D5UEFD5PQACqMy6gqiz47nlJKdjwl7pc~g7AX4eNf8YGVLAHW-5Fgo5hd1vj4oLMX1DkQQ-CqdYLaUby4FaY07s5UvIqFB2UIFVZdyZsAc1-s9GPZSlG4fHCpQhir8bpkYu3eY7ktTcZH3j~Iq1QQLiBRZDYrRCBp5uwtCqUOC2pSCx7S~iOxAK15xVZo6zNi8jMQc-JdI-ehEV8fnO5KPt338wV5uAm5R3edKweWgk1U9lpQgMcZZKlkYA~BxqcIPctN1McFNQd0XgRLjvUY7tEnseFVbXNvpekeAF0DIBMCrb~rACAbL07WBl0BBm5f7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Topanga Town Council — At the March 20 Topanga Town Council meeting, Los Angeles County deputy Richard Baldy delivered monthly crime figures and CHP announced an upcoming concentrated enforcement operation aimed at driving violations.

Baldy’s report: Deputy Baldy said total Part 1 crimes for February were five: two assaults, one residential burglary, one grand theft and one theft from an unlocked vehicle. Baldy said those incidents included a burglary on Light Hill Drive in which a safe was pried open and jewelry was taken, and a grand-theft case involving auto parts on Dream Leaf. He said the town’s year-to-date total was 10 crimes in 2025, up from eight at the same point in 2024.

CHP enforcement and outreach: Officer Cody Sturgis of the California Highway Patrol told the meeting his agency will conduct a “maximum enforcement” day on April 1 targeting distracted driving, DUI and primary crash factors such as speeding and unsafe lane changes. “By maximum enforcement period, I mean, we're gonna have a lot more officers than normal… everyone who's available that day will pretty much be out,” Sturgis said. He also promoted a free two-hour Start Smart teen-driver class scheduled for March 31 (6 p.m.–8 p.m.) and gave an office contact email: cody.sturges@chp.ca.gov.

Parking, enforcement constraints and street racing complaints: Multiple residents raised long-standing parking problems in Mould Canyon and Bangar Canyon and requested more enforcement. Officer Sturgis and deputies said enforcement is constrained by available staffing: Sturgis said the mountain region is often staffed by few deputies at a time and that saturation enforcement depends on officer availability. Residents urged targeted deployments on Saddle Peak and other locations where they reported street racing; Sturgis said those concerns are part of the April enforcement focus.

Abandoned vehicles and other service items: Sturgis walked residents through the abandoned-vehicle process (vehicles can be tagged and towed after 72 hours if not moved) and advised that complaints are best submitted to the CHP nonemergency line or the CHP office for follow-up.

Contact information and follow-up: Sturgis offered an office phone (818-888-0980) and his email (cody.sturges@chp.ca.gov) for signups to the Start Smart class and for reporting local traffic problems. Residents requested a clearer schedule for enforcement and more local visibility; CHP asked for reported times and locations to prioritize saturation patrols.","Deputy Richard Baldy told the council February had five Part 1 crimes and a slight rise in year-to-date totals. CHP said it will mount a 'maximum enforcement' operation on April 1 focused on distracted driving, DUI and speeding; residents continued to press for more local enforcement and answers on parking enforcement.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6626849,"Caltrans, Army Corps and county outline months-long plan to clear mud and repair Topanga Canyon Boulevard; LAUSD to provide limited bus service",0,55750,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21&start=55&end=55","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2740177-371d0f031c2ef9d818277cbb168c6e21/thumbnail_55750.jpg","/articles/6626849/Topanga/Ventura-County/California/Caltrans-Army-Corps-and-county-outline-months-long-plan-to-clear-mud-and-repair-Topanga-Canyon-Boulevard-LAUSD-to-provide-limited-bus-service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6626849-ae6cad18c2288b5af1160e7247bcf9dd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771206163&Signature=bLCW1QoQh3waBwWVdbX2e~2RmC8yaPxgiOrpi1rm538WaegNyi-cQyN-geVwlKlRBWBftymbtAtPyHCkA43IUE-4rvpLD-V14sR9uqar0Mk3nANvKlhXFq~NNfBfXKOlEyBiXFSnkYXvfruxuSgk0rIjhEvVRq8-EajhDlt5dL85c4kKPQADa1cQjOnivUdL7lvxtQWKrvwGi4vs5JM-5vJJRg54NdP2BK-VfdK6wKQEmQ7vSk1Sb8dKew-ThZdGYm5nIAqxoPVlf4gpz~5VM9JHGX13HMqosjstDN9ejyRcZy8WjSttmeUS1XWWJM6LgMS185sXf4evXZD09eCN2g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Topanga Town Council — Caltrans, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Los Angeles County officials told a Topanga Town Council meeting Thursday that clearing mud and stabilizing Topanga Canyon Boulevard will take weeks for debris removal and many more months for full repairs.

At the meeting Caltrans communications director Lauren Miller said crews have already removed a large initial volume of material and that engineers expect to clear the bulk of the mud within about 2½ to 3 months, but that reconstruction of the damaged highway — which requires multiple retaining walls and geotechnical work — will take longer. “We got 33,000 cubic yards of mud that came down,” Miller said, and showed Caltrans field photos of washouts between Post Mile 0.933 and 2.712 where slope failures exposed culverts and undermined the roadway.

Why it matters: the closure of Topanga Canyon Boulevard has limited residents’ access to schools, medical appointments and work and has strained businesses. Officials said they are trying to balance urgent community access with safety and the logistical demands of a large debris-removal operation that depends on synchronized work by utilities and heavy trucks.

What officials told the council

Caltrans: Miller said crews are removing mud, testing it, and hauling clean material to a farm in Oxnard for storage and disposal. That daytime-only drop-off — Oxnard’s own noise rules will not allow nighttime deliveries — is one constraint Caltrans cited in trying to meet the 2½–3 month target for removing mud from the corridor. Miller said “we are trying to accelerate the mud removal because we just found out that the Oxnard farms won't take the mud at night because they have their own noise ordinances.” She said full repairs will require at least three retaining walls and additional design and construction work beyond the initial clearing.

Army Corps: Colonel Brian Souser, who leads the Corps’ emergency field office for the Palisades impact area, described an accelerating debris-removal operation. “We probably need to do between 10 and 15 more aircraft carriers out of the Pacific Palisades and the unincorporated areas and city Malibu,” he said, using the aircraft-carrier analogy to describe the volume of debris. He said the Corps had ramped crews from about 20 debris-removal crews to 64 and expected to reach roughly 75 next week and approach 100 in a subsequent surge; the goal is to sustain a high daily throughput of truckloads to reduce backlog.

County and public works: County public-works staff described more than 40 emergency projects across the district and said many are now in design or early construction. District engineers said they hope to rebuild major infrastructure segments by July 1, but cautioned that timelines depend on the number of private-property owners who sign rights-of-entry to allow removal of debris from beachfront and slope-adjacent parcels.

School transportation: Officials said LAUSD has agreed to run one dedicated bus each morning and one each afternoon for public elementary and middle-school students from Topanga to schools off the canyon while roadwork continues. Caltrans and county staff said they are also exploring limited shuttle or staged “caravan” approaches for private-school families and people with medical needs, but said any broader pass or convoy plan must be evaluated for safety, traffic impact and effects on the debris-removal production schedule.

Access, passes and enforcement: The question of opening alternate routes such as Tuna Canyon drew sustained comment from residents. Deputy Richard Baldy and county staff said enforcement capacity is limited: deputies are being deployed across the county and many units are committed to closure checkpoints and other missions. Baldy said staffing shortages, not funding, are the operative problem: “There’s just nobody else to do it,” he said, explaining that recruiting and training deputies takes time. The National Guard can and does help at some checkpoints, but Baldwin and other officials said Guard personnel must be accompanied by sworn deputies because Guard members lack local law-enforcement arrest powers in this use. Officials said they will evaluate a community proposal to operate tightly controlled convoys (a bus followed by a fixed number of cars) and will report back with an engineering and safety assessment.

Operational constraints: Officials repeatedly warned that storms and recurring slope failures continue to complicate fieldwork. Caltrans’ construction chief said engineers need stable, cleared work pads for drilling geotechnical borings and for installing long, steel micropiles or anchored retaining systems; material shortages and fabrication lead times for large steel elements also affect the schedule.

Next steps and timeline: Caltrans said the immediate objective is to clear mud to allow a two-lane approach as far as possible and then operate a one-lane alternating signal further up the damaged segment while retaining-wall work continues. Miller reiterated the 2½–3 month target for mud removal and said full slope repair and wall construction will require additional months. The Army Corps said it expected production to peak in May–June as additional crews and trucks come online. Officials agreed to return with more detailed progress updates at the council’s next meeting.

Community reaction: Residents pressed for faster, clearer access for schoolchildren, for a fixed convoy schedule and for more visible enforcement at Tuna Canyon and other access points. Several parents and Topanga teachers described long morning travel times for students and urged temporary measures that would let families and medical patients get through during set windows while keeping debris work and heavy truck traffic moving.

What officials asked of the public: Caltrans and Corps staff requested residents respect safety closures while they accelerate debris removal. County staff asked homeowners on beachfront and slope parcels to complete rights-of-entry forms so crews can remove private debris that is blocking or endangering the highway; officials said clearing those parcels is a critical path item for restoring traffic flow.","Caltrans says crews must remove tens of thousands of cubic yards of mud and build retaining walls before full reopening; Army Corps and county expect a major ramp-up in debris-removal capacity. LAUSD agreed to daily bus service to relieve some families while access and enforcement questions remain unresolved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

LA County Fire urges home hardening and defensible-space steps as Topanga State Park announces limited trail reopenings

Topanga sheriff reports modest rise in Part 1 crimes; CHP warns of distracted-driving crackdown April 1

Caltrans, Army Corps and county outline months-long plan to clear mud and repair Topanga Canyon Boulevard; LAUSD to provide limited bus service