Multiple residents at the listening session described neighbors organizing to protect homes during the Eaton Fire and urged formal support for volunteer efforts. City staff and volunteers said a local Fire Safe Council is forming and working toward nonprofit status.

Caroline Heldman, a Lower Canyon resident, praised early warnings and urged a community volunteer network to help older adults, visitors and people with disabilities during evacuations. Several speakers described neighbors using pumps, hoses and improvised sprinkler systems to defend homes; one resident said volunteers continued to patrol and extinguish spot fires during the incident.

City staff reported the Fire Safe Council is in formation and working to establish itself as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Jose Reynoso, the city manager, said volunteers have expressed interest in participating and that staff will try to ramp up communications about how residents can join or support the effort. The consultants urged that neighborhood volunteer activity be captured in the after-action and improvement plan and suggested integrating volunteer operations into any future sheltering, evacuation or repopulation planning.

No formal city program changes were adopted at the listening session. The Fire Safe Council organizers said they are proceeding with incorporation and outreach; the city asked residents to attend the next session and engage with the group.