Laguna Beach mayor highlights wildfire mitigation, drones and CERT expansion in preparedness push

Mayor Alex Runagi told host Tom Johnson that Laguna Beach treats preparedness as an ongoing priority and described measures the city has considered or begun implementing to reduce wildfire risk and improve emergency response. Runagi said the council’s wildfire mitigation subcommittee produced a report recommending specific actions and that the city is pursuing a mix of technology, staffing and community programs.

Runagi listed possible measures discussed in the mitigation work: giving fire and police control of traffic signals to expedite emergency response; exploring "drones as first responders" to detect fires earlier; funding a part‑time public educator to help residents understand evacuation routes; and expanding the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. "I really strongly believe that technology is key to fire preparedness because the best way to put out a fire is to put it out early, and the way to do that is to detect it early," Runagi said.

The mayor also noted recent regulatory context: he said the Coastal Commission in August rejected an appeal of approval for a new Laguna Beach fire station and that the approved project will be the first seismically sound fire station in the city. Runagi said the station and other measures reflect planning for both wildfire and earthquake readiness.

Runagi encouraged resident participation in CERT and described the program’s goals as training individuals to be part of preparedness efforts and, in certain situations, to support the city when activated. He said Laguna Beach is tracking Firewise USA certification among neighborhoods and cited the Terrace at Canyon Hills homeowners association as the city's first Firewise USA certified community. "If you're reducing your risk and you can prove that you've done it, it makes total sense that your insurance premiums would reflect that reduced risk," Runagi said when explaining one potential benefit of Firewise certification.

The mayor said the city is assessing insurance implications, staffing needs and the best ways to expand Firewise and CERT participation. He also said the city budget reflects a continued prioritization of preparedness measures but provided no specific budget figures on air.

Ending: Runagi urged residents to consider CERT training and noted the city will keep working on both technological and community measures to improve readiness.