Calabasas expands Firewise outreach; council backs incentives and home‑hardening guidance

City staff and volunteers told the Calabasas City Council on Aug. 13 that the city has helped 12 homeowners associations earn NFPA Firewise designation since August 2024 and is preparing a home‑hardening incentive program to encourage retrofits and other mitigation measures.

Firewise staff summarized the program’s impact: staff conduct HOA presentations, assist with three‑year action plans required to maintain NFPA good‑standing, and plan classes and incentives to support home hardening. Volunteer Brian Cameron said the funding tied to item 14 will help HOAs meet reporting and improvement requirements: “Those are the tools that we’re going to need, to help individual communities maintain their status,” he said.

Council members and staff discussed practical technical guidance for homeowners. Staff advised that homes built before 2009 typically used quarter‑inch screening that does not stop ember infiltration; they recommended retrofitting with 1/8‑ or 1/16‑inch rated, fire‑resistant vent screening where appropriate. The fire official noted the 1/8‑inch option is acceptable and cautioned that over‑sealing attics can create airflow and mildew problems.

Council Member Ed Albrecht asked whether an 1/8‑inch retrofit was sufficient for homeowners who had already paid to upgrade; staff replied that 1/8‑inch screening is acceptable and that many homeowners opt for 1/16‑inch for perceived extra protection, but attic ventilation must be maintained.

Mayor Peter Kraut called Firewise an important neighborhood tool that will not by itself eliminate insurance issues but will help neighborhoods work together and make homes more resilient. The council approved item 14 (part of a collective vote) and expressed support for expanded Firewise outreach and the proposed incentive structure.