BEVERLY HILLS—The city of Beverly Hills announced that the Beverly Hills Fire Department has prepared a survey to gather public input on the city’s wildfire preparedness and resilience in the event of a major wildfire.
The survey, which consists of 33 questions and can take as little as 12 minutes, will help develop the City’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan. CWPP is a strategic plan designed to reduce wildfire risk to a community and increase its overall resilience.
CWPPs are encouraged by federal and state wildfire agencies, including CAL FIRE, and are tailored to reflect the specific wildfire risks, landscapes, and priorities of each community. Open spaces, especially neighborhoods above Sunset Boulevard and areas with dense vegetation are at risk.
The CWPP will help Beverly Hills to:
-Identify and map local wildfire hazards
-Protect people, homes, infrastructure, and natural areas
-Prioritize mitigation projects such as vegetation management, emergency access improvements, and public education
-Strengthen coordination between City departments, fire agencies, and the public
-Access state and federal grant funding for wildfire prevention and resilience efforts
The CWPP process follows guidelines from CAL FIRE’s CWPP best practices and includes the following steps:
1) Forming a Core Working Group – Includes representatives from City departments, fire officials, utilities, and technical experts.
2) Assessing Local Wildfire Risks – Using fire science, historical data, and community observations to understand exposure and vulnerabilities.
3) Engaging the Community – Gathering resident input through surveys, meetings, and workshops to ensure the plan reflects local knowledge and values.
4) Identifying and Prioritizing Projects – Creating a list of recommended actions to reduce risk and improve readiness.
5) Developing the Final CWPP Document – A publicly available plan that outlines strategies, roles, and timelines for implementation.
The survey can be accessed by scanning the QR code via the website or visiting: www.BeverlyHills.org/WildfireSurvey.
By Danny Jones