Tag: Brush clearance

MALIBU—On July 25, the city of Malibu announced on Facebook that it is spreading the word of The Firewise USA program helps neighborhoods reduce wildfire risk through community action, including creating defensible space, hardening homes, improving emergency access, and planning ahead.

As of July 2026, Malibu has 15 recognized Firewise communities helping make our city more resilient.

Here’s how to become Firewise:

-Organize your neighborhood
-Map your community with support from the City and NFPA
-Complete a wildfire risk assessment
-Create an action plan to reduce wildfire hazards
-Host at least one Firewise activity each year

The city of Malibu and the LA County Fire Department are here to help guide you through every step. Every home we prepare and every neighbor we involve makes Malibu stronger and safer.

The City’s Public Works and Community Services Departments started up their collaborative annual weed abatement efforts on City-owned properties and public rights-of-way throughout Malibu. This proactive vegetation management program plays a critical role in reducing wildfire risk by removing dry grasses, weeds, and other combustible vegetation that can serve as fuel during fire season.

In addition to enhancing public safety and supporting defensible space objectives, annual weed abatement helps improve emergency access, protects public infrastructure, and maintains the appearance and usability of public spaces.

As Malibu remains highly vulnerable to wildfire threats, these coordinated efforts are an important component of the City’s ongoing commitment to fire prevention, community resilience, and the protection of residents, visitors, and natural resources.

To learn more about bringing Firewise to one’s neighborhood is to visit: www.MalibuCity.org/FireSafety.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu is reminding the public that Sunday, June 1 is the mandatory Brush Clearance Deadline. The city of Malibu has noted the following three zones:

• Zone 0 – (0 – 5 feet from the house) Remove anything flammable (plants, mulch, firewood) away from the house

• Zone 1 (5–30 feet) maintain healthy, well-spaced vegetation, trim trees, remove dead plants & debris

• Zone 2 (30–100 feet, or the property line) thin out vegetation and manage larger landscaping features slow the spread of fire

Malibu’s Fire Safety Liaisons offer free exterior property inspections to identify wildfire vulnerabilities. They’ll provide a no-obligation checklist of simple, and at times inexpensive ways to harden one’s home against the millions of flying embers that can cause properties to catch fire during wildfires.

To schedule a Home Wildfire Assessment or get brush clearance advice:

-Call: 310-456-2489, ext. 388
-Email: FireSafety@MalibuCity.org
-Visit: MalibuCity.org/FireSafety

For detailed step-by-step brush clearance guides, diagrams of the brush clearance zones, details on the requirements, safety tips and more, visit the CAL FIRE website https://www.fire.ca.gov/dspace and LA County Fire Department’s website https://fire.lacounty.gov/fire-hazard-reduction-programs.

By Danny Jones

MALIBU—The city of Malibu announced on its website May 20 that it is reminding homeowners of the upcoming deadline for mandatory brush clearance.

Malibu’s Public Safety Department is reminding all homeowners that June 1 is the deadline for annual brush clearance around their properties. It is part of the city’s annual fire prevention efforts to decrease the risk of wildfires as the city approaches the summer season.

“The devastating Woolsey Fire must always serve as a reminder that we all have to be prepared for the next big wildfire, and doing proper brush clearance is a big part of that,” said Mayor Steve Uhring. “If you have not yet completed your brush clearance and need help or information, please contact our Fire Safety Liaisons, we are here to help you.”

On June 1, local Los Angeles County Fire Department engine companies begin conducting annual mandatory brush clearance inspections in the city of Malibu. Property owners are strongly asked to come into compliance as soon as possible, both to avoid fines and to protect their homes, their neighbors’ homes, and their community.

Brush clearance is a shared responsibility for all property owners in High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. The entirety of Malibu is in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. Such measures help create the “defensible space” that firefighters need to effectively protect life, property, and the environment. Properties with good defensible space may require no or minimal intervention during a wildfire and stand the best chance of survival.

The Brush Clearance Program is a joint effort between the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the County of Los Angeles Department of Agricultural Commissioner Weights and Measures, Weed Hazard and Pest Abatement Bureau. The unified enforcement effort have the ability to declare both improved and unimproved properties a public nuisance and, where necessary, require the clearance of hazardous vegetation. Non-compliant properties may be subject to a County administrative fine of $500 and/or a non-compliance fee of $648, to be assessed on the property tax bill.

In conjunction with annual brush clearance, Malibu homeowners may sign up for a free Home Wildfire Assessment. This service includes a home inspection by one of the City’s Fire Safety Liaisons who will point out vulnerabilities and offer the homeowner a no-obligation checklist. The checklist often includes simple and inexpensive steps that can prevent flying embers from igniting a home during a wildfire, a leading cause of homes catching fire and burning down during wind-driven wildfires. Malibu has conducted nearly 500 Assessments since the program was launched in 2019.

For more details including a list of vendors, maps, a video and more, visit the LA County Fire Department website.

To schedule a Home Wildfire Assessment, contact the Fire Safety Liaisons at 310-456-2489 or email: FireSafety@malibucity.org.

By Trevor