Fuerza Juntos: Support the Los Angeles County Community Fire Brigade

While the Madre familia spans borders, many of its members call Los Angeles home. January 2025 was an unforgettable month and there isn’t one person who hasn’t been directly or indirectly affected by the devastating fires throughout the county.

In these moments, community is everything and we are reminded that Los Angeles is one filled with creativity, culture, resilience, and unbounded strength. From the boots on the ground fighting fires to the neighbors donating their resources, it’s uplifting to see the community we love so dearly, do what it does best. However, as the dust settles and support begins to lessen, it’s crucial to think long-term about the safety of our community and the essential programs that help prevent this from happening again.

We offer the Los Angeles Fuerza Juntos T-shirt, made in partnership with Land, to benefit the Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Brigade, partners of the LA County Fire Department and LA Emergency Preparedness Foundation. Proceeds from this t-shirt will go towards supporting the brigade’s work and mission to empower Angelenos to prepare for, respond to, and recover from these kinds of disasters. Find the shirt here.

WHAT WAS THE BRIGADE’S ROLE DURING A MAJOR FIRE EVENT LIKE THOSE WE JUST WITNESSED?

Our role varies depending on the incident. During the recent Palisades Fire, life safety was a top priority due to the fire’s rapid spread and the complexity of evacuations. We spent countless hours notifying and evacuating residents while also conducting structure triage—preparing homes for wildfire by removing combustibles from around the property. We work in close coordination with LA County Fire and the Sheriff’s Department to carry out these missions.

Additionally, after the fire front passes, we patrol communities to extinguish spot fires and provide structure protection where it is safe and appropriate. Many people don’t realize that numerous homes are lost after the main fire moves through—small embers can smolder for up to 36 hours, eventually igniting structures. Addressing these lingering threats is a crucial part of our work.

WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE BETTER PREPARED FOR FIRES IN THIS EVER-CHANGING ENVIRONMENT?

If we’re speaking about the general public, the single most important step—far beyond any other measure—is creating wildfire-resilient homes. Homes must be able to withstand wildfire exposure under extreme conditions without requiring a firefighter’s presence for defense. During major fire events, there will never be enough firefighters available to protect every home.

The science behind fire-resistant home design has been available for decades, yet widespread misconceptions about wildfires have left many believing we are powerless against them. This couldn’t be further from the truth. In the Palisades Fire perimeter, we had assessed several homes a year or two before the fire, and those homeowners took basic mitigation steps—simple landscaping adjustments and minor structural modifications. As a result, their homes survived the fire without firefighter intervention. This proves the effectiveness of proactive mitigation, and it’s why we are doubling down on this aspect of our program to build truly fire-adapted communities.

HOW DO YOU SEE THE COMMUNITY FIRE BRIGADE EVOLVING IN THE FUTURE?

We plan to expand throughout the Santa Monica Mountains this year and anticipate forming partnerships and additional brigades across California in the coming years. While the firefighting aspect is what initially draws most people in, the real impact happens long before a fire starts. Our focus is on mitigating structural vulnerabilities and using the current attention on our program to inspire neighbors—house by house—to take action. Our approach is based on Dr. Jack Cohen’s Home Ignition Zone research, which provides a proven framework for reducing fire risk at the individual home level.

WHAT SUPPORT DO YOU NEED TO CONTINUE THE FINE WORK YOU DO?

The greatest support we can receive right now is leveraging the attention on us to drive a cultural shift in how communities perceive and address wildfire risk. If we can serve as a force multiplier—educating and inspiring residents to take mitigation seriously—we can prevent the kind of widespread destruction seen in places like Eaton and Palisades.

As for donations, they primarily support home assessments and our operational needs. These funds allow us to continue providing critical evaluations and guidance to homeowners, helping them make the necessary modifications to ensure their homes can withstand fire events.

LASTLY, IF YOU COULD SHARE A MEZCAL WITH ANYBODY, LIVING OR DEAD, WHO WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

Retired USFS research scientist Dr. Jack Cohen. His groundbreaking work reframes what we commonly call the “wildfire problem” into a “structural ignition problem.” This shift in perspective has fundamentally changed the way we think about wildfires and the solutions we must pursue. Beyond his research, his precision in language—how he articulates every aspect of the issue—is fascinating. I’d love to discuss his insights over a mezcal.

Purchase the 'Los Angeles Fuerza Juntos" t-shirt here.

Learn more and support the Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Brigade.

Photos by Jake Burghart and Mikey Detemple.

The Los Angeles County Fire Department Community Brigade was started by Keegan Gibbs as a way for Angelenos who live in the fire-prone areas of Los Angeles to fight fires and help affected neighbors. With local knowledge of areas, deep community connections, and massive hearts this crew, full of creatives, builders, teachers, and more, has been an essential element in the fight against these natural disasters.

With the unpredictable nature of our climate, this is our new norm and it is important to always be prepared. Organizations like the LA County Community Brigade do not simply stop once the fires are smoldered and are always in need of funds to better prepare for future fires. We sat down with Keegan to ask him some questions about the brigade and how we can best support.

Los Angeles, remember we are stronger together. Fuerza Juntos.

WHAT IS THE LA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY BRIGADE AND HOW DID IT START?

The Community Brigade was born out of our experience during the Woolsey Fire, where we recognized a critical gap between the size and capabilities of LA County Fire and the needs of the communities they serve. Malibu has deep cultural roots in resilience and ranching, but much of that has been lost over recent generations. However, during Woolsey, several groups of residents demonstrated remarkable resilience. Inspired by their efforts, we sought to create fire-adapted communities by training residents to prepare for and respond to wildfires and other emergencies. We asked ourselves: how can we take these resourceful individuals and turn them into an asset for LA County Fire, rather than being seen as a potential liability?

WHO MAKES UP THE BRIGADE AND WHAT KIND OF TRAINING MUST THEY UNDERGO?

We currently have 50 members, ranging in age from 20 to 70. All members must pass a physical pack test—covering three miles with a 45-pound ruck in 45 minutes or less. They also undergo several weeks of basic wildland fire training, including courses such as S-130, L-180, S-190, ICS, and more.