Fire prevention in Los Angeles County: a survey of the methods and stategies used in the wildland-urban interface

Wildfires have the potential to create severe destruction within wildland systems and can quickly become an issue of urgency relating to the protection of persons and property when they reach urbanized areas. These urban areas directly adjacent to wildlands, the wildland-urban interface (WUI), is where concerns are greatest in relation to wildfires. It is unclear as to what methods and strategies are being used by the various participating entities at the federal, state, regional, and/or local levels for their wildfire prevention efforts. For this reason a comprehensive survey of the fire prevention methods and strategies used in the Los Angeles County WUI was carried out. The study includes nineteen entities including cities, agencies, organizations, industry professionals, and property owners, in order to provide a larger image of what is happening regarding fire prevention methods and strategies along the Los Angeles County WUI, specifically areas bordering the Angeles National Forest. The resulting findings provide a systematic view of intra- and inter-relationships between the cities, agencies, and organizations involved in fire prevention efforts and their impact on industry professionals and property owners. The findings also identify issues that contribute to barriers and gaps that limit or prevent the successful implementation of fire prevention strategies and methods. Lastly, this study provides applicable recommendations aimed at minimizing the barriers and gaps in the current fire prevention efforts.