Now is the Time for Malibu Homeowners to Start on Their Brush Clearance to Meet the June 1 Deadline
The City of Malibu’s Public Safety Department is reminding all homeowners that June 1 is the deadline for annual brush clearance around their properties. This crucial step is part of our annual fire prevention efforts to reduce the risk of wildfires as we approach 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 Malibu. Property owners are strongly urged 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 the City of Malibu is in a High Fire Hazard Severity Zone. These 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. This unified enforcement effort has 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 also 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. The City has conducted nearly 500 Assessments since the program was launched in 2019.
For more information 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.