The Hollywood Dell Fire Safety Committee meets online on the first Wednesday of each month at 7pm. Email firesafety@hollywooddell.com to join us!
Join via Google Meet | Phone: +1 252-394-8919 (PIN: 325286303)
Firewise USA Certified Community
The Hollywood Dell is an officially recognized Firewise USA community. This certification demonstrates our neighborhood’s commitment to wildfire preparedness and can help residents obtain home insurance discounts.
We need everyone’s help to maintain our Firewise status. The community must document ongoing fire-safety participation each year. The single most impactful thing you can do:
Get Your Free Home Ignition Risk Assessment
A trained assessor walks your property, identifies vulnerabilities, and gives you a prioritized action plan. It’s free, and it counts toward our Firewise renewal.
- Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains (RCDSMM) — Call 818-514-4583, ask for Molly Ross, Wildfire Resilience Program. May also reimburse some home hardening costs.
- MySafeLA / Wildfire Alliance — Free expert home assessment
- Self-assessment online: Faura | Rhino
- Free online training from NFPA — learn to assess your own home
Top 3 Things You Can Do Today
- Screen your vents with 1/8″ steel mesh. Embers enter homes through vents more than any other way. The City of LA is funding free ember-resistant vent mesh installation — contact us for details.
- Clear the 0–5 foot zone around your home. Remove dead plants, mulch, and anything flammable touching your exterior walls. Fire-resistant plants are okay.
- Check your roof and gutters. Clean out leaves and debris. Ensure your roof is Class A rated.
Home Hardening Basics
- Roof: Class A fire-rated materials
- Windows: Double-pane or tempered glass
- Vents: 1/8″ steel mesh ember screens (NOT aluminum — it melts)
- Gutters: Keep clear of leaves and debris
- Walls: Caulk gaps at roof-wall junctions where embers collect
- Decks: Composite materials can melt — clear combustibles from underneath
Resources
- Hollywood Hills Fire Safe Council — Our regional council, packed with resources
- MySafeLA / Wildfire Alliance — Monthly virtual town halls, advocacy
- CA Fire Safe Council Vendor List
- Prioritize your home upgrades
- NFPA Wildfire Prep
Legislation & Financial Help
- SB-269 — Fire Safe Home Tax Credits (half of hardening expenses)
- AB-888 — California Safe Homes Grant
- Contact Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur and Senator Benjamin Allen to voice support
Zone Zero
California is mandating ember-resistant landscaping within 5 feet of all homes (“Zone 0”). Enforcement details and acceptable plant lists are still being finalized. Our committee is actively advocating for a balanced approach that preserves fire-resistant vegetation. Share your input with the Fire Marshall.
Meeting Notes
April 1, 2026
When: Wednesday, April 1, 7:00 pm (Zoom)
Attendees: Frank Shotwell (chair), Jodi Ehrlich, Kelly Ziegler
Low attendance — meeting coincided with first night of Passover.
MySafeLA Townhall Recap — City of LA vent mesh rebate ended March 31 (not retroactive). New MySafeLA workshop series launching on evacuation planning and wildfire behavior.
CA Wildfire Legislation — Pending fire safety bills (SB 894, AB 1971, AB 1986, SB 911) are not expected to be retroactive. Homeowners completing hardening work now may not be able to claim future reimbursements.
Meeting Process & AI — Committee exploring automated meeting reminders and AI-assisted note transcription to free up volunteer time for strategy and fundraising.
Website Overhaul — Funding confirmed for website improvements. Frank attending HDCA “Bagels & Brainstorming” session April 5.
Upcoming Events:
- June 6 — HDCA Block Party (fire safety booth)
- June 27 — Wildfire Safety Fair at the Autry Museum, 9am–1:30pm
HHFSC Red Flag Day Enforcement — Hollywood Hills Fire Safe Council discussing stricter Red Flag Day traffic restrictions near the Hollywood Sign.
Flyer Updates — Removing expired vent rebate info, adding HDCA logo and additional resource descriptions.
Neighbor Outreach — Two new neighbors scheduled for fire safety inspections, attracted by free smoke/CO alarm installation.
Action Items:
- Remove vent rebate from flyer
- Get HDCA logo from Alexa for flyer
- Coordinate June fair planning with HHFSC
- Attend B&B website session (April 5)
Next meeting: Wednesday, May 7, 2026, 7 pm
Last updated: April 2026