El Medio Firewise Community
EL MEDIO FIREWISE

Take Action

Rebuild to IBHS Plus standards and take steps to reduce ignition pathways, maintain defensible space, and support a more resilient neighborhood.

Building back or renovating

Consider building to IBHS Plus standards.

IBHS Plus builds on the Base-level wildfire protection requirements with enhanced building features designed to provide stronger protection against radiant heat and direct flame contact.

  • Enclosed, noncombustible eaves and soffits
  • Enhanced ember-resistant vents
  • Noncombustible exterior wall coverings
  • Upgraded windows, skylights, exterior doors, and gutters

For more information, review the IBHS Plus requirements.

View the IBHS Plus Home Checklist View the IBHS Technical Standard

Consider landscaping to IBHS Plus standards

Start with the basics.

The homeowner resources emphasize a system of maintenance, spacing, noncombustible materials, and thoughtful site planning — not a single product or plant.

  • Protect the first 5 feet: Keep the area immediately around the home entirely noncombustible.
  • Manage 5–30 feet: Maintain horizontal and vertical spacing between vegetation.
  • Break up fuel pathways: Separate vegetation from structures and other combustible materials.
View the IBHS Plus Home Checklist View the IBHS Technical Standard

El Medio Bluffs Firewise Community

Action Plan • 2026–2029

The approved plan covers August 15, 2026 through August 14, 2029 and organizes neighborhood work around education, home hardening, fuel reduction, and preparedness.

Year One

Build the foundation

  • Develop community contact and volunteer-hour tracking.
  • Host a wildfire-preparedness event and recruit volunteers.
  • Encourage annual LAFD defensible-space compliance and additional fuel thinning.
  • Hold a community workday for roadsides, medians, and Zone 0 areas.
  • Educate residents about RYLAN, CERT, and ReadyLA emergency alerts.
Year Two

Expand participation

  • Orient new residents to the Firewise program and Year One progress.
  • Share Red Flag event best practices and evacuation preparation.
  • Continue home-hardening assessments and encourage retrofits.
  • Distribute fire-resistant landscaping guidance and wood-mulch cautions.
  • Encourage neighbors to collaborate on 30-foot defensible space.
Year Three

Measure and sustain

  • Host a spring Firewise community event and coordinate with Firewise Palisades.
  • Promote free home-hardening assessments and document volunteer hours.
  • Increase the retrofit goal for non-compliant homes.
  • Continue common-area workdays and defensible-space education.
  • Review evacuation plans, compliance, achievements, and the next three-year goals.
Read Full Action Plan

Local help

Brush clearance vendors

Vendor information provided by Rebecca for the El Medio Firewise website.

Vendor note: These listings are provided as a neighborhood resource. Residents should independently confirm licensing, insurance, scope, pricing, current requirements, and suitability for their property. Listing does not constitute a guarantee or endorsement.

Insurance & recognition resources

El Medio Bluffs now has a 2026 Firewise USA® Certificate of Recognition, and the IBHS Wildfire Prepared Home™ “How-To Prepare My Home” checklist is available for residents who want parcel-level guidance.

These are separate programs. Firewise USA® is community recognition; Wildfire Prepared Home™ is an IBHS property designation program with Base and Plus requirements.

View Firewise CertificatePrepare My Home Checklist