About Us
Fire Prevention Community Management
Wildfire Prevention Inc., is a California Corporation doing business as the Wildfire Foundation.
The Wildfire Foundation assists Counties, Cities, Communities, HOAs, and residents in developing comprehensive wildfire mitigation strategies to protect life and property from wildfire. Our NFPA- and CAL FIRE-trained associates specialize in the social science of wildfire mitigation and build resident audiences through education and engagement.
Our services include the formation of, and assistance with, the formation and management of Fire Safe Councils and Firewise USA® Communities. We serve communities in the areas of audience building, resident engagement, communications, and education. Our trained assessors conduct Community Wildfire Risk Assessments (CWRA), and voluntary residential mitigation assessments.
Our mission is to get communities and residents to take action by hardening their homes against wildfire, and creating a defensible space around their properties.
We do this under the guidance of NFPA® Firewise USA® Firewise Program, CAL FIRE, California Fire Safe Council, and Regional and Local Fire Departments.
Wildfire Prevention Inc. is recognized as a 501(c)(3) Public Charitable Organization by the IRS (Federal Tax ID: 99-1378178).
Wildfire Mitigation Services
Wildfire mitigation is the action taken BEFORE a wildfire ignites to reduce its severity and negative impact and destruction of homes and communities.
The Wildfire Foundation assists Cities, Communities, and HOAs in the Protection of Life and Property from Wildfire.
Strengthen Community-Wide Resilience Against Wildfire
We work with Communities to create cost-effective wildfire resilience programs to create fire-resistant homes, businesses, public buildings, and public spaces. Mitigation measures such as home hardening, vegetation management, defensible space, and other fuel modification activities provide community-wide benefits against wildfire.
Set Up and Management of Fire Prevention Communities
The Wildfire Foundation assists communities in the formation of, and the management of, Fire Safe Councils, Firewise USA® Communities, and all Fire Prevention Communities across the United States.
The Wildfire Foundation helps create grassroots community-led organizations that assists residents in protecting their homes, communities, and environments from catastrophic wildfires. Local Fire Safe Councils, often sparked by a catalyst like a recent fire, spur groups of neighbors to organize themselves and form a community council, board, or Firewise Community to spread a fire-safe message. Residents then turn their initial interest into a commitment to make their community safer.
Digital Infrastructure and Management
We assist communities with:
- Wildfire Risk Assessments
- Mitigation Solutions
- Audience Building
- Resident Engagement and Retention
- Resident Management
- Digital Infrastructure Development
- Online-presence (Websites, Social Media, Landing Pages, Forms)
- Online and In-person Wildfire Resilience Education
- Communications, Content and Messaging, Emailing, Texting
- Important Document Repository
- Tracking and Recording of Resident and Community Mitigation Activities
- Tracking and Recording of Vegetation Removal
- Tracking and Recording of Maintenance
- Scheduled Reporting and other online and digital services
These digital services communicate, educate, and engage, and establish a constant conduit with the residents.
Home-hardening and Defensible Space
We assist communities with home-hardening and defensible space requirements.
We educate communities and residents on the different wildfire mitigation standards, regulations, materials and installation methods.
Our ability to bulk purchase certain materials allows for discounts to the communities.
Home Insurance
Home insurance cancellations and increased rates are causing hardships in many communities. We work side-by-side with communities and residents to mitigate the risks of wildfire and reduce insurance costs.
We have become a communications hub between homeowners and various fire-related and municipal agencies. This communication and feedback guides our various programs and projects.
Maintenance
In the fast expanding world of wildfire mitigation, everyone is focused on quick fixes and immediate solutions. This is driven by the obvious need to prevent ignition and the need for property insurance. But there is little focus on long term solutions and best practices.
The Wildfire Foundation works with communities to build long-term resilience through resident engagement, education, and management. Creating a community where residents take pride in their wildfire mitigation efforts. The Resident Management System®, an easy-to-use resident mitigation reporting and management system, allows for progress tracking and accountability.
Ultimately, it is only mitigation at the parcel level that will provide a sustained solution to wildfires.
Funding
Our funding comes primarily from State, Local, and Corporate grants. Past and current grants have supported:
- Development of Wildfire Risk Assessments (WRA)
- Development of Community Wildfire Protection Plans (CWPP)
- Performance of free Home Ignition Zone (HIZ) assessments for homeowners
- Development of a Digital Infrastructure to support community education, engagement and management
- Development of Firewise Community Plans to build resilience and reduce insurance costs for residents
- Implementation of Resident Management Systems to ensure long-term community wildfire mitigation management and maintenance
We are removing all the obstacles one at a time.
OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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Peter Fehler, CWMS, is a Wildfire Mitigation Consultant and is a National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist.
For 27 years, Peter owned and managed marketing and publishing companies specializing in nonprofit organizations’ growth, messaging, and marketing.
Peter lives in Agoura Hills, California, where he has been evacuated from his home multiple times due to wildfire. Agoura Hills is cited by CAL FIRE as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
His community and nonprofit experience in building educational websites, backend automation, social media campaigns, audience building, and market segmentation, makes him the perfect startup and growth consultant for wildfire prevention organizations.
Peter developed the Resident Management System™, a highly acclaimed wildfire prevention, educational and management tool that aligns itself with the scientific data approach by NFPA and IBHS, and delivers compliance of new legislation, Firewise and insurance requirements.
In 2023, Peter founded the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council and Firewise Communities. In 2024 he founded the Wildfire Foundation which assists Cities, Communities, and HOAs in the Protection of Life and Property from wildfire.
He is currently the President of the Agoura Hills Fire Safe Council and President of the Wildfire Foundation and continues to consult with other Counties, Cities, Fire Safe Councils, and Communities.
Doug Wilson is one of the founders of the Oak Park Fire Safe Council (OPFSC) in Ventura County, California. He is also currently the Chairman of OPFSC.
OPFSC has been an innovator in the digital infrastructure of Fire Safe Councils and Firewise Communities. Doug has a wealth of knowledge in fire prevention and available grants for Fire Safe Councils.
OPFSC was the first Fire Safe Council to implement the Wildfire Foundation’s Resident Management System™.
Greg has over 45 years experience in operations management, technology, and professional services.
After receiving an MSEE degree from Stanford, Greg spent seven years in telecommunications management. From there he entered IT management in soft goods manufacturing and international banking. Greg then spent most of his career in high tech and has held positions such as CTO, VP of Operations and CIO for companies such as National Semiconductor, Analog Devices, Cadence Design Systems, as well as startups – InServ and Equinix. During this time, he also was a Principal at the international management consulting firm Pittiglio Rabin Todd & McGrath (PRTM). While there, Greg consulted in supply-chain management and product development, and helped build the customer service and support practice. While not directly in high tech, Greg was COO for Cheskin – a small market research and marketing consulting firm located in Silicon Valley with both high tech and consumer goods practices.
From 2004 until his retirement in 2020, Greg was in consulting again, with biotech, pharmaceutical and education clients.
Presently Greg serves the Bell Canyon community as President of the Fire Safe Council, Board Secretary for the Volunteer Wildland Fire Department, Vice-Chair for Water District 17 Citizen’s Advisory Committee, and Interim General Manager for the Community Services District.
OUR ADVISORS
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Michael Dyer has served in public safety and emergency management over 48 years. This career has taken him through various assignments, which afforded him the opportunity to gain invaluable experience in many different disciplines, either as a direct participant, supervisor, manager, and executive. He currently consults as the Calabasas Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Director.
Chief Dyer previously served in both Chief Deputy Positions (#2) in the Los Angeles County Fire Department and retired as the Fire Chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department in 2015. Chief Dyer was called back to duty in 2018 and served as Interim Fire Chief of the Santa Barbara County Fire Department while a new Fire Chief was recruited and hired.
Chief Dyer has served in the Emergency Management field for approximately 11 years in a number of varied assignments.
Chief Dyer holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. Chief Dyer completed the Executive Leadership Program at the Naval Postgraduate School. In addition to his formal education, Chief Dyer was certified as a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Urban Search and Rescue Technician, Paramedic, and was the 18th Chief Officer in the State of California to achieve the certification of Fire Chief from the California State Fire Marshal.
Chief Dyer served on several statewide committees including Chair of the FIRESCOPE Board of Directors, Chair of CALFIRE Contract Counties, and member of the California Joint Apprenticeship Management Committee.
Chief Dyer’s experience in Emergency Management, EOC Operations, Disaster Planning, Fire Prevention Education and Implementation, and Fire Suppression Management and Operations, gives the Wildfire Foundation a tremendous depth of knowledge in dealing with all areas of wildfire mitigation.
For over 20 years, Beth Burnam lived in Topanga Canyon (a community of 11,000 residents located in unincorporated Los Angeles County in the Santa Monica Mountains). Concurrently, for the past 25 years, she has also owned a home in Mammoth Lakes. Both these locations are cited by CAL FIRE as Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones. Her first experience of wildfire was the 1961 Bel Air Fire.
Beth is considered a pioneer in organizing communities to be wildfire-prepared. On a volunteer basis, she has founded, managed, and consulted with many wildfire nonprofit organizations, community groups, businesses, and residents. She is currently the Firewise Regional Coordinator for Mono and Inyo counties in the Eastern Sierra. Additionally, she serves on the Board of Directors of the Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, TreePeople, TreePeople Land Trust, and advisor to the Wildfire Foundation.
In 2010 Beth was a founding member and became co-President of the North Topanga Canyon Fire Safe Council. In 2020 Beth worked with Firewise USA, CAL FIRE, and the Los Angeles County Fire Department to lead Topanga Canyon through the process of becoming an extraordinarily large Firewise Community.
Beth has written, received, and managed grants totaling more than $365,000—funded by the California Fire Safe Council, the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, and the Edison Foundation.
Beth looks forward to using her experience to mentor other communities in the process of becoming wildfire-prepared and obtaining their Firewise designation.