Jagermeister and USFRA donation to LAEPF and Malibu West Volunteer Fire Brigade

30-Jun-2019 – On Nov. 9, 2018, the explosive Woolsey Fire roared into Malibu California causing a vast majority of residents to be evacuated, but several homeowners and some fire brigade volunteers stayed behind to try and keep blazes from encroaching on area homes.

According to Malibu Surfside News the Malibu West Volunteer Fire Brigade was formed in 2012 with the thought that if and when a big fire came, resources would be spread too thin. Newly elected Malibu councilmember Mikke Pierson said the fire department was not in Malibu West for the first four hours of activity, but added that he has long held the belief that residents cannot expect their homes to be saved.

“If you live in Malibu in a high fire zone, which is pretty much all of Malibu, and you expect other people to come and save your house, then you need to reevaluate that position,” Pierson said.

While Pierson credits those who stayed behind with saving about 200 homes in Malibu West, he also admits that the City will have to discuss those who, like him, ignored evacuation orders and stayed behind, but who saved hundreds of homes by doing so.

Since late-2017 USFRA has worked with the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation to arrange several REFRESH eye drop donations to various CA fire departments so, once things calmed down in SoCal after the Woolsey Fire consumed almost 100,000 acres, USFRA reached out to LAEPF to see if Jägermeister and USFRA could assist with a $15,000 donation for their after-action report, and hopefully a local volunteer fire department.

LAEPF shared the story about how MWVFB saved hundreds of homes and we all agreed part of the donation would go to the volunteer brigade’s fund helping install additional hose boxes in West Malibu.

On June 22, 2019, the Malibu West VFB held a training day with their new recruits at Trancas Canyon Park focusing on a variety of skills, including handling high-pressure hoses and learning tactics as well as retreat maneuvers. 

After the training Brent Woodworth, Chairman and President of the Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation, joined WMVFB’s chief, Malibu resident Dermot Stoker and the volunteers for a photo op.

Our thanks go out to MJUS for their continued support, and to LAEPF and WMVFB for helping their communities during and after the Woolsey Fire.

Additional resource:

LAEPF’s “The 2018 Woolsey Fire: A Catalyst for Change” report (60-pg PDF)

On 9-April-2024 I had a nice conversation with Brent Woodworth (Chairman and CEO of Los Angeles Emergency Preparedness Foundation) and he followed up via email writing... "I wanted to let you know the initial funding provided by Jagermeister via USFRA has allowed us to take the concept of creating Community Brigades that are organized, structured, trained, and equipped to reality!

As of October 2023, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors (the largest county in the US) voted unanimously to approve the implementation of 7 Community Brigade Pilots operating in full collaboration with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (the largest fire department in the US). This historic agreement would have never happened without the initial support you provided that allowed us to work over the past 5 years to make this program a reality.

An Oct 2023 LA Times article covers the Supervisors approving the program (more on latimes.com) ... and recently a presentation was made at the International Fire Chiefs conference in Reno where the program was highlighted."

Brent also explained they are "...receiving some help from Cal Fire and the Supervisors with funds designated to pay for Personal Protection Equipment. We now have over 160 community members who have applied to join their respective Community Brigades. Operation fund donations are needed to cover general administrative, management, training and communications expenses. Thank you so much for your insight and support in this groundbreaking program."  

On behalf of USFRA ... thank you again to Jagermeister for their support and to Brent and the LAEPF for updates and the great work you all do! ~ j

@JanetLiebsch  nice job!