[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6642425,"mediaKeyId","2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6","parentId",2543198,"title","Laguna Beach fire officials lay out home-hardening steps, AB 38 disclosure process and local assistance","audioSeconds",916,"startMs",177000,"endMs",1093000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6&start=177&end=1093","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6/thumbnail_177000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6642425/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-fire-officials-lay-out-home-hardening-steps-AB-38-disclosure-process-and-local-assistance","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642425-5729a8fef192d9647a6391d1e41af033/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448689&Signature=OD0OaQT9M2uwzQUC7IKhuYJ9J4gP-w~EbqtgjqOCdBV1ugWGucbdpG24t07FqAdQSfIgBIXSVqDShDsApSKFMOahgg31C018Hk2OhdAy62FMFSGsWg4WhoeWGqIAARKGLw2nKry6CMeAR4caWR8Wl5VbiA~9yrEakZIa8RxuasPspnSvSfEPsJhveLYN-ibXeeHFPqO74f3a40wN0tafzQxO0hNkdQDj-9TJNtY~UmWXLqJITCoCu92oSiY-HaeWmYmh0Ewkp4rQYO7244m1YXtjEzB4waJYqDO3DVG5CZBWkc9A8F5L-wNSlWDcS0PHsMe4glI5dNhYYBqRyKPRwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","CityofLagunaBeachCA","date","2025-03-11T18:14:14.423Z","article","Laguna Beach fire officials on a city-hosted workshop described specific home-hardening steps homeowners can take to reduce wildfire risk and explained the state's AB 38 inspection requirement for properties sold in very high fire hazard severity zones.

At the March workshop, Fire Marshal Robert Montagami said home hardening \"basically is preparing your home for wildfire,\" and outlined measures meant to reduce three distinct wildfire threats to structures: direct flame, radiant heat and flying embers. \"These embers . . . can particularly be destructive because they can travel up to a mile and ignite a home,\" Montagami said.

Montagami and other city staff emphasized simple, low-cost retrofits as starting points. They recommended replacing roofs with Class A materials; installing noncombustible gutter covers; fitting ember-resistant vents and spark arrestors on chimneys; sealing gaps between roof covering and sheathing; caulking exposed openings beneath decks and eaves with fire-resistant sealants; and replacing single-pane windows with multi-pane units to reduce heat transfer. \"If you have gutters around your home . . . please make sure that you have covers,\" Montagami said.

Why it matters: those measures are designed to reduce ignition points during a wildfire and give residents and firefighters more time during evacuations.

The city also addressed consumer questions about building materials and permits. Montagami said some fence products and other materials are \"listed products\" that have undergone fire-resistance testing and are published on the California State Fire Marshal website; he cautioned that vinyl fencing is not recommended. He advised homeowners considering structural changes, such as enclosing eaves, to contact the city's Building and Safety Department to determine whether a permit is required and to confirm that chosen products are listed and appropriate.

On homeowner-installed exterior sprinkler systems, the fire officials gave a cautious assessment: such systems can be useful for short, targeted water-downs controlled remotely, but they can also draw local water supply and pressure if many homes activate systems simultaneously. Montagami noted many residential sprinkler heads deliver only about 17 gallons per minute and are activated by heat; he cautioned that automatic activation in sunlight can cause continuous flow until manually shut off and that widespread automatic use could affect the water pressure available to firefighters.

State disclosure law and inspections: the workshop described Assembly Bill 38 (AB 38), the state law that requires a defensible-space inspection when a property in a very high fire hazard severity zone is sold. Montagami summarized the local implementation: \"This law states that any home that is being sold within a very high fire hazard severity zone . . . the seller is required to obtain an inspection by the local jurisdiction . . . and provide that report to the buyer.\" He said the law is a disclosure requirement and does not give the city additional enforcement authority beyond providing the inspection report; the buyer and seller typically agree who, if anyone, will make corrections and they have up to one year to do so.

Assistance and financing: workshop participants asked about support for residents who are \"home rich but cash poor.\" A resident noted a city partnership with Habitat for Humanity that historically funded up to $5,000 per project through a home repair program. Montagami said the fire department will track and post available grant opportunities on the city website and will research how existing local programs might be adjusted to cover home-hardening activities. Councilmember Sue Kemp confirmed the city has previously seeded programs with grant funds and said the council will add searching for home-hardening grants to its wildfire mitigation and safety planning.

Who to contact: the fire department offered on-site evaluations for homeowners who want personalized recommendations. Montagami said residents should provide address details and contact info so staff can follow up and, when appropriate, refer them to Building and Safety or Community Development for permitting questions.

Ending: Officials said the city will continue to publish detailed retrofit guidance and links to state-listed products on its website and encouraged residents to use available local inspections and to watch for grant opportunities.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Home Hardening and Vegetation Management Town Hall Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Laguna Beach fire officials on a city-hosted workshop described specific home-hardening steps homeowners can take to reduce wildfire risk and explained the state's AB 38 inspection requirement for properties sold in very high fire hazard severity zones.","taxTitle","Laguna Beach, Orange County, California","taxId",56774,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642416,"CAL FIRE explains Firewise Communities recognition process and local benefits",422,1006000,1428000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6&start=1006&end=1428","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6/thumbnail_1006000.jpg","/articles/6642416/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/CAL-FIRE-explains-Firewise-Communities-recognition-process-and-local-benefits","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642416-928fb3433bf9b9cd43b09b08962d95de/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448689&Signature=hLBA9~uZYGuhs8zls6lzMosvx7h8RTsKcSY~YPovxrdKALSr3l3QhJJRcav5ewiI4AWX9bl~bQYTpTF-19cXrHMpH9kpTV6dy5NKfw8~2s~O7QTgxXxXgVhxyXJZ7LoRGy3CP1IyeBHzO~D6nVJEduNALhQNXxRJPNMBpnXcUKd9TiYi9gufeDPY1e6oJ5eBDQe2rleYSv2w23zFODsdg8h3bRA3MuKXxY1Abpxomeo1hF4X35sSrQdQ~qXHpZFyJvT7Y2iMaZpu9ksl82XM7Wgt0oo1DUARFKLZA5Wc933EtC1MrjLLXdyu0ApHkWsSO82jQ~hvGOYtW9GETLEqvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","CAL FIRE and local officials described how Laguna Beach neighborhoods can apply for Firewise Communities recognition and the potential benefits of joining the national program.

Captain Joe Kennedy, CAL FIRE state liaison for the NFPA Firewise program, gave an overview and said Firewise is administered nationally by the National Fire Protection Association and supported in California by CAL FIRE. \"The program goals are wildfire education\" and it \"relies on individual responsibility,\" he said, adding that the program encourages \"neighbors to help neighbors.\" Kennedy said CAL FIRE provides application assistance and that recognition can improve community awareness of local wildfire risks and support grant applications when the community develops its three-year action plan.

Requirements and benefits: Kennedy said Firewise recognition requires a volunteer-led board and a defined geographic boundary; the NFPA portal lists a minimum community size of eight residences. Communities must complete a risk assessment, produce a three-year action plan addressing identified weaknesses, and document annual educational outreach and a risk-reduction investment (what Kennedy described as \"sweat equity\") amounting to about one hour per dwelling unit per year. He said the program can enhance grant competitiveness when implemented through a nonprofit partner such as a local fire-safe council or through a fire department partnership, and he encouraged communities to consult the NFPA Firewise website and CAL FIRE as state liaisons.

Why it matters: Firewise recognition is designed to reduce community-level wildfire risk through organized neighbor action and to strengthen applications for grant funding that can support fuel reduction and public education. Kennedy noted the possible insurance benefits but deferred to insurance carriers and the California Insurance Commissioner's resources for specifics on premium impacts.

Ending: Kennedy offered to follow up with communities that want a deeper dive and provided contact information for CAL FIRE and the Laguna Beach fire marshal for application assistance.","CAL FIRE described how neighborhoods can achieve Firewise Communities recognition, what the designation requires and how recognition can support grant applications and public education.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6642420,"Laguna Beach details fuel-modification zones, goat grazing and planned new zones; seeks state cooperation on Crystal Cove lands",2900,194000,3094000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6&start=194&end=3094","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2543198-a52d84f3ff582d4e08db3fb7276d82a6/thumbnail_194000.jpg","/articles/6642420/Laguna-Beach/Orange-County/California/Laguna-Beach-details-fuel-modification-zones-goat-grazing-and-planned-new-zones-seeks-state-cooperation-on-Crystal-Cove-lands","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6642420-b6d950ed23463550120efc364ef57b03/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448689&Signature=K-d20FlXeRxGCI-y3q2snZB2A43zl6nSOkiq0KF6vYDAMFrE~rFh2tuumK46jCBY7azz3xzHWNQhFtesbjUngKt92F~vyV6tv5dIsIbMignDMxATUkV~osZvv6u8DRC5PA~ENcEHyP~uAGnFd2R9jnl-V6BvTNFnZZkIp37p-Hmds7rMCEIxUArJlSjSMp~OUdfHa75tK0T806beHSNo5P2Q6ey3xxRql~yPvQM4muuVA5KySzKReBXJQgR8MRzx3JzJiX85Y1ki0sBUvIkLjfgrh~~u~4j8es6dtP~gzOLHyUAom1MBZfMlXoChqD2OAMNIL1l9DtzcCHDma5x2Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Laguna Beach public safety officials described the city's fuel-modification program at a community workshop and said they are pursuing additional zones while seeking coordination with state land managers over adjoining parkland.

Fire Marshal Robert Montagami said the city manages 27 fuel-modification zones where open space interfaces with developed lots. \"There are 27 zones and each zones are open space areas that interface with homes throughout our community,\" he said. He said about 10 zones are managed with goat grazing, and 15 zones in higher-value habitat are managed by Laguna Canyon Foundation using mechanical and hand treatments because goats are not permitted in sensitive habitat areas.

Montagami described Zone 1 (Dartmoor) as a roughly 31.2-acre area that is managed in part by goat grazing and in part by the local water department; hand crews also work near structures and water tanks. He said the program aims to reduce fuels near structures to allow more time for evacuation and to provide better access and defensibility for firefighters.

Interagency issues: several residents raised concerns that state-managed lands, including Crystal Cove State Park, were overgrown. Steven Gordon, president of the Irvine Cove homeowners association, said the mixed ownership of hillsides \"makes us extremely vulnerable\" and asked whether the city is creating a joint effort with county and state agencies. Montagami said some of the private association land immediately above Irvine Cove is covered by a Coastal Commission permit for fuel reduction under the association's control, and that the city can reach out to state partners regarding land designated as State Responsibility Area (SRA). \"We can reach out to our state partners and see what their plan or if there are any restrictions out there for them to manage that fuel,\" he said.

Planned expansions and priorities: Laguna Canyon Foundation and the fire marshal said they are working on new fuel-modification projects. Officials listed a near-term project in Lower Bluebird Canyon, planned work for Upper Bluebird Canyon, and two additional projects in Hobo Canyon and the Diamond Crestview neighborhood, which they said would complete a 2013 plan. Representatives also said an ad hoc wildfire preparedness committee and Laguna Canyon Foundation had preliminarily identified about 15 more areas across the city for review.

Why it matters: fuel modification reduces combustible vegetation near structures and provides defensible space for firefighting; however, management choices in coastal scrub and chaparral require trade-offs with habitat protection, slope stability and air-quality permitting.

Prescribed fire: a Laguna Canyon Foundation representative, Alan Kaufman, told residents that prescribed burns are generally not a feasible tool for the city's coastal sage scrub and chaparral ecosystems because those fuels are difficult to control and because nearby populations and air-quality rules make prescribed burning risky.

Ending: officials asked residents with specific concerns, including maps or photographs, to email the fire marshal to help prioritize outreach and state coordination. They said they will continue submitting fuel-mod applications and will monitor any state-level procedural changes tied to recent executive direction on permits.","Laguna Beach officials described the city's 27 fuel-modification zones, explained which zones are goat-grazed and which are managed by Laguna Canyon Foundation, and outlined new projects while noting some adjacent lands fall under state authority.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Laguna Beach fire officials lay out home-hardening steps, AB 38 disclosure process and local assistance

CAL FIRE explains Firewise Communities recognition process and local benefits

Laguna Beach details fuel-modification zones, goat grazing and planned new zones; seeks state cooperation on Crystal Cove lands