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The Wildfire Resilience Planning document focuses on strengthening long-term wildfire resilience in Pacific Palisades​ ​across four key areas and systems: vegetation management, the water system, the electrical power system, ​and ​evacuation and traffic capabilities.

Many projects identified in this document are currently in preliminary stages of the project development process, and may still be pending funding, final approvals, and/or permitting. All projects are subject to change in scope, schedule, and cost until they are fully approved.  Some of the projects, strategies, and efforts described in this report may not be possible for the City to complete without additional funding from the Federal and State governments as well as philanthropy, which may or may not be forthcoming.

Purpose of the Wildfire Resilience Planning Document (WRP)

Infographic outlining the five purposes of the Wildfire Resilience Planning document: baseline conditions overview, fire behavior factors, future hazard strategies, vulnerability summary, and stakeholder coordination resource.

The WRP is a technical resource designed to: 

  • Describe baseline conditions and wildfire risk in the Pacific Palisades area. 

  • Identify the factors that contributed to fire behavior and impacts, including vegetation, weather, terrain, and community characteristics. 

  • Present potential strategies to help reduce future hazard exposure, focused on vegetation (fuel) management, water supply, electrical energy systems, and evacuation capabilities. 

  • Summarize vulnerabilities across infrastructure, vegetation, and evacuation systems, including social and built‑environment considerations.

  • Provide planners, agencies, and stakeholders with a shared reference to support coordination across City, County, State, utilities, and community partners. 

The document offers analysis and planning guidance; it does not represent funded projects or guaranteed actions. Many strategies will depend on future resources, feasibility, permitting, and interagency coordination. 

Baseline Conditions & ​​Vulnerabilities

  • More than 24,600 residents lived in the burn area, with over 57,000 in the greater community plan area. 

  • Area includes ​s​teep slopes, dense vegetation, and narrow roads.

  • 5,381 structures, many older and built before modern wildfire-resistant standards, were destroyed. 

  • About 21% of residents in the impacted area are over ​the ​age ​of ​65. 

  • Vegetation can re-establish within 5-10 years, so taking advantage of the current reduced levels of vegetation to create fire breaks and buffers is recommended.  

​​​Key Findings

Vegetation ​Management​

Fuel breaks, defensible space, and roadside vegetation management are recurring needs​ in coastal shrub ​landscapes​​. Post-fire reduced fuel conditions provide an opportunity for more efficient vegetation-related interventions. 

Water S​ervice​ Considerations

Water service relies heavily on a single trunk line (Westgate) from Stone Canyon Reservoir. The system is not designed for large-scale wildfire suppression demands. Strategies such as pressure monitoring, backflow protection, and supplemental water sources may enhance resilience. 

Electrical System ​Considerations​

Strategies include undergrounding (where feasible), covered conductors, grid hardening, and advanced monitoring. 

Evacuation Constraints

Limited roadway options and steep terrain create bottlenecks during evacuations.The community depends on a few major corridors: PCH, Sunset Boulevard, Temescal Canyon Road, and Chautauqua Boulevard.Suggested strategies include intersection improvements, traffic-signal updates, enhanced wayfinding, and coordinated evacuation planning. 

Post-Fire Natural Hazards

Burned slopes increase the likelihood of debris flows, erosion, and landslides, particularly during significant storm events. Native vegetation restoration and slope stabilization can reduce long-term risk. 

Recommended Strategies

*Additional studies are required to determine suitability and feasibility for all approaches mentioned in the report. 

Isometric illustration of a worker in safety gear using a string trimmer to clear vegetation along a curb, with traffic cones nearby, representing hillside and natural area vegetation management efforts.

Vegetation Management

  • Expanded defensible space
  • Establishment and maintenance of fuel breaks and buffers
  • Roadside vegetation management
  • Post-fire invasive species removal
  • Native vegetation restoration and slope stabilization 
Isometric illustration of three workers in safety gear installing a large blue water pipeline in an excavated road trench, surrounded by traffic cones and caution markers, representing water supply system infrastructure work.

Water Supply System

  • Existing system enhancements
  • Enhancement of water systems reliability
  • System improvements for emergency responders
  • Expansion of water supply   
Isometric illustration of an electrician servicing an open electrical panel with a toolbox nearby and a fire extinguisher mounted on the cabinet door, representing electrical energy infrastructure work.

Electrical Energy System

  • Exploring electrical system upgrades and risk-reduction measures
  • Coordinating with utilities and agencies to reduce vulnerability
  • Support community resilience and plan for future risks
  • Strengthen reliability during extreme conditions
  • Improve early detection and rapid response 
Isometric illustration of a community map with residential homes, a commercial office building, a supermarket, tree-lined streets, and location pins, representing physical infrastructure and the built environment.

Evacuation and Emergency Access Physical Infrastructure Strategies

  • Targeted roadway or intersection improvements
  • Street network and intersection design for evacuation and fire response
  • Limited roadway widths and turnarounds
  • Traffic signals and signage systems
  • Traffic signal timing and remote override capabilities  
Illustration of two people analyzing a large data dashboard displaying charts, graphs, and metrics — one pointing at a bar chart and the other holding a magnifying glass — representing operational monitoring and analysis.

Operational Strategies

  • Structured, multi-agency evacuation coordination framework
  • Expanded set of evacuation routes
  • Targeted traffic management tactics
  • Enhancements to emergency communications, alerts and warnings
  • Public education 

Collaboration, Funding, and Partnerships

The WRP references potential partnership and funding avenues, such as: 

  • CAL FIRE vegetation management programs

  • Grant-based support where eligible

  • Collaboration with HOAs, Firewise communities, and local organizations 

These funding avenues are not guaranteed and are included for planning context only. 

Key Takeaways

  • The WRP provides an understanding of data-based insights into infrastructure, vegetation, and evacuation risks. 

  • It also includes a menu of strategies that agencies and partners may consider for future planning along with a framework to support coordinated resilience discussions as resources become available.

  • These combined strategies are meant to provide options and opportunities for forward-looking enhancements that strengthen community preparedness.