The Plan That Passed
The officially adopted the on . The vote marks a formal commitment to reducing wildfire risk across the city through coordinated preparedness, home hardening, and evacuation readiness.
The Calabasas City Council adopted a Community Wildfire Protection Plan on June 10, 2026. The decision comes after two nearby wildfires in May and June underscored the region's fire risk. The plan covers defensible space, home hardening, and evacuation readiness.
The officially adopted the on . The vote marks a formal commitment to reducing wildfire risk across the city through coordinated preparedness, home hardening, and evacuation readiness.
Mayor James R. Bozajian highlighted the plan in the city's weekly newsletter posted on June 19. He described the adoption as an important milestone in the city's ongoing wildfire preparedness efforts.
"The CWPP provides a roadmap for reducing wildfire risk through preparedness, defensible space, home hardening, evacuation readiness, public education, and long-term resilience strategies," according to the Mayor's newsletter.
The timing of the plan's approval followed two significant wildfires in the region within the past month.
The Sandy Fire ignited on May 18, 2026, in Simi Valley, roughly 30 miles northwest of Los Angeles. The blaze burned more than 2,000 acres and prompted mandatory evacuation orders for nearly 44,000 residents. At least one structure was damaged. Evacuation orders were lifted by late May as containment reached 71 percent, according to CBS News.
Then on June 15, 2026, the Max Fire erupted in Stevenson Ranch, southeast of Pico Canyon and Stevenson Ranch Parkway. The fire grew from a quarter acre to 45 acres in a matter of hours. An evacuation order was issued for the STV-PICO zone before being lifted around 7 p.m. that evening. The fire is now 100 percent contained, according to CAL FIRE.
Calabasas Firewise, a local community organization, noted the urgency of the situation. On its website, the group reported that a standing-room-only regional Firewise leader workshop on May 9 highlighted the need for community action. The organization stated that two local wildfires occurred in the three weeks following that event.
According to the city, the CWPP was developed in partnership with several key groups:
The plan focuses on six areas:
Mayor Bozajian thanked residents who participated in the planning process. He emphasized that continued community involvement would be essential as the city implements the plan.
The city encourages homeowners to maintain defensible space around their properties and to review their emergency plans. Residents can also sign up for emergency notifications through the city's website.
The Zone Zero regulations, which govern vegetation management within five feet of structures, have also been a topic of discussion in the region. The Board of Forestry and Fire Protection held a regulatory advisory committee meeting at the Calabasas Community Center on April 23, 2026, to present draft rules. Yana Valachovic of the UC ANR Fire Network presented the update, according to Calabasas Firewise.
As wildfire season intensifies, the city is also rolling out summer community events.
The Calabasas Beach Bus operates Monday through Friday from June 15 through August 8, 2026. The service provides transportation between Calabasas and Zuma Beach for $5 round trip. Bikes are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis, and all shuttles are wheelchair accessible, according to the city.
The first Dive-In Movie Night of the summer season takes place on Friday, June 26, at the Calabasas Tennis & Swim Center. The event features Disney Pixar's "Luca." Doors open at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $5 per person, with children two and under free. Registration is required, and private cabanas are available for $126, according to local event listings.
Future Dive-In Movie Nights are scheduled for "Lilo & Stitch" on July 24 and "Jungle Cruise" on August 14.
City Hall will be closed on Friday, July 3, for the Independence Day holiday.
This article was generated with AI assistance.