ever since the Palisades and Eaton wildfires broke out on January 7 (two of California’s largest and most devastating fires) have brought back discussions around the use of private firefighters, which has become a contentious topic once more. The luxury-style fire protection services first came into the limelight after the Woolsey blaze in 2018, as TMZ reported that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West employed a private team to safeguard their Hidden Hills estate.
In this instance, heated discussions resurfaced following a well-off resident of Palisades posting inquiries about private firefighting services online: “Is anyone able to hire private firefighters?” he asked, offering any sum of money. However, due to the backlash he faced, he ultimately chose to deactivate his account. On the other hand, Rick Caruso, a billionaire real estate developer and former L.A. mayoral candidate, effectively employed a private team to safeguard his Palisades Village shopping center, despite the area surrounding it being turned into ruins.
However, it’s important to note that the world of private firefighting is more intricate than it may seem, and maybe even less debatable. While a significant portion of the private sector doesn’t serve individual property owners, they instead cater to various entities. These include utility companies whose infrastructure necessitates regular maintenance (as was the case with PG&E transmission lines that sparked the 2018 Camp Fire, resulting in 85 fatalities and financial ruin for the company); major insurance firms like AIG and Chubb, who provide mitigation services to their policyholders; and government jurisdictions, either bolstering their fire departments or compensating for a lack thereof.
A significant portion of the tasks involve prevention: creating fire breaks by digging, installing sprinkler systems, and utilizing fire-retardant gels. As reported in The New York Times, fire crews can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $10,000 each day. It’s been discovered that the typical hourly rate for a private firefighter is approximately $70, excluding expenses for food and lodging as per The Hollywood Reporter.
Above all, these firefighters strive to emphasize that they are not reckless individuals when participating in wildfire management for their clients, such as private property owners. This is particularly important given that their counterparts from the public sector have previously shown caution regarding their involvement. As Carroll Wills, a spokesperson for California Professional Firefighters, stated to the Los Angeles Times following the Woolsey fire, “From a first responder’s perspective, they are not considered valuable resources to be utilized, but rather as obligations.
As a firefighter at Capstone, based in Escondido, California, I adhere to the rules set by both state and federal authorities, following the fire incident command system. Right now, we’ve got about 30 wildfire engines working across Southern California.
According to Tom Wesley, who oversees Mountaineers Fire Crew based in Redding, California and has deployed numerous personnel to aid in the current fires: “If someone like Jim or Jill requests our help, we’re functioning from the base camp, with a tracking system on our vehicle to keep in touch with the commanding officer.
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2025-01-12 19:54