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SAN GABRIEL VALLEY COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
One Valley. One Voice.
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Regional Community Wildfire
Protection Plan (CWPP)
The SGVCOG is developing a regional CWPP to protect our communities and their assets against potential wildfire hazards.
What is a CWPP?
A Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is a community-based plan focused on identifying and addressing local wildfire hazards and risks. CWPPs are authorized and defined in Title I of the Healthy Forests Restoration Act (HFRA), passed by Congress in 2003.
A CWPP determines what is at risk and provides a roadmap of actions for a community to address the wildfire threat. A CWPP includes, at a minimum, three central components:
Collaboration
A CWPP must be collaboratively developed. Local and state officials must meaningfully involve non-governmental stakeholders and federal agencies that manage land in the vicinity of the community.
Prioritized
Fuel Reduction
A CWPP must identify and prioritize areas for hazardous fuel reduction treatments and recommend the types and methods of treatment that, if completed, would reduce the risk to the community.
Treatment of Structural Ignitability
A CWPP must recommend measures that homeowners and communities can take to reduce the ignitability of structures throughout the plan area.
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Why develop a CWPP?
With its rugged mountains, steep terrain, Mediterranean climate and sometimes windy conditions, there are significant areas of very high and high Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZs) within the San Gabriel Valley.
Following the 2020 Bobcat Fire, the SGVCOG recognized a need for a Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) to guide wildfire prevention and adaptation efforts in the San Gabriel Valley.
A CWPP addresses regional vulnerabilities during a wildfire which include increasing human population, limited congested evacuation routes, communication ‘dead-zones’ and multi-jurisdictional boundaries.
Figure 1. CWPP Plan Area and Fire Hazard Severity Zones
Development Process
Through collaborative stakeholder engagement, the CWPP will assess wildfire challenges, conduct hazard and risk analyses, and evaluate local preparedness capabilities across SGV's 31 member cities. The plan will incorporate findings from city policies and hazard analyses, establishing community maps identifying hazard severity zones. The Draft Regional CWPP, developed with modeling, mapping, and community input, will undergo stakeholder and public review before being agreed upon by member agencies.
Figure 2. CWPP Development Process
Collaboration
Through monthly stakeholder working groups, SGVCOG conducts outreach about the CWPP and gathers inputs. The Stakeholder Working Group (SWG) includes representatives from member cities and regional organizations. The SWG helps to ensure that the regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) is comprehensive, and that member cities and agencies are included in wildfire planning. The SWG serves as a platform for discussions, feedback, and the formulation of wildfire regional initiatives.
A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) is helping to inform a wildfire emergency evacuation assessment. The TAG includes representatives from various entities -- fire agencies, law enforcement departments, transportation commission, and emergency services. This multidisciplinary collaboration enhances evacuation planning and response efforts.
We are hosting a series of stakeholder workshops and community conversations with the general public, environmental organizations, housing associations, property owner associations, fire safe councils, and other interested parties to gather valuable feedback for the regional CWPP development process. Additionally, the team is planning evacuation specific workshops and community surveys.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Stay Tuned for Future Events!
If you would like to have SGVCOG staff table at your community event about the regional CWPP, contact Paulina Mejia at pmejia@sgvcog.org.
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Is the CWPP a regulatory document or ordinance?A CWPP is a community-level planning document, not a regulatory document or ordinance. Further, a CWPP is not a land use, growth management, or emergency evacuation plan.
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What is a Fire Adapted Community?The U.S. Forest Service defines a fire adapted community as “[a] knowledgeable and engaged community in which the awareness and actions of residents regarding infrastructure, buildings, landscaping, and the surrounding ecosystem lessens the need for extensive protection actions and enables the community to safely accept fire as a part of the surrounding landscape.”
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What is the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI)?According to the National Wildfire Coordinating Group, the wildland urban interface (WUI) is “the zone of transition between unoccupied land and human development. It is the line, area, or zone where structures and other human development meet or intermingle with undeveloped wildland or vegetative fuels. Communities adjacent to and surrounded by wildland are at varying degrees of risk from wildfires.”
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How do I get Involved in the San Gabriel Regional CWPP?There are numerous ways to collaborate on the CWPP development process. You may: Attend community workshops Sign up to become a Firewise Community Learn about Fire Prep SGV For questions or updates, please contact Mackenzie Bolger at mbolger@sgvcog.org
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Where do I get more Information about the Regional CWPP?Explore our website, sign up for updates, or feel free to contact us.
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How will the Regional CWPP be used?To educate communities across the San Gabriel Valley about their current wildfire risk and steps to reduce risk To build community capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major wildfire events To foster a culture of wildfire resiliency in our region To enhance coordination and collaboration efforts to achieve collective regional planning goals and to build partnerships between various stakeholder groups in our region To use regional planning and analysis to support local wildfire risk mitigation and prevention efforts To inform future policies and ordinances To identify and apply for grants and other funding sources to implement wildfire risk mitigation projects at community and regional scales
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How often will the CWPP be updated?The Regional CWPP is intended to be a “living” document. It is standard practice to revise and update the CWPP approximately every 10 years.
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Will the CWPP affect my insurance rates?Not directly. The CWPP will assess wildfire hazards and risk, and better prepare communities and homeowners for potential wildfire events. Please contact your insurance provider for information about your rates. Upcoming new regulations from the California Department of Insurance will be discussed during the CWPP process, and projects and programs will be developed to address the insurance issue in California.
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What is the San Gabriel Valley Landlord Incentives Program (SGVLIP)?The SGVLIP provides benefits and support to landlords who lease their units to tenants receiving rental assistance to leave homelessness. In addition to financial benefits, landlords receive a point of contact who can mediate any issues or provide the funds to fix them. This program is managed by Union Station Homeless Services in partnership with the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments.
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Why partner with SGVLIP?On top of the extra financial benefits you’ll receive directly from the program, you’ll join landlords around the County in receiving a guaranteed, recession-proof rent check and a tenant likely to stay long-term. You’ll avoid the hassle of marketing your units but keep your choice of who to rent to. You’ll be helping people who have experienced homelessness to rebuild their lives. All tenants will have a case manager providing supportive services and helping them succeed as a tenant. Additionally, there are funds available through March 30, 2022 to mitigate damage or an unexpected vacancy. Beyond that date you will be linked to services that will continue to provide case management support.
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Who is eligible to participate?Any landlord with a unit in the following San Gabriel Valley cities: Alhambra, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora, Irwindale, La Verne, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Gabriel, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, or West Covina. If you don’t have a unit in one of these cities but are interested, you may still be eligible. Please fill out the interest form for confirmation.
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What are the steps needed to rent my unit and how long will this take?Once a landlord determines they would like to participate, a staff member will promptly tour the unit. We will need to ensure that the unit is in a safe and habitable condition. In addition, an analysis of the requested rent is made to ensure that it is in alignment with the area market rent. After these determinations are made, we are ready to promote your unit the following Monday. All available units are then emailed each Monday to all of the area service providers. Your unit will continue to be emailed out each subsequent Monday to providers and promoted until such time that it is leased.
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What kind of support do you offer the landlord?Besides financial incentives and guaranteed rent, landlords receive the support of staff assigned to each tenant. These support staff will help mitigate issues that may arise with tenants and help explain lease terms to tenants. Case managers consist of an array of caring individuals with expertise regarding lease incentives and housing. They provide individualized support for each tenant depending on the tenant’s specific needs which may include assisting with signing the lease, making sure the tenant’s portion of monthly rent is timely, transportation, and more. Tenants are visited by their support staff a minimum of once a month. They understand the needs of both the tenants housed and our local landlords. The Landlord Incentives support line is available if additional assistance is needed.
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How will I get paid?Union Station Homeless Services will issue a check for the incentives requested within 3 days promptly upon receipt of a complete application and any supporting documentation required. You will receive a steady, reliable rent check each month, either from a non-profit who is paid by the County, or from the County itself. A small portion of the rent may also be paid directly by the tenant, based on what they can afford.
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Whom do I contact if I have an issue?Should you encounter an issue, you may always contact the tenant’s case manager directly or you may call the SGVLIP support line at (909) 660-3502 or by emailing landlordincentives@unionstationhs.org
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What if I think I need to evict the tenant?Creating successful tenancies begins with supporting landlords and tenants through some of the tough spots. Should an issue rise to a level that a landlord or tenant feels uneasy about or where possible legal steps are necessary, every effort is made to provide conflict resolution with the help of trained support staff. If an eviction appears unavoidable, the support staff can help the tenant to voluntarily relinquish the unit. Because they know they will continue to be supported, many tenants choose to do so rather than face legal proceedings.
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What supportive services are offered to tenants?All tenants will have a dedicated support staff member who will help them with everything they need to succeed as a tenant. They will check in as often as needed (but no less than once a month), helping them be a good tenant and neighbor, ensuring they continue to receive any benefits they are entitled to, and connecting them to outside services such as medical care or counseling. Our team’s top priority is to ensure the tenancy is mutually successful for both the tenant and the landlord.
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When does the program end? What happens to my benefits when the program ends?The projected end date for this program is July 2022. In the unlikely event funds become exhausted sooner, all participants will be advised accordingly ahead of time. Beginning in March 2022, participating landlords and tenants will be transitioned to a partner program with similar benefits. While the damage mitigation originally offered will terminate at that time, landlords and tenants will continue to receive case management services.
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WHAT IS A FIRE HAZARD SEVERITY ZONE?Fire Hazard Severity Zones (FHSZ) are geographic areas designated by CAL FIRE pursuant to the California Public Resources Code and are classified as Very High, High, or Moderate. As of July 2023, FHSZ maps are currently being updated by CAL FIRE. To determine if you are in a State mapped FHSZ, see: https://egis.fire.ca.gov/FHSZ/. For more information on Fire Hazard Severity Zones see: https://osfm.fire.ca.gov/divisions/community-wildfire-preparedness-and-mitigation/wildfire-preparedness/fire-hazard-severity-zones/
Contact
Mackenzie Bolger
Senior Management Analyst
mbolger@sgvcog.org
Paulina Mejia
Management Analyst
pmejia@sgvcog.org
Funding for the San Gabriel Valley Regional Community Wildfire Protection Plan provided by the
California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Fire Prevention Program as part of the California Climate Investments Program, a statewide initiative that puts billions of Cap-and-Trade dollars to work reducing greenhouse gas emissions, strengthening the economy, and improving public health and the environment — particularly in disadvantaged communities.
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