During the Palisades Fire, a member of the Malibu neighborhood fire brigade played a crucial role in protecting almost a dozen homes. This individual emphasized that while communities can unite to safeguard property in times of natural disasters, California officials must take more significant actions to prevent wildfires.
The brigade was established by Matt Diamond, a local surfer, after the destructive Woolsey Fire in 2018. The Woolsey Fire destroyed close to 100,000 acres of land, resulted in three fatalities, and led to the evacuation of almost 300,000 individuals. Diamond felt a strong urge to create a group of “self-sustaining firefighters” in response to this catastrophe.
“For that incident, we didn’t receive any external fire support. It was solely up to the Malibu residents to come together,” mentioned Diamond when speaking to Fox News Digital. He added, “Despite our efforts, the city manager prevented resources from entering, so we had to make decisions collectively. We organized the transportation of axes, shovels, firefighting gear, as well as food and water to Paradise Cove. Setting up a temporary base camp, we became fully functional, patrolling the neighborhood, conducting spot-fire inspections, and rescuing our neighbors’ residences.”
Now, he said, the Los Angeles Fire Department sees the brigade as a vital resource in saving homes and managing fires, because firefighters who are sent in from other locations don’t know the area.
The City of Malibu confirmed in a statement on Thursday that a resident died in the Palisades Fire.
“This is a painful reminder of the profound impact this fire is having on our community,” officials wrote. “Malibu is more than a city – we are neighbors, friends, and family. Even when we don’t know someone’s name, their loss is felt by all of us. In times like this, we must come together, support one another, and show the resilience that defines our community…”
Diamond encouraged every community to contact local first responders and establish communication with officials.
Matt Diamond took photos of damage in Malibu, California during the wildfires. (Matt Diamond)
Creating the community’s own communication line with walkie-talkies and satellite radio phones can also be highly beneficial in times of crisis, he said.
“You get the proper outfits and training, gear up, and you’re ready to save your community,” Diamond said. “We’re only going to have more natural disasters. It’s just going to continuously happen. It’s climate evolution, and it’s here to stay and only grow. Might as well educate yourself and be armed to help your community. It’s very empowering, and it’s necessary.”
Growing up, he remembered seeing a lot of brush fires. He remembered forestry and fire management creating fire lines.
Burnt structures stand in ruin, as powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, in Malibu, California, January 8, 2025. (Daniel Cole/Reuters)
While acknowledging that sometimes prescribed burns can get out of control, Diamond said they are needed to protect the whole.
“[The government is] kind of gun-shy, in a sense, to do what’s properly needed,” he said. “Say two homes burn and [the government] gets sued by two people, versus 1,000 homes [gone] because you didn’t do these controlled burns. The governor [Gavin Newsom] needs to attack this, because everyone’s pretty much at their mercy. Cut through the bureaucracy of it and just do what needs to be done.”
