California Wildfire Recovery & Rebuilding Hub
Supporting Recovery and Resilience
Supporting Recovery and Resilience
Wildfires are now a year-round risk in California. Learn how to harden properties, reduce fire spread, and support resilient community planning. Together, we can rebuild homes, landscapes, and hope; stronger, safer, and more fire-resilient than before.
This page serves as a central hub for wildfire recovery, green rebuilding, and preparedness resources designed to support homeowners, professionals, and communities across California.
Our Wildfire Defense Education program provides expert guidance, hands-on tools, and educational resources to help Property owners, Designers & developers, Landscape professionals, and Community leaders.
How can we help you?
Getting Started with Rebuilding
Getting Started with Rebuilding
For homeowners, businesses, and communities actively rebuilding after the fires.
California Wildfire Rebuilding Guide
In collaboration with Arup and dedicated volunteers, we’re proud to introduce the California Wildfire Rebuilding Guide, a comprehensive resource to help communities rebuild with resilience, sustainability, and safety in mind. This guide offers step-by-step support for homeowners, professionals, and recovery teams, ensuring an equitable and informed rebuilding process.
Training on Home Hardening and Defensive Space
For professionals and community leaders who want wildfire resilience skills.
It equips them with the knowledge and skills needed to strengthen homes and landscapes against wildfires. This program emphasizes the use of appropriate materials, maintenance practices, and fire-resistant design techniques proven to reduce the risk of fire damage to properties.
Supports:
- Property owners
- Designers & developers
- Landscape professionals
- Community leaders
Wildfire Defense Professional Certificate: These training sessions leverage existing resources and tap into the expertise of advisors from various fields to raise awareness and transfer knowledge about industry-leading methods that effectively mitigate fire risks in both residential spaces and landscapes.
- Quarterly live training (English & Spanish)
- 150-minute session + certification test
- 1,300+ professionals trained
- Thought Leadership Series: Reducing California’s Fire Risk – Tour led by Plant Prefab
- Thought Leadership Series: Reducing California’s Fire Risk – Tour led by: The Resource Conservation District of Santa Monica
- Thought Leadership Series: Reducing California’s Fire Risk – Tour led by: The Chaparral Institute
- Thought Leadership Series: Reducing California’s Fire Risk – Tour led by: FormLA Landscaping
- Thought Leadership Series: Reducing California’s Fire Risk – Tour led by: USGBC NorCal
- Firewise or fiction? Explore common misunderstandings about wildfires and the truth about protecting properties
- Mandeville Canyon Fire-Hardened Home Tour – Learn strategies for home hardening and defensive landscaping
- Virtual Tour of Firewise Homes in Malibu and Brentwood – Creating defensive landscapes through design strategies
- Creating Firewise Properties Webinar
- USGBC California & SCAG Wildfire Defense Forum & Virtual Tour
Materials + Connect with Vetted Professionals
Materials + Connect with Vetted Professionals
For sourcing products, contractors, and wildfire-certified expertise.
Our Rebuild Marketplace is a group purchasing and procurement platform powered by BuildingEase that is designed to support individuals, contractors, architects, and ultimately communities in rebuilding with resilience, sustainability, and cost at the forefront. Whether you’re a homeowner, developer, builder, or supplier, our platform connects you to high-quality materials, equipment, supplies, and services through streamlined collaboration.
Connects:
- Homeowners
- Contractors
- Architects
- Developers
- Suppliers
This directory is an important resource for homeowners, cities, and those involved in the restoration process who will need wildfire-certified professionals to support the rebuilding of their communities. We will be promoting this as a tool for helping residents and businesses find expertise to help with their rebuilding efforts.
- Contractors
- Landscapers
- Resilience experts
The rebuilding process after a wildfire is a collective effort, and your contribution, whether it’s a need, resource, or expertise, can make a significant difference. If your community needs support or you have valuable resources, materials, or knowledge to share, we invite you to use the options below. Our goal is to connect those in need with the resources and professionals that can help build more sustainable, resilient communities.
Resources & Toolkits
For preparedness, safety, and wildfire education tools.
- CAL FIRE Active Fire Tracking
- Watch Duty App
- Air Quality Monitoring
- Wildfire Smoke & Ash Health & Safety Tips
- Teladoc Virtual Medical Service: Free 24/7 virtual medical care
- CalAssist Mortgage Fund
State program that provides up to one year of mortgage payment assistance (does not need to be repaid) for eligible homeowners whose homes were severely affected by California disasters. - U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)
Provides low-interest loans to homeowners, renters, businesses, and non-profit organizations to repair or replace property damaged by wildfires and other disasters. - LA County Office of the Assessor
Eligible property owners whose homes were damaged or destroyed by a disaster may qualify for property tax relief. - Resilient LA – Delta Fund
Provides grants and loans to help Los Angeles homeowners rebuild with fire-resilient and climate-resilient construction practices. - LA County Emergency Rent Relief Program
Provides up to $15,000 in rental assistance for eligible landlords or tenants. - City of Malibu Fee Waiver Program
Waives planning and building permit fees for owner-occupied homes rebuilding after wildfire damage.
- Los Angeles County Insurance Commission
Provides insurance education resources and links residents to state agencies and consumer assistance programs. - California Department of Insurance (CDI)
State agency that provides information, consumer assistance, and guidance for wildfire survivors navigating insurance claims and disputes. - United Policyholders
Non-profit organization that provides free guidance in navigating insurance claims and rebuilding through the Roadmap to Recovery program.
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
Federal agency that provides disaster assistance, housing support, and recovery resources for those affected by wildfires. - California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES)
State agency that provides recovery resources for Californians affected by emergencies. - LA County Recovers
Official Los Angeles County hub for wildfire recovery resources, rebuilding guidance, financial assistance programs, and community services. - City of Los Angeles Emergency Management Department
Provides official updates, rebuilding resources, and assistance programs for residents affected by emergencies and disasters. - City of Los Angeles Palisades Fire Recovery
Centralized information on Palisades Fire recovery, rebuilding, permits, and assistance programs.
- PostFire LA
Non-profit organization that provides resources and guidance for those affected by fires. - Eaton Fire Survivors Network
Shares resources, recovery information, and support for those affected by the Eaton Fire. - American Red Cross
Provides disaster relief services, emergency shelter, and recovery resources for those affected by disasters. - 211LA
Non-profit organization that connects Los Angeles County residents to local disaster recovery resources and other community services. - CORE: Community Organized Relief Effort
Humanitarian disaster response and recovery non-profit with offices in Altadena. - LA Disaster Relief Navigator
Online resource that connects wildfire survivors to available recovery programs, housing assistance, and other support services. - Resilient Palisades
Focuses on recovery, rebuilding, and long-term resilience planning for those affected by the Palisades Fire. - Pali Strong
Community organization that shares recovery updates, resources, and support services to help Pacific Palisades residents rebuild. - PaliBu
Resource hub for rebuilding, permitting, and business recovery resources for Pacific Palisades and Malibu residents.
Program Partners
RCDSMM – Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains – Sustainable Defensible Space Handbook
Theodore Payne Foundation – Wildfire Resiliency Resources
Tending the Land – Fire Resiliency in Sonoma County
NOTE TO MEDIA: We invite you to utilize as many of these free public resources as possible in your ongoing coverage. If you choose to reference or credit us, please do so as “USGBC California” and our website is www.usgbc-ca.org. Please contact Julie Du Brow, Director of Communications and Partnerships, at 310-922-1301 or julie@usgbc-ca.org for any questions and for any requests for expert sources or interviews. Including our team, led by Executive Director Ben Stapleton (primary spokesperson),we have a large community of sustainable/resiliency building experts at hand for your range of needs (builders, architects, contractors, engineers, urban planners, landscapers, etc.) covering residential, commercial and industrial built spaces.
