Protecting Paradise Cove. Together.

When the Woolsey Fire swept through Malibu in November 2018, Paradise Cove was surrounded by flames, and no county fire trucks in sight. With less than a thousand feet of old hose and sheer determination, a small group of residents stood their ground. Working shoulder-to-shoulder through smoke and heat, they managed to save our homes. For days afterward, supplies arrived by boat as volunteers organized relief and supported neighboring communities. That courage became the spark for a sustained, resident-led movement to prepare, protect and strengthen Paradise Cove against wildfires.

Phase One: Building the Foundation 

Soon after Woolsey in 2019, a group of residents led by Diane Malecha organized the first Emergency Safety Fund (ESF1) raising $50,000 for critical firefighting equipment and laying the groundwork for a community-wide safety plan. This initial phase gave Paradise Cove the tools and structure to begin building a long-term defense strategy. 

Phase Two: Strengthening our Defenses

In 2020, Leslie Starus led a resident-driven effort within the Paradise Cove Homeowners Association to launch ESF2, setting a goal of $100,000 and ultimately raising $120,000. These funds expanded our capacity with new equipment, additional hose boxes, and a central fire-supply container stocked with PPE, first aid, and emergency tools. During this phase, Simeon Sturges led the tactical planning and setup of our fire response operation, determining what equipment was needed, how to stage it, and how to respond effectively in an emergency. He also assembled a team of resident volunteers to support these efforts, some of whom received additional training through the Community Brigade, a program developed with the L.A. County Fire Department.