Supervisors direct agencies to assess feasibility of coordinated mitigation effort after 2025 fires.
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a motion directing county agencies to study the creation of a regional authority aimed at improving wildfire prevention efforts across the Santa Monica Mountains.
The measure calls for the county’s Department of Regional Planning and the Los Angeles County Fire Department to evaluate the feasibility of forming a Regional Wildfire Mitigation Joint Powers Authority, which would coordinate prevention strategies across multiple jurisdictions in the mountain range.
The study comes in the wake of major fires in 2025 that burned more than 23,000 acres and damaged or destroyed thousands of homes in the region.
Land in the Santa Monica Mountains is managed by a mix of agencies — including the National Park Service, California State Parks, county departments and local entities — as well as private landowners. Officials say the fragmented oversight has resulted in varying approaches to vegetation management and wildfire prevention, despite shared risk across the region.
Under the motion, county departments will analyze existing fuel and vegetation management practices and assess how a regional authority could coordinate efforts among public agencies, nonprofits, environmental groups, academics and residents.
The analysis will also consider potential governance structures, implementation strategies and funding sources, including state and federal grants.
Supporters of the proposal say a regional approach could help align policies on defensible space, fuel reduction and community preparedness, while improving coordination in advance of future wildfires.
