A wildlife education and resource fair in Porter Ranch drew hundreds

A wildfire education and resource fair in Porter Ranch on Jan. 24 attracted hundreds of people, eager to get tips about evacuation preparedness and the latest on fire insurance options along with wildfire vendors and a meet-and-greet opportunity with Los Angeles Fire Department firefighters.

“I am very proud to bring this event to the community that deserved and embraced it,” said Capt. Chris Nevil, a public information officer with MySafe:LA which partners with LAFD to focus on home fire safety, wildfire and community resilience. “We hope every visitor left with at least one idea for improving their home and fire safety.”

The fair, held at Porter Ranch Community Park, had all of the trappings of a community event including music and food. Children romped around in the park’s playground while adults went from booth to booth speaking with various vendors and gathering resource handouts.

A subject close to many in the area is “home hardening.” The term describes vegetation management and building materials used to resist flames or embers that could threaten families during a wildland fire.

“I got lots of good information and lots of resources,” said Shelley Heermann of Granada Hills. “The DWP (Los Angeles Department of Water and Power) will come to your home to check your vents and install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.”

The focus of the fair was essentially to learn practical ways residents can protect their families and homes by being better informed and prepared for wildfire seasons and other emergencies such as evacuation planning and emergency preparedness.