Topanga is one of the most beautiful and unique communities in Los Angeles County—but living in our canyon also comes with responsibility. Wildfire is part of our reality, and protecting lives, homes, and natural resources requires a prepared, trained, and connected community.
The Community Brigade is recruiting new Field Brigade members who are ready to move from concerned residents to trained community protectors.
As a Brigade member, you will receive more than 100 hours of comprehensive field training designed to prepare you for real-world conditions. Members learn essential wildfire safety, field operations, communications, situational awareness, and how to work as part of a coordinated team under official authorization of LACoFD.
You will also gain valuable knowledge about home hardening and wildfire risk reduction—practical steps that help make homes more resistant to embers, radiant heat, and fire exposure. This knowledge not only helps protect your own home, but also gives you the ability to share meaningful preparedness information with neighbors.
By helping harden one home at a time, Brigade members strengthen the entire canyon. Each prepared home becomes part of a larger community defense strategy and serves as a force multiplier during a fire incident. When more residents understand home hardening, defensible space, and ember-resistant practices, Topanga becomes safer and more resilient.
Field Brigade work is challenging, rewarding, and deeply meaningful. It builds camaraderie, confidence, and a stronger connection to the community we all love.
Brigade members are provided specialized Personal Protective Equipment, and participants are asked to provide their own wildland fire boots.
The next Firefighter II Academy begins June 6.
Field team members must be at least 18 years old and in good physical condition.
Your canyon needs you. Become part of the team helping protect Topanga—one home, one neighbor, and one community at a time.
You can apply at www.communitybrigade.org.
