Rolling Hills City Hall was bustling with energy last week as nearly 50 people filled the room for West Basin Municipal Water District’s most recent firescaping workshop. Attendees came eager to learn how to safeguard their homes and neighborhoods from wildfire threats, and they left inspired with new tools, tips and even a few water conservation/fire prevention prizes.
In partnership with the City of Rolling Hills, Cal Water, Los Angeles County Fire Department and Metropolitan Water District, West Basin hosted the October 2 workshop to teach residents about fire-resistant landscape practices that also save water.
The in-person workshop was led by Douglas Kent, MS, MLA, a well-known author, educator and ecological land management expert who has been helping communities become more fire-resilient since 1993. He teaches at UCLA Extension Horticulture/Landscape Design and USC’s School of Architecture and is the author of the book Firescaping: Protecting Your Home with a Fire-Resistant Landscape.
The workshop welcomed 48 attendees and included three of the city’s Block Captain Leads and Rolling Hills City Council Member Leah Mirsch, who joined West Basin Division I Director Tommy Faavae and Cal Water Conservation Coordinator Jocelyn Rivas-Perez in welcoming guests.
The first 25 attendees received a copy of Kent’s book, while one lucky guest took home a free rain barrel in the evening’s opportunity drawing.
Did you miss the workshop? You can catch the action online after the fact! The full presentation and past Firescaping resources are available at www.WestBasinCA.gov/firescaping.
And mark your calendar — West Basin’s next Firescaping Workshop will be held on November 12, 2025, at Malibu City Hall.
Registration is open now!