Private Firefighters Draw Scrutiny During California Wildfires

As wildfires devastate Los Angeles, wealthy homeowners turn to costly private firefighting services, raising concerns about equity and resource allocation.

• Private firefighting companies, which charge up to $10,000 per day, are being hired by affluent homeowners to protect properties from wildfires in Los Angeles.
• Critics argue that the use of private fire crews exacerbates class divides, as many residents cannot afford such services while public resources are stretched thin.
• Some companies, like Wildfire Defense Systems, primarily work with insurance providers to protect high-risk properties, while others offer direct contracts to homeowners for fireproofing and emergency response.
• The growing reliance on private firefighters highlights concerns about the sustainability of public fire services and the increasing difficulty of insuring properties in wildfire-prone areas.
• Wealthy individuals, including prominent business figures, have faced backlash for hiring private crews, with some questioning whether public resources were diverted to support these efforts.

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