Los Angeles County Fire Department Schedules Prescribed Plot Burn in the Santa Monica Mountains for Fuel Management

Los Angeles (June 5, 2026) – As part of an ongoing multi-agency effort to reduce wildfire risk led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department and LA City Fire Department, a prescribed plot burn operation will be scheduled during a favorable weather window in the next 30 days, conditions permitting.   The project will consist of five treatment plots on approximately 53 acres of land managed by the MRCA near Santa Maria Road and Dirt Mulholland Road in the Santa Monica Mountains above Topanga.

The plot burn is part of an ongoing effort to reduce wildfire risk, improve ecosystem health, and enhance community protection through strategic fuel management. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will serve as the lead agency for the operation.

The prescribed burn will be conducted one plot at a time using a mosaic burning approach, creating a patchwork of burned and unburned vegetation across the landscape. This strategy helps reduce fuel continuity, support habitat diversity, and improve ecosystem resilience. A highly successful low intensity pile burn was conducted in the Topanga area in April.

The project is strategically designed to reduce the spread and intensity of future wildfires by creating breaks in vegetation continuity across the landscape. In the Santa Monica Mountains, where fires can rapidly move through connected canyons, ridgelines, and drainages, these treatments are intended to help slow wildfire movement from valley to valley and community to community, providing firefighters with greater opportunities to safely engage and suppress advancing fire.

This is a planned prescribed burn conducted by trained personnel operating under an approved burn plan. Fire crews will remain on-site throughout the operation to monitor conditions and ensure the burn remains within established control lines.

Timing and Conditions

The burn will occur only when weather, fuel moisture, air quality, and smoke dispersal conditions meet established safety requirements. Because prescribed fire operations are weather-dependent, multiple burn windows may be evaluated before conditions are deemed suitable. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will provide a 72-hour public notice before the anticipated burn window and will make a final go/no-go decision immediately prior to ignition. If conditions are not favorable, the operation will be postponed.

Smoke Impacts and Public Safety

Residents in surrounding communities may see or smell smoke during the operation, and smoke may linger in some areas after ignition. Individuals sensitive to smoke, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, should limit outdoor activity if smoke is present.

The public is asked not to report visible smoke from the prescribed burn area as a wildfire. However, if smoke or fire is observed outside the designated project area, residents should contact local authorities.

Traffic and Access

Motorists traveling near Santa Maria Road, Dirt Mulholland Road, and surrounding areas should remain alert for possible smoke and reduced visibility. Minor delays or temporary access restrictions may occur during active operations.

Community Information

The burn will be conducted under a Chief-approved burn plan and supported by an Incident Action Plan (IAP), which outlines operational objectives, weather forecasts, assigned resources, communications, and safety measures.

For more information about controlled burns including health impacts visit:

http://www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/prescribed-fire.htm

Residents can monitor the free Watch Duty application for information regarding planned prescribed fire activity and operational updates.

For current air quality information, visit:

www.airnow.gov

www.aqmd.gov

This project is supported in part by funding from Proposition 4, the California Climate Bond, through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Contact :

MRCA Fire Prevention Division

mrcafireprevention@mrca.ca.gov

New Trail Opened at Elephant Hill Open Space

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Celebrates Trail Opening, Land Acquisition, and Major Investments at Elephant Hill Open Space

 LOS ANGELES (May 2, 2026) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), in partnership with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy (Conservancy) and community partner Save Elephant Hill, announced today the opening of a new public trail and the expansion of protected open space at Elephant Hill Open Space in the northeast Los Angeles community of El Sereno.

“The new Elephant Hill Open Space trail is the first official trail specifically for public use on Elephant Hill in El Sereno,” said Elva Yanez, Board President of Save Elephant Hill. “While the public has informally accessed the 10 acres of parkland managed by the MRCA for generations, hiking, birding, and nature exploration will now be safer and more enjoyable.”

Funded by a $700,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Regional Park and Open Space District Proposition A, the new 0.75-mile trail enhances public access to this unique urban natural area. The grant also funded the acquisition of four additional parcels of public open space.

“The preservation of hillsides across Los Angeles County has not been equitable. For too long, hillsides have been protected for the benefit of a few, while communities of color have had limited access to open space and the natural resources.  The Regional Park and Open Space District’s (RPOSD) grant represents a meaningful investment in not only preserving hillsides, but about ensuring that the last remaining hillsides in urbanized Los Angeles County are made available to the public and accessible spaces for recreation, respite, and community and nature connection.  With this $700,000 RPOSD grant, 16 additional parcels at Elephant Hill are now permanently protected, and a new trail is open to the community,” said Norma E. García-González, Director of the Regional Park and Open Space District.

Elephant Hill Open Space is a significant ecological and recreational asset within the historic El Sereno community, offering native habitat, scenic views, and opportunities for passive recreation in one of the most park-poor areas of Los Angeles. In addition to MRCA parkland, the City of Los Angeles has preserved 15 acres of the undeveloped 110-acre hilltop.

The natural area has a complex ownership pattern, consisting mainly of small, privately owned parcels across more than 200 non-contiguous holdings. The MRCA is actively working to acquire additional properties and bring more land under public protection. In 2025, the agency received $2.3 million in grants of Proposition 68 funds from the Conservancy to support this effort including acquisition of 12 parcels.

“The Elephant Hill Trail project is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when a community comes together with shared purpose and determination,” said George Lange, Chair of the Governing Board of the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority. “Our partner, Save Elephant Hill, has brought extraordinary tenacity and creativity to this effort, championing the protection and long-term stewardship of this irreplaceable landscape.”

The Conservancy also granted $200,000 in Proposition 4 funds to Save Elephant Hill to develop a community-centered conservation vision and toolkit, including outreach, education, and engagement strategies to support land conservation and strengthen partnerships with property owners and stakeholders.

The new trail has been in development by the MRCA for many years. The agency hosted community workshops and engaged trail planning consultants, Alta Planning and Design, to identify a feasible trail alignment that best utilized MRCA land holdings given the steep terrain. The final trail design spans approximately 0.75 miles across MRCA-owned parcels, navigating the site’s topography with switchbacks and drainage features. Additional project elements include trailhead fencing, signage, landscape boulders, and new native trees. The Los Angeles Conservation Corps constructed the trail with support from Bellfree Contractors.

A $1.2 million grant from California State Parks’ Off-Highway Motor Vehicle Recreation Division supports increased ranger patrols, installation of gates, signage, and barriers, as well as collaborative community engagement efforts led by Save Elephant Hill in partnership with local community-based partner organizations. These measures help address ongoing challenges while preserving the site’s natural character. Additional ranger patrol funding of $558,000 was secured by Congressman Jimmy Gomez through the Congressional Community Project Funding program through the Department of Justice.

Additionally, Elephant Hill Open Space has been selected for study under the Safe Clean Water Program Technical Resources Program. The feasibility study will evaluate opportunities to prioritize nature-based solutions that address water quality concerns and provide community benefits.

Save Elephant Hill is a community-based organization that emerged from a successful land use effort to protect Elephant Hill from development more than 15 years ago. Among its ongoing efforts, the organization works with the MRCA, other government agencies, and community-based partners to engage residents and stakeholders on conservation issues including acquisitions planning, habitat restoration and increasing access to open space. Save Elephant Hill works alongside a number of local partners on Elephant Hill issues including the California Native Plant Society, Coyotl + Macehualli, Heroes of Elephant Hill, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Resource Conservation District of the Santa Monica Mountains, and Test Plot – Elephant Hill.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District, and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to preserving and managing local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, while ensuring public access to these resources.

The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in planning processes, promote wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitats. The MRCA manages more than 85,000 acres of parkland, including land it owns and land owned by the Conservancy. It is also one of the lead agencies involved in revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

 

MRCA Protects 470 Acres in the Santa Monica Mountains

Los Angeles County, April 7, 2026 — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that a generous donor has conveyed a total of 470 acres of pristine Santa Monica Mountains open space for permanent protection and conservation. The land is located in the Seminole Hot Springs area including land above Tunnel No. 1 on Kanan Road. The newly protected acreage also borders the TreePeople La Sierra Preserve and a Los Angeles County Open Space parcel, further strengthening regional conservation efforts. Because the donation spans both sides of Kanan Road, it creates an unusually wide wildlife corridor linking the La Sierra and Lobo Canyon tributary watersheds— an important feature for habitat connectivity in the area.

Los Angeles County Fire Department to Conduct Low Intensity Pile Burn in Santa Monica Mountains for Fuel Management

Planned Pile Burn Re-Scheduled in Topanga Canyon for Targeted Fuel Management for Monday, April 20, 2026

Los Angeles, Saturday, April 18, 2026, As part of a carefully managed ongoing multi-agency effort to reduce wildfire risk led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD),  a planned pile burn operation, which was postponed due to predicted wind conditions, will now be conducted on Monday April 20, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., near Africa Lookout along the Summit-to-Summit Motorway in Topanga Canyon, weather and air quality conditions permitting.

This effort supports community protection in the Santa Monica Mountains through targeted fuel management, while maintaining long-term ecosystem health. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will serve as the lead agency conducting this pile burn operation.

The low-intensity pile burn will occur on approximately 15 acres along a ridge system extending west from Summit-to-Summit Motorway across Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Material being burned consists of previously cut and piled vegetation from earlier fuel reduction work. The goal is to create a strategic fuel break that can assist firefighters in slowing the spread of future wildfires and improving suppression efforts for the protection of the Topanga community.

MRCA recognizes the ecological importance of chaparral ecosystems. This project is designed to be targeted and limited in scope, focusing on already disturbed material rather than broad-scale vegetation removal. By maintaining root structures and minimizing soil disturbance, pile burning helps reduce erosion risks while allowing natural regeneration processes to continue.

Smoke Impacts and Public Safety

Residents in and around Topanga Canyon and nearby communities may see smoke during active burning operations, with the potential for smoke to linger in low-lying areas overnight. Individuals sensitive to smoke, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, should limit outdoor activity if smoke is present. For current air quality conditions, visit www.airnow.gov or the South Coast AQMD website at www.aqmd.gov

For additional smoke safety guidance and public health information, please refer to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/prescribed-fire.htm

This is a planned prescription burn conducted by trained personnel. A burn plan has been developed, and operations will only proceed under favorable weather and smoke dispersal conditions. A registered forester will also be assigned as a resource advisor during the operation.

Fire crews will remain on-site throughout the operation to monitor conditions and ensure the fire remains contained. The public is asked not to report this activity as a wildfire. However, if smoke or fire is observed outside the described area or timeframe, please contact local authorities.

Following ignition, crews will continue operations to ensure the burn is fully secured. Mop-up will continue until no visible smoke or heat remains near control lines, and personnel will actively patrol the area. Resources will remain assigned for a minimum of 48 hours after burning is complete, with additional monitoring, including aerial infrared technology, used to confirm the area is fully extinguished.

Traffic & Access

Motorists traveling near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and surrounding roads should remain alert for reduced visibility due to smoke. Minor delays or temporary access restrictions may occur near the burn operation area.

What is a Pile Burn?

Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire in which vegetation debris, collected during fuel reduction projects such as thinning or cutting, is then piled and burned at a low intensity, under carefully managed conditions. These operations are only conducted when weather and environmental conditions allow for safe ignition and containment.

Conditions & Updates

All operations are dependent on favorable weather and air quality conditions. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will make a final go/no-go decision for the burn operation on the afternoon of April 16, 2026. If conditions are not suitable, the burn will be postponed.

This project is part of MRCA’s broader wildfire resilience and fuel management program in the Santa Monica Mountains. For more information, visit: https://mrca.ca.gov/statewide-critical-fuel-reduction-projects

The Los Angeles County Fire Department implements multiple proactive measures to ensure pile burn operations remain safe and closely supervised. The burn will be conducted under a Chief-approved burn plan and supported by an Incident Action Plan (IAP). The IAP outlines tactical objectives, assigned resources, medical and communication plans, incident mapping, fire weather and fire behavior forecasts, as well as safety measures and mitigation strategies tailored to current conditions.

Smoke may be visible from the Topanga Canyon area during this scheduled pile burn operation. For real-time updates and a geospatial view of this planned activity, residents can monitor the operation using the free Watch Duty app. https://app.watchduty.org/

Within the app, prescribed (RX) burns are identified by green icons with a crossed-out bell. Selecting the incident marker provides up-to-date information on the operation. These incidents do not trigger automatic alerts, so users must check the map directly for updates.

This tool can help residents distinguish planned, prescription burning from wildfire activity and reduce concern when smoke is visible in the area.

Note: Watch Duty is a third-party platform and is not affiliated with MRCA or LACoFD. This reference is provided solely as a public information resource and does not constitute endorsement.

This project is supported in part by funding from Proposition 4, the California Climate Bond, through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Contact Information

MRCA Fire Prevention Division:  mrcafireprevention@mrca.ca.gov

MEDIA ADVISORY – Planned Pile Burn Scheduled in Topanga Canyon Postponed

Los Angeles, Monday, April 15, 2026

The planned pile burn scheduled for April 17, 2026, in Topanga Canyon has been postponed for public safety reasons due to predicted unfavorable weather conditions.
The operation is expected to take place within the month, pending favorable weather and air quality conditions. To provide flexibility while maintaining community notification, confirmation of the burn will be provided up to 72 hours in advance.

All other details outlined in the original release remain unchanged. Additional updates will be provided as conditions allow.

Contact Information:
MRCA Fire Prevention Division:  mrcafireprevention@mrca.ca.gov

Planned Pile Burn Scheduled in Topanga Canyon for Targeted Fuel Management

 

Los Angeles, Monday, April 13, 2026, As part of a carefully managed ongoing multi-agency effort to reduce wildfire risk led by the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA), in coordination with the Los Angeles County Fire Department (LACoFD), a planned pile burn operation will be conducted on April 17, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., near Africa Lookout along the Summit-to-Summit Motorway in Topanga Canyon, weather and air quality conditions permitting.

This effort supports community protection in the Santa Monica Mountains through targeted fuel management, while maintaining long-term ecosystem health. The Los
Angeles County Fire Department will serve as the lead agency conducting this pile burn operation.

The low-intensity pile burn will occur on approximately 15 acres along a ridge system extending west from Summit-to-Summit Motorway across Topanga Canyon Boulevard. Material being burned consists of previously cut and piled vegetation from earlier fuel reduction work. The goal is to create a strategic fuel break that can assist firefighters in slowing the spread of future wildfires and improving suppression efforts for the protection of the Topanga community.

MRCA recognizes the ecological importance of chaparral ecosystems. This project is designed to be targeted and limited in scope, focusing on already disturbed material rather than broad-scale vegetation removal. By maintaining root structures and minimizing soil disturbance, pile burning helps reduce erosion risks while allowing natural regeneration processes to continue.

Smoke Impacts and Public Safety

Residents in and around Topanga Canyon and nearby communities may see smoke during active burning operations, with the potential for smoke to linger in low-lying areas overnight. Individuals sensitive to smoke, including children, older adults, and those with respiratory conditions, should limit outdoor activity if smoke is present. For current air quality conditions, visit www.airnow.gov or the South Coast AQMD website at www.aqmd.gov

For additional smoke safety guidance and public health information, please refer to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health: www.publichealth.lacounty.gov/eh/safety/prescribed-fire.htm
This is a planned prescription burn conducted by trained personnel. A burn plan has been developed, and operations will only proceed under favorable weather and smoke dispersal conditions. A registered forester will also be assigned as a resource advisor during the operation.

Fire crews will remain on-site throughout the operation to monitor conditions and ensure the fire remains contained. The public is asked not to report this activity as a wildfire. However, if smoke or fire is observed outside the described area or timeframe, please contact local authorities.

Following ignition, crews will continue operations to ensure the burn is fully secured. Mop-up will continue until no visible smoke or heat remains near control lines, and personnel will actively patrol the area. Resources will remain assigned for a minimum of 48 hours after burning is complete, with additional monitoring, including aerial infrared technology, used to confirm the area is fully extinguished.

Traffic & Access

Motorists traveling near Topanga Canyon Boulevard and surrounding roads should remain alert for reduced visibility due to smoke. Minor delays or temporary access
restrictions may occur near the burn operation area.

What is a Pile Burn?

Pile burning is a type of prescribed fire in which vegetation debris, collected during fuel reduction projects such as thinning or cutting, is then piled and burned at a low intensity, under carefully managed conditions. These operations are only conducted when weather and environmental conditions allow for safe ignition and containment.

Conditions & Updates

All operations are dependent on favorable weather and air quality conditions. The Los Angeles County Fire Department will make a final go/no-go decision for the burn operation on the afternoon of April 16, 2026. If conditions are not suitable, the burn will be postponed. This project is part of MRCA’s broader wildfire resilience and fuel management program in the Santa Monica Mountains. For more information, visit:
https://mrca.ca.gov/statewide-critical-fuel-reduction-projects

The Los Angeles County Fire Department implements multiple proactive measures to ensure pile burn operations remain safe and closely supervised. The burn will be
conducted under a Chief-approved burn plan and supported by an Incident Action Plan (IAP). The IAP outlines tactical objectives, assigned resources, medical and
communication plans, incident mapping, fire weather and fire behavior forecasts, as well as safety measures and mitigation strategies tailored to current conditions.

Smoke may be visible from the Topanga Canyon area during this scheduled pile burn operation. For real-time updates and a geospatial view of this planned activity, residents can monitor the operation using the free Watch Duty app. https://app.watchduty.org

Within the app, prescribed (RX) burns are identified by green icons with a crossed-out bell. Selecting the incident marker provides up-to-date information on the operation. These incidents do not trigger automatic alerts, so users must check the map directly for updates.

This tool can help residents distinguish planned, prescription burning from wildfire activity and reduce concern when smoke is visible in the area.

Note: Watch Duty is a third-party platform and is not affiliated with MRCA or LACoFD. This reference is provided solely as a public information resource and does not
constitute endorsement.

This project is supported in part by funding from Proposition 4, the California Climate Bond, through the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy.

Contact Information
MRCA Fire Prevention Division: mrcafireprevention@mrca.ca.gov

Hazardous Fuel Modification Work Begins in Topanga Canyon and Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve

 

 Los Angeles County Fire Department and Ventura County Fire Department received $3.2 Million in Proposition 4 Funds from the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to Prevent Wildfires

LOS ANGELES (September 15, 2025) – The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that Los Angeles County and Ventura County Fire Departments have begun to implement wildfire prevention programs funded by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy to mitigate wind-driven fire spread and to reduce fuels in densely vegetated parks, open space and wildlands adjacent to communities including Topanga, Malibu, and Calabasas. The MRCA is leading these efforts to reduce wildfire risk in the Santa Monica Mountains, in partnership with the Los Angeles County and Ventura County Fire Departments. Through the Statewide Fuels Reduction Environmental Protection Plan, the project targets 674.6 acres for strategic fuel treatments to strengthen community defensible space.

On Monday, Los Angeles County Fire hand crews began the first clearing project along Santa Maria Road and Mulholland Drive in the Topanga area of Los Angeles County. The crews will continue to Summit to Summit Motorway, also in the Topanga Area.

The environmental consulting firm, Dudek, completed biological surveys and flagging for sensitive species last week. Native American Tribal monitoring will be in place at each of the locations. Additionally, Los Angeles County will provide an on-site professional forester to monitor the projects as they progress.

Beginning next Wednesday, 500 goats will be onsite for clearing work at Upper Las Virgenes Canyon Open Space Preserve for approximately three weeks before moving to the next treatment location.

Updated information is available at https://mrca.ca.gov/statewide-critical-fuel-reduction-projects/ .

The State Legislature enacted an early action measure authored by local Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (AB-100) and signed into law by Governor Newsom in mid-April that allows the Conservancy to expend Proposition 4 bond funds for urgent wildfire prevention and resilience efforts. Proposition 4 was approved by the voters in the November 2024 general election. The Conservancy, which has helped preserve more than 75,000 acres of local open space and habitat, was allocated $31 million from Proposition 4 for watershed improvement, wildfire resilience, chaparral and forest restoration, and workforce development.

The $3.2 million grants to the fire departments were the first of many the Conservancy will award from these funds to proactively reduce the risk of wildfire, strengthen wildfire resilience, increase carbon sequestration, rally against the effects of climate change, and dedicate more resources to local community infrastructure.

High intensity wildfires in the Santa Monica Mountains and Rim of the Valley Corridor Zone have become more common in recent years, driven primarily by weather−most famously the Santa Ana and sundowner winds. In January 2025, the devastating Palisades, Eaton, and Kenneth wildfires underscored an urgent need for wildfire and climate resilience efforts to address the growing severity of fire seasons in Southern California.

The MRCA and Conservancy have been leaders in regional collaborative wildfire strategies and have been an anchor of the statewide Regional Forest and Fire Capacity Program. The MRCA and the Conservancy are long-time and active members of the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Alliance, an umbrella group of government agencies and other affected groups convened by Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsay Horvath to address environmental and community safety problems related to wildfire in the Santa Monica Mountains.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Clears Dry Brush from Roadsides in Malibu and Topanga Canyons to Prevent Wildfires

The Early Action Roadside Fire Prevention Program targets historic fire corridors to reduce risk.

MALIBU, CA (August 1, 2025) – The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today that it had completed emergency roadside vegetation clearance for fire prevention along Decker Canyon, Coral Canyon, and Latigo Cayon in Malibu and will complete similar brush and vegetation clearance work in Little Sycamore Canyon and Topanga Canyon by the end of next week. The canyons are in historic fire corridors, where wildfires have occurred in the past. Dry brush along roadsides poses a significant fire risk from human-caused ignition such as machinery or vehicle sparks. The public roadsides are adjacent to MRCA parkland. As part of the post-fire emergency that the MRCA has been authorized to address following the Palisades, Eaton, and Kenneth fires earlier this year, the MRCA has increased roadside clearance in these areas from 10 to 30 feet.

“Fire prevention is a year-round activity for the MRCA,” said Chief Fire Management Officer Ken Nelson. The MRCA trains and deploys teams across the Los Angeles Basin to perform fuel reduction as well as hiring contractors. With lower-than-average rainfall and warmer weather, fire season is, unfortunately, already upon us.”

Other local fire resiliency strategies include vegetation management, such as ignition and spread prevention including native oak planting, fuel breaks, and riparian mitigation to concentrate moisture and prevent fire spread

The MRCA employs up to 60 full time, seasonal, and volunteer wildland firefighters trained and certified to National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) standards in terrain, topography, wildfire suppression, and fuel management.  The Los Angeles Conservation Corps is a key partner in workforce development.

In May 2025 the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy granted $7.4 million in Governor Newsom’s Early Action Fire Resiliency Funding from Proposition 4 (AB 100) to the Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority to extend the MRCA’s State-funded Wildfire Resilience Program established in 2021 and perform on-the- ground fire resilience actions in a short and accelerated timeframe to prepare for 2025 Fire Season.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

 

Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority Announces Maximum Coordinated Public Protection Effort for Fourth of July Weekend

More than 80 wildland fire-trained MRCA ranger, operations, and fire protection staff will patrol MRCA parklands on the night of July 4

LOS ANGELES, CA (July 2, 2025) — The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today its annual public safety patrol and fire protection deployment for the upcoming Fourth of July holiday this Friday. The goal is to safely protect the people and resources that are challenged by a large influx of holiday revelers and traffic in the urban-wild interface. The extensive MRCA Fourth of July deployment plan aims for public safety, fire prevention, law enforcement, and public awareness.

More than fifty MRCA Fire Protection full time, seasonal, paid call-out and volunteer staff, who are wildland firefighters, will patrol MRCA parkland from the ocean to the Santa Clarita in Type 3 and Type 6 Fire Engines; 11 pieces of fire equipment including type three engines and tactical water tenders will be positioned throughout the jurisdiction.

“The MRCA will be out in full force on the Fourth of July to patrol its parklands and curb illegal activity,” said MRCA Chief Fire Management Officer, Ken Nelson. “Our crews are well-trained and ready to respond to the threat posed by the combination of dry brush, fireworks, and warm weather.”

An additional thirty MRCA Rangers, Operations Staff, Public Officers, and seasonal assistants, most of whom are also certified wildland firefighters, will provide safety patrol and enforcement with emphasis on areas of heavy traffic including Mulholland Drive in Los Angeles, Topanga Canyon, the 118 Corridor, and Malibu.

“We are very prepared and ready to respond,” said MRCA Chief Ranger Fernando Gomez, who has patrolled Mulholland on the Fourth of July every year for more than 25 years. “We want the public to understand that some areas may be closed. Be vigilant, read signs, and pay attention to what is going on around you. Stay safe!”

Key deployment and operational areas include:

Mulholland Drive
• Both the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook Above the Hollywood Bowl and the Universal Overlook will be closed before sunset by 6 PM
• Barriers to prevent stopping or parking in front of Universal Overlook will be positioned during the day on Friday July 4 and will remain in place until Monday morning.
• All other overlooks will be closed to vehicular traffic at 5PM.
• Rangers and operations staff will be assigned to fixed locations and as rovers to cover Mulholland Drive and will issue citations as necessary.
• The City of Los Angeles has also committed LAPD, LADOT, and Recreation and Park Ranger staff to the effort on Mulholland Drive including installing additional No Stopping Signs early on the day of July 4 from Multiview to Wrightwood.

Topanga Canyon
• Security guards will be stationed with MRCA staff at the Top of Topanga Overlook–from 8pm to 5 am Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday through Monday morning.
• MRCA Rangers and Fire protection staff will coordinate and work in tandem with Topanga Arson Watch volunteers and the Lost Hills Sherrif station, who will maintain a robust presence throughout Topanga.

The City of Malibu
• Fire fighting equipment will be pre-positioned. Active fire and ranger patrol will be deployed throughout July 4 and into the early morning at all MRCA coastal locations including Winding Way and Lechuza Beach.

Fire prevention is a year-round activity for the MRCA which maintains an expert resource protection workforce trained in terrain, topography, and fuel management. The agency maintains constant communication with Los Angeles County, Los Angeles City, and Ventura County Fire Departments, and California State Parks and the National Park Service to promote cooperative efforts to prevent and—if necessary—defend against wildfire. MRCA Rangers are California Peace Officers as well as trained wildland firefighters.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 80,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River.

 

June 16, 2025 Update. Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority OPENS More Parks and Coastal Accessways Including Westridge Canyonback Trail. Some Remain Closed.

LOS ANGELES, CA (June 16, 2025) —The Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) announced today has reopened many of the Conservancy-owned and MRCA-managed parks and beach accessways that had been closed after the January 2025 Palisades Fire.

However, some parks, trails and beach access will remain closed.

MRCA Park Closures Include:

• Temescal Gateway Park
• Greenbriar Trailhead
• Vanalden Trailhead

Closed in the City of Malibu:

• Lechuza Beach at Bunnie Lane Entrance; 31736 & 31712 Broad Beach Road
• Via Linda Accessway At Carbon Beach
• Carbon La Costa Beach
• Maritime Rocks Beach
• Dolphin View Coastal Overlook
• Miramar Coastal Overlook

All other MRCA-managed parklands and beach accessways, including the Los Angeles River Recreation Zone, will be opened sunrise to sunset.

The Mountains Recreation and Conservation Authority (MRCA) is a local government public entity exercising joint powers of the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy, the Conejo Recreation and Park District and the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District. The MRCA is dedicated to the preservation and management of local open space and parkland, wildlife habitat, coastal access, watershed lands, and trails in both wilderness and urban settings, and to ensuring access to public parkland and coastal resources. The MRCA works in cooperation with the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy and other local government partners to acquire parkland, participate in vital planning processes, work towards wildfire resilience, and connect wildlife habitat. The MRCA manages more than 75,000 acres of parkland that it owns and that are owned by the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy. It is one of the lead agencies revitalizing the Los Angeles River