July 2026 Newsletter

In Loving Memory of Andy Ortega

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

It is with profound sadness that we share the unexpected passing of our Board President, Andy Ortega, who we lost this weekend due to complications related to a stroke. We are heartbroken and in shock.

Andy was an exemplary leader, but even more than that he was an extraordinary person. His kindness and generosity left a lasting impression on everyone fortunate enough to know him. He was someone who believed in people. Whether he was speaking in front of a captivated audience, mentoring someone, sending random texts of encouragement, supporting a friend through a difficult time, or simply taking the time to learn a waiter's name and thank them personally, Andy had an undeniable way of making people feel seen and valued.

His leadership helped shape the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council into the organization it is today, but his impact reached far beyond that. Ventura County has lost a dedicated public servant, advocate, leader, and friend. Those of us who knew him are better because he was part of our lives.

As we grieve this tremendous loss, we are also incredibly grateful for the time we had with him and for the example he set. His legacy will continue through the relationships he built and the work he cared so deeply about.

Thank you to everyone who reached out with your thoughts, prayers, and kind words.

If there's one thing Andy consistently reminded us through his actions, it was to treat people with kindness. In his memory, we hope you'll carry a little of that kindness forward.

With love and gratitude,

Stephen Watson

Stephen Watson

Executive Director

Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council

Mike LaPlant

Mike LaPlant

Vice President

Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council

"Landmark study shows rebuilding Los Angeles to wildfire safety standards could slash future fire losses"

"The science is strong: A systematic safety approach protects homes and lives

Post-disaster research from UC Berkeley confirms that homes survive wildfires when hardened building materials, defensible space, and vegetation management work together as an integrated system. Homes with key hardening features and defensible space survived at a rate of nearly 50 percent, compared to just 20 percent for homes with no mitigation."

--- California Department of Insurance

July 17th, 1:00 PM - Firewise Monthly Workshop

This month's Firewise workshop will feature a presentation on Animal Evacuation Safety by Allison Tashnek with the Ventura County Animal Services EVRT (Emergency Volunteer Rescue Team) team. Join us on Friday, July 17th at 1pm.

We'll be going over:

• Firewise Event Recap
• Firewise Toolkit Launch - yard signs, gift cards, and more
• Presentation on Animal Evacuation Safety
• Q&A

Welcome New VRFSC Board Member

Gabriel Albarian!

VRFSC is proud to announce the newest additions to its Board of Directors!

Gabriel Albarian, Jr. is a lifelong resident of Westlake Village, CA who graduated with a degree in Political Science from UCLA and earned his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the USC Marshall School of Business with an emphasis in Accounting and Entrepreneurship. During his time at USC, Gabriel was awarded Entrepreneur of the Year and admitted into an incubator program for his start-up business. Today, Gabriel owns and operates a real estate brokerage and investment firm and serves as an investor and advisor to start-up companies.

His journey in wildfire prevention began after his community lost four homes during the 2018 Woolsey Fire. After navigating the rebuilding process and insurance challenges, Gabriel asked himself, "What can I do to keep my community safer from wildfires?" 

This one fundamental question has led him on a meaningful leadership journey in fire prevention, which includes serving as the NFPA Firewise USA® Volunteer Regional Coordinator for Los Angeles and Ventura Counties (helping engage more than 75 communities), a member on multiple community risk reduction and engagement taskforces through the County of Los Angeles Fire Department, a Board Director for both the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and the Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council, president of his HOA, and so much more that we couldn’t fit into this confined space for a bio!

Gabriel is enthusiastic to continue his work with the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and especially enjoys growing the NFPA Firewise USA® program alongside the entire team!

Other Announcements

From California Fire Safe Council

Protect your community before wildfire strikes with the California Fire Safe Council’s Fire Safe Business Directory! 

This free resource connects Californians like you with local businesses offering services ranging from home hardening and fire-resistant materials to evacuation planning and wildfire mitigation – all to help you and your community live safely with wildfire.

You can quickly find providers in your area using the simple, filterable search to get the support you need. Not sure which vendors to reach out to for your project? Ask listing businesses for bids in bulk using the directory’s Request a Quote feature and let them reach out to you!

The goal of this online directory is to save you time in your fire-safe efforts and serve as a shortcut to you and your community being better prepared. By using the Business Directory, you’re not just investing in wildfire resilience—you’re joining a statewide effort to build a fire-safe California. 🌲🏡



Click the link below to explore the Fire Safe Business Directory today.

If you are interested in contractors and landscapers who have been trained by VRFSC specifically, you can also check out the VRFSC directory here!

Recap of the 3rd Annual Firewise Lunch & Learn

VRFSC's recent Firewise event united 70 attendees from recognized and applying Firewise communities to share ideas, deep dive into the Firewise Action Plan, and engage in meaningful conversation through group activities. Guest speakers covered topics like outreach, animal evacuation, and wildfire prevention.

Attendees left inspired, writing:

“Having people from different communities come together and share ideas means we don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” and another "Loved the ideas about getting pets ready to evacuate" and "I learned about yard signs which I believe can be a constant reminder for residents who see them"

With great feedback (and cookies!), the event highlighted Ventura County's dedication to building resilience. The event also featured an early launch of VRFSC's Firewise Toolkits, offering 8 yards signs for Resident Leaders of Recognized Communities in attendance!

Be sure to look out for the next (4th) Annual Firewise event in 2027!

June 9, 2026 - Ventura County Board of Supervisors

Thank you to the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, who recognized the importance of Wildfire Preparedness Month and highlighted the efforts and partnerships of the Ventura County Fire Department and the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council at the June 9 Board of Supervisors Meeting last month.

Among some of the achievements of the last couple years is the creation of the Wildfire County Coordinator Program, which builds local capacity and coordination around wildfire preparedness. We also have gone from 2 to 53 current communities with an active recognition with the Firewise USA® program. Lastly, Ventura County Fire Protection District was included in the statewide Community Risk Reduction List, which recognizes efforts at a wider scale for wildfire mitigation and offers potential insurance discounts for residents in the jurisdiction.

U.S. Green Building Council California

Wildfire Defense Toolkit

A free, practical guide for homeowners and building professionals across California. The toolkit walks you through how to harden your home against wildfire risk, how to design and maintain defensible space, what to do in an emergency, and how to think about wildfire resilience through a sustainability lens. Download it, share it, and put it to work.

From Our Sponsor (SCE)

Support VRFSC Programs and make a direct impact in Ventura County!