BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION ON CLIMATE ACTION AND FIRE SAFE RECOVERY
.png)
In the wake of the devastating January 2025 wildfires, which destroyed over 18,000 structures and displaced more than 100,000 residents, Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath has launched the Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery in partnership with UCLA. The Commission’s goal is to develop expert-driven recommendations that will guide Los Angeles County’s efforts in fire-safe reconstruction, resilient infrastructure, faster rebuilding, and equitable recovery.
While the article centers around leaders like Supervisor Horvath, Matt Petersen (Chair of the Commission and CEO of LACI), and UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk, Laurie Johnson and Alex Hall are among the key experts contributing to this effort:
- Dr. Laurie Johnson, a globally recognized disaster recovery planner, is known for her work in post-disaster housing and resilience. She brings her deep expertise in rebuilding strategies, especially related to land-use planning and disaster recovery, to ensure long-term sustainability and reduce future risk.
- Dr. Alex Hall, a prominent UCLA climate scientist, is contributing his climate modeling expertise to inform the commission’s scientific basis for policy-making, ensuring that reconstruction efforts reflect the realities of a warming, fire-prone future in California.
Together, they play essential roles in shaping the Commission’s mission: to help Los Angeles rebuild stronger, safer, and more equitably. Their work helps ensure that climate science and data-driven recovery planning are embedded into the rebuilding of homes, infrastructure, and community systems.
The Commission’s first set of recommendations is expected within three months, with community engagement integrated throughout the process.