Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Resilience & Fire Safe Recovery Recommendations

The independent Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire-Safe Recovery was convened by Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath in early 2025 to develop recommendations for Los Angeles County’s rebuilding effort after fires devastated the region. In partnership with UCLA, the Commission has produced a comprehensive set of actionable recommendations complemented by research-backed considerations for a resilient and sustainable recovery.

The first half of the two-part report, Final Recommendations and Action Plans for the Resilient and Sustainable Rebuilding of Los Angeles, focuses on the Commission’s recommendations, which chart a path for rebuilding fire-impacted communities in a way that reduces climate vulnerabilities and fosters a stronger, safer, and more resilient region. 

In developing these recommendations, the Commission drew upon UCLA’s research and each Commissioner’s unique expertise, and engaged with policy makers, recovery-focused stakeholders, and affected community fire survivors. The result is a set of urgent actions for regional recovery, as well as longer-term strategies to advance resiliency, climate action, and preparation for future fires and other hazards. 

The two primary recommendations from the Commission are to: 1) Establish a Resilient Rebuilding Authority with financing powers and tools to accelerate the pace and reduce the cost of rebuilding for returning residents, including homeowners, renters, and small businesses; 2) Create a Fire Control District with permanent funding for regional fire mitigation activities, including buffer zones and retrofitting.

The following is an overview of the themes and final recommendations developed by the professionals and civic leaders who make up the Commission: 

• Immediate Recovery: Expand debris removal, standardize soil testing, and coordinate housing and interagency recovery efforts.

• Building Resilience: Update codes, apply fire safety standards, and support retrofits and sustainable design education.

• Water Systems: Upgrade water and wastewater infrastructure for fire resilience, safety, and firefighting readiness.

• Landscapes and Wildlands: Replant burned areas, reduce invasive species, and implement fire-resilient urban and natural landscapes.

• Energy Resilience: Promote all-electric construction, streamline permitting, and expand grid modernization and backup power solutions.

• Insurance Reform: Integrate affordability, equity, and risk reduction into insurance models, including with renter protections.

• Community and Equity: Rebuild social infrastructure through investments in mental health, community-led recovery, public art, and evacuation planning

• Landscapes and Wildlands: Replant burned areas, reduce invasive species, and implement fire-resilient urban and natural landscapes.

• Land Use and Workforce: Expedite housing and workforce training, and support affordable housing development

• Finance and Governance: Establish a resilient rebuilding authority and a county fire control district, and develop finance tools to accelerate rebuilding

The second half of the two-part report, UCLA Research Context and Considerations: Informing Resilient Rebuilding from the January 2025 Los Angeles Fires, summarizes information that UCLA curated and presented to the Commissioners as they developed and refined their recommendations. It contains both research insights from leading subject matter experts and the voices of fire survivors convened as part of a months-long community engagement effort to outline the challenges and opportunities in carving a path toward a more fire-resilient Los Angeles. 

This section:

 • Foregrounds the distinctive characteristics of the fire-impacted communities.

 • Outlines the broader backdrop of the region’s fire vulnerability, existing policies, and opportunities for building resilience.

 • Offers lessons from other fire recovery experiences and examines the design of governing entities that could lead rebuilding and fire resilience efforts.

 • Reports on the goals, concerns, and priorities shared by fire survivors. 

• Lays out areas of scientific consensus, areas where ongoing debates are underway, gaps in research, and questions on which policies must balance distinct priorities and values.

Together, the two-part report provides concrete recommendations and policy actions to advance resilient rebuilding in Los Angeles. While the recommendations are targeted to policymakers, they are also relevant to community members, philanthropic organizations, utilities, and other key stakeholders. In the coming months, the Commission will continue to promote and encourage the adoption and implementation of the recommendations, and UCLA will continue its actionable research to inform regional recovery and long-term resilience.

Read the full report and recommendations online, here.