Amid the city’s overwhelmed response, LA millionaires are paying $2,000 an hour for private firefighters as neighborhoods are left to the flames.
Desperate millionaires hire private fire protection during LA wildfires
As wildfires rage through some of Los Angeles’ wealthiest neighborhoods, millionaires are turning to private firefighters to protect their homes.
With the city’s fire department overwhelmed, these residents are shelling out enormous sums to ensure their mansions are safeguarded.
Some private fire protection companies charge up to $2,000 an hour for their services, offering “on-call” assistance to affluent clients.
Private fire crews provide critical services during California’s most expensive wildfires
Private fire protection firms contract with state and local governments to fight wildfires.
However, in recent years, these companies have begun offering exclusive services to wealthy clients.
Equipped with their own water supplies, trucks, hoses, and fire-quenching chemicals, these firms are prepared to act fast when disaster strikes.
Chris Dunn, the owner of Covered 6, said his phone has been “ringing off the hook” as the Hollywood elite scramble for his bespoke services.
High-end fire protection comes with a hefty price tag
Some companies offer services like continually drenching homes with water sprayers to protect roofs or spraying fire retardant across landscapes.
Others cocoon trees and bushes in fireproof materials. These luxury services come with an expensive cost, with some firms charging $2,000 per hour, as reported by the Daily Mail and LA Times.
However, millionaires face backlash for using private firefighters while others struggle.
While wealthy homeowners protect their properties with private fire crews, ordinary citizens are left to fend for themselves.
More than 100,000 people have been forced to evacuate, leaving their homes under the protection of an overwhelmed public fire department.
Additionally, the use of private fire crews has sparked outrage among the general public, especially when some wealthy individuals seek protection at the expense of public resources.
Keith Wasserman, a millionaire real estate investor, faced criticism after posting a call for private firefighters to protect his Pacific Palisades home.
Despite the ongoing crisis, he offered to pay any amount to have his mansion protected. His request was met with outrage, with critics calling it “tone-deaf” and pointing out that his property was likely insured.
High-profile figures also face criticism for hiring private firefighters
Real estate mogul Rick Caruso, a former water commissioner, came under fire after it was revealed that he, too, had hired private fire crews to safeguard his home.
Critics were quick to point out the disparity in resources between the wealthy and ordinary residents. While, many questioning whether private fire protection should be prioritized over public safety efforts.
As wildfires continue to ravage California’s wealthiest neighborhoods, the use of private firefighters by millionaires has become a contentious issue.
Private crews provide essential services for those who can afford them.
The growing divide between the wealthy. The general public highlights the challenges faced by the city’s overwhelmed fire departments.
As more people turn to private protection, questions surrounding equity and resource allocation remain at the forefront of the debate.