Waiting until disaster strikes is a costly mistake communities can’t afford to make. That was the central message of the October 1 webinar hosted by the Institute for Local Government (ILG) and presented by Renne Public Law Group (RPLG) and Renne Public Management Group (RPMG).
The webinar was part of a larger, four-part series on advanced wildfire risk reduction, led by RPLG Founding Partner Jon Holtzman and RPMG Consultant Dave Winnacker. Each session addresses how local governments can stop large-scale loss from fires spreading into heavily populated urban areas during California’s year-round wildfire crisis.
Jon introduced the second session, titled, “Measure Twice, Cut Once: Creating the Right Wildfire Risk Reduction Plan for Your Community.” Then Dave, alongside Newport Beach Fire Department Division Chief/Fire Marshall James Gillespie, explained why proactive planning is essential for community protection and long-term financial stability.
The session explored critical elements of comprehensive wildfire risk reduction plans, including how to address key drivers of loss and what the insurance industry evaluates when assessing community risk. With insurance companies increasingly scrutinizing municipal wildfire mitigation efforts, demonstrating serious commitment to prevention has become essential for maintaining coverage and affordable rates.
“A purely reactive approach leaves communities vulnerable and makes recovery slower, harder and more expensive,” explained Dave.
Attendees learned practical strategies for creating plans that protect lives and property while ensuring financial resilience, emphasizing the importance of data-driven fire modeling, targeted mitigation at critical fire entry points and community-wide engagement that focuses resources on interventions proven to prevent the transition from wildland fire to catastrophic urban fire spread. The webinar also highlighted available funding resources, including CalFire Wildfire Prevention Grants, California Fire Foundation support, California FireSafe Council Grants and the California Grants Portal.
The third webinar, “Controlling Your Own Destiny: A Local Leader’s Toolbox for Reducing Wildfire Risk,” is scheduled for November 13. The series will conclude on January 26, 2026, with “Ch-Ch-Changes: CEQA and How It Impacts Your Wildfire Risk Reduction Efforts.”
Recording and resources from the October 1 session are available at ca-ilg.org/wildfire.
RPLG has been a Platinum-level sponsor of ILG for five consecutive years, supporting the organization’s mission to help California local leaders navigate complex challenges related to workforce development, leadership, ethics, public engagement, and climate action.
RPLG practices throughout California, advising and advocating for public agencies and nonprofits, providing courageous, creative and responsive solutions.