Some California residents get extra protection from wildfires - for a price

I am not surprised--just disgusted!!---Money talks


https://www.cnn.com/2025/01/11/business/california-wildfire-protection-cost/index.html

By Samantha Delouya and Stephanie Becker, CNN
4 minute read
Published 6:00 AM EST, Sat January 11, 2025


As the Palisades fire began intensifying Tuesday evening, Los Angeles real estate executive Keith Wasserman sent out a plea on social media: “Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors houses burning. Will pay any amount.”

The now-deleted post sparked an intense blowback by social media users who felt the wealthy shouldn’t be given special attention during an emergency.

“Whose home gets saved shouldn’t depend on their bank account,” one TikTok user commented...............................


Despite the intense reaction to Wasserman’s social media post, most private firefighters aren’t hired by wealthy individuals, Mike Stutts, a firefighter in Somerset, California, told CNN. Instead, most work with home insurance companies that are trying to save expensive homes to avoid costly insurance payouts.......................................


?c=16x9&q=h_653,w_1160,c_fill/f_webp
Flames from the Palisades Fire burn homes on January 7.
Eric Thayer/Getty Images