Southern California Wildfire Response

Southern California Wildfire Response (SCWR) is a 501(c)(3) public nonprofit and professional volunteer wildland fire and all-hazard emergency response agency serving Los Angeles and neighboring counties. Founded in 2021, SCWR exists to close the gap between when disasters begin and when help arrives — deploying trained volunteer firefighters for active field patrols, initial attack, mop-up, arson prevention, and disaster response across the wildland-urban interface.

Recognizing that extreme fire weather and wind-driven ignition now routinely outpace conventional response timelines, SCWR combines early detection, real-time public awareness through the LAIT911 alert platform, and aerial and communications intelligence to protect communities before, during, and after emergencies. Entirely community-funded and forward-deployed, SCWR supports the broader emergency response system by placing trained personnel where they are needed most — on the line.

Southern California Wildfire Response (SCWR) was built for the realities of modern disaster in Southern California — where fires ignite fast, spread faster, and where every minute between ignition and response matters. We are a professional volunteer department, meaning our members train and operate to the same standards as career firefighters, but we are sustained entirely by the communities we protect.

Our work spans the full emergency lifecycle. Before fires start, we conduct active patrols through high-risk wildland-urban interface areas, support defensible space efforts, and monitor conditions in real time. When emergencies occur, our teams deploy for initial attack, mop-up, storm response, river safety, search and rescue support, and agency assist operations across Los Angeles and neighboring counties. After incidents, we remain engaged — supporting recovery, documenting hazards, and preparing for what comes next.

We believe that protecting communities is a shared responsibility. Our volunteers come from all walks of life, united by a commitment to service and a willingness to train hard and show up when it counts. We invest heavily in technology and infrastructure — including drones, thermal operations, mesh communications networks, and the LAIT911 public alert platform — because we know that better information saves lives.

SCWR serves everyone in our response area regardless of neighborhood, background, or circumstance. We are community-funded, community-rooted, and accountable to the people we protect.