Man who started neighborhood fire brigade has strong message for Newsom as wildfires rage

AND Malibu neighborhood firefighter who helped save nearly a dozen homes during the Palisades wildfires said that while communities can come together to save property during natural disasters, California officials must do more to contain wildfires.

Matt Diamond, a local surfer, formed a brigade in his neighborhood after 2018 Woolsey Fire – which burned nearly 100,000 hectares of land, claimed three lives and forced nearly 300,000 people to evacuate – due to what he described as the need to become “self-sustaining firefighters”.

“We didn’t have any firepower for it, and all the people of Malibu had to come together,” Diamond told Fox News Digital. “We stayed, and the city manager wouldn’t allow resources, so we had to vote on provisions. We had axes, shovels, firefighting equipment, food and water in boats at Paradise Cove, and we set up a makeshift camp. We became fully operational and began patrolling the neighborhood , perform spot checks and save neighbors’ homes.”

Now, he said, Los Angeles Fire Department sees the brigade as a vital resource in saving homes and managing fires, as firefighters dispatched from other locations are unfamiliar with the area.

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When the fires broke out Tuesday, Diamond followed fire trucks toward Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway and noticed the fire congealing in the Palisades. He traveled back to Malibu and encountered the flames in Tuna Canyon, he said.

“It was dark and [the wildfire] it was moving about a quarter of a mile every 30 minutes,” he said. “I was with the brigade, and it was just taking out everything in its path.”

He traveled home and packed his belongings, including a few surfboards.

“I was surfing on big waves at a somewhat professional level, and I have a big competition coming up, so I needed these boards,” Diamond said. “I’ve been working really hard and these are some of the best shaped boards in the world. I took them all to the beach, along with my drum sets and musical equipment, and then I went home and the fire went right through my house, all around it. It was an incredible sight – talk about an immersive experience.”

Diamond began helping protect his home and his neighborhood, along with Santa Barbara firefighters. He said he helped “convince” them to keep his seat.

The next morning everything was still burning. He said many of his friends from Palisades lost their homes that night.

“All my great musician friends, in some of the biggest bands in the world, lost all their Grammys,” he said. “The biggest like producers in the world who did the biggest projects, from music to TV and film, who have the most amazing memories you’ve ever seen. It’s just gone. I just watched it. Beautiful things framed from the Beatles, the craziest memories from the Woodstock era 60- them – all gone.”

While the brigade saved about 10 homes, Diamond said the domino effect was the most important part – saving one home could save the surrounding four.

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The city of Malibu confirmed in a statement Thursday that one resident has died in the Palisades fire.

“This is a painful reminder of the profound impact this fire is having on our community,” officials wrote. “Malibu is more than a city – we are neighbors, friends and family. Even when we don’t know someone’s name, we all feel their loss. In times like these, we must come together, support each other, and show the resilience that defines our community… “

Diamond encouraged each community to contact local emergency services and establish communication with officials.

Creating your own community communication line with walkie-talkies and satellite radio phones can also be very useful in times of crisis, he said.

“You get the proper clothing and training, gear up, and you’re ready to save your community,” Diamond said. “We’re just going to have more natural disasters. It’s just going to keep happening. It’s climate evolution, and it’s here to stay and just grow. You could educate yourself and be armed to help your community. It’s very empowering, and it’s necessary.”

Growing up, he remembered seeing many bush fires. He recalled how the forestry and fire department created fire lines.

While he admits that sometimes prescription burns can get out of hand, Diamond said they are necessary to protect the whole.

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“[The government is] a little shy, in a sense, to do what is necessary,” he said. “Let’s say two houses are burning and [the government] two people are suing him, against 1000 homes [gone] because you didn’t do these controlled burns. Governor [Gavin Newsom] must attack this, as all are largely at their mercy. Cut that red tape and just do what needs to be done.”