MALIBU—On June 17, the Malibu Office of Public Safety announced a potential wildfire risk. following a report from the Los Angeles County Fire Department Division of Forestry, which found that over the past two weeks in the Santa Monica Mountains, LFM (Live Fuel Moisture), a measure of vegetation water content, had declined from 75 percent to 74 percent.
Whenever the LFM falls below 80 percent, the risk of a large wildfire increases, especially with strong winds and if it goes below 60 percent, vegetation can ignite.
The National Weather Service predicts Malibu will remain clear over the next few days, reducing the likelihood of a wildfire starting. The risk of one occurring may increase mid next week, and no strong winds are expected. Moisture levels in Malibu vegetation will continue to drop over the summer, increasing the risk of a fire starting in the fall, when the peak fire season begins.
The city of Malibu advises citizens to take several steps to protect themselves and their homes in the event of a wildfire. Brush outside the home should be removed, along with flammable materials and debris. Gutters should be cleaned to remove anything that could ignite, and vents should be cleared for the same reason.
An evacuation plan should be completed and reviewed so that reunification points are known, evacuation routes are identified, and plans for evacuating pets are prepared, along with bags filled with supplies.
