When the flames of the 2017 Thomas Fire crept dangerously close to his Santa Paula home, Chris Figureida realized that wildfire prevention was more than just a seasonal chore — it was a matter of survival.
Since then, Figureida has been habitually clearing flammable brush from his property with support from Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council and the fire department.
“I do a lot of traveling, and I’ve seen many natural disasters in different parts of the country: hurricanes, tornadoes, floods. But there’s nothing like a fire,” said Figureida. “With all those other situations there’s a lot to clean up, but with a fire, there’s nothing left.”
To help his home withstand another fire, Figureida set out to trim branches and remove brush from under the dozens of trees spread across his two acres of land, creating large piles in the process.
Just as the piles grew too large and costly for him to move on his own, he learned about a curbside chipper event, held by the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council, a community-led organization that empowers residents to protect their homes and communities.
Free for Santa Paula residents, the Chipper Program allowed him to toss his excess vegetation into machines that shred it into mulch and haul it away.
“Wildfire prevention starts with community members like Chris taking action,” said Mason Thurmond, a programs manager for the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council. “With our curbside chipper events, all residents have to do is make a nice pile for us at the end of the driveway. We want to make it a little bit easier for them to keep their homes safe from wildfires.”
With $10,000 in funding from Edison International, the council expanded its chipper events from a handful in 2024 to a dozen in 2025, one of which reached Figureida in Santa Paula.
“Supporting the efforts of organizations like the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council is how we help communities build wildfire resilience from the ground up,” said Liz Seelman, Edison International director of Corporate Relations & Philanthropy. “Protecting communities is a shared responsibility — and together, we can make a meaningful difference.”
By removing brush and trimming trees, residents create a buffer zone around homes that’s free of flammable vegetation. With California’s new Zone Zero ordinance focusing on keeping the first five feet around homes noncombustible, Figureida and other residents’ efforts are more meaningful than ever.
“Our goal is to make wildfire prevention accessible for everyone, and brush clearance plays a big role in that,” said Stephen Watson, executive director of the Ventura Regional Fire Safe Council. “It isn’t just about compliance — it’s about protecting families and neighborhoods.”
When the chipper crew rolled up, Figureida — joined by his golden retriever Lila and a team of firefighters — dragged each pile of brush from his driveway to the shredder, turning a daunting task into a community effort.
“As a concerned citizen, I think there’s no way we’re going to fight this fight, unless we all help out and chip in — pun intended,” said Figureida.
For more information on Edison International’s commitment to giving back, visit edison.com/community.
