Private firefighting companies do more than just protect homes during wildfires
These private crews can cost a pretty penny—like thousands of dollars a day. Jess Wills, who runs Firestorm Wildland Fire Suppression, mentioned that they mainly focus on wildfire suppression contracts with the government. It’s not like they’re just hanging out waiting for a call from a homeowner. In fact, less than 1% of their work is directly for private landowners.
Wills said he started noticing interest from wealthy clients about 20 years ago. They’d Google “private fire protection” when fires were raging nearby. Joe Torres, who founded All Risk Shield, offers a tiered service, with the most basic plan starting at $2,500 a year. But only the top tier includes on-site protection during a fire, and he doesn’t have many clients opting for that.
When it comes to costs, estimates for hiring a private firefighting crew can hit around $5,000 a day. Wills charges about $4,000 for a three-person crew, which is similar to what the government charges. Torres aims to keep basic fire protection affordable, but he’s worried some companies might be overcharging desperate homeowners.
Interestingly, while Wills doesn’t expect a huge growth in the private firefighting industry, Torres has seen his business grow since 2018. More people are starting to think about fire-proofing their homes, which is a good thing. But there’s also been some backlash against those who hire private firefighters. For instance, a real estate investor in Pacific Palisades faced criticism for seeking private help when fires threatened his neighborhood.
It’s a mixed bag, really. While some folks are just trying to protect their homes, others see it as a privilege that not everyone can afford. Wills and Torres get that perception, but they also believe that if you had the means, you’d want to protect your property too.
