ICNV Staff - Irvine Community News and Views

Will Irvine’s Meticulous Planning Become a Model for Building Fire Resistant Communities in California?

A recent LA Times article suggested that Irvine’s meticulous planning and strict regulations could become a model for other California cities that want to build fire-resistant neighborhoods.

Four years before the Palisades and Eaton fires swept through Los Angeles, Irvine faced the Silverado fire that threatened homes in the northern Irvine community of Orchard Hills. Residents were evacuated and the fire came dangerously close.

However, no one in Irvine lost their home. In fact, the fire didn’t damage a single residence in Orchard Hills.

So, why was Orchard Hills spared? According to the LA Times article, it wasn’t luck — it was the result of deliberate design, stringent regulations, and proactive planning.

The City of Irvine’s Ambitious Forestation Program

Last year, Irvine ranked No. 1 in California and No. 4 in America in the Public Land Trust’s ParkScore Index, which is recognized as the national gold-standard comparison of park systems across the 100 most populated cities in the United States. The index is based on factors including park access, acreage, investment, and amenities.

Some years ago, Mayor Larry Agran and other environmental activists got the City of Irvine to set a goal to plant 500,000 trees. “I’m proud to say we reached that goal, adding beauty and value to our entire community,” Agran said.

Now, Agran wants Irvine to set a new goal due to the growth of the City and the urgency of climate change. “We need another 200,000 trees, minimum, to help clean the air, sequester carbon, cool the City, and help us reach our Climate Action Plan goals,” Agran said.