Why Wildfire Resilience Matters: A Founder’s Story

 I have spent a lot of time walking through the neighborhoods of Los Angeles with my dogs. For years, those walks were shaded by trees that felt like old friends: steady, protective, and always present. Over time, I began to notice a troubling change. Trees were being removed and left as stumps. Shade was disappearing. The summer heat made the sidewalks feel harsh and unsafe, and the pavement grew too hot for my dogs’ paws. The landscape that once offered comfort no longer felt the same.

In January 2025, California experienced one of the most devastating wildfire seasons in recent memory. Watching homes, parks, and entire ecosystems burn was heartbreaking. What stayed with me was not only the destruction but the realization that some of it was preventable. Our yards, parks, and public green spaces can be designed to slow the spread of fire instead of feeding it. If we plant the right trees and fire-adapted native plants, we can protect homes, restore shade, and help our communities withstand future disasters.

That realization inspired the creation of Wildfire Resilient Landscapes. WRL is dedicated to restoring fire-affected areas, educating communities about fire-resistant landscaping, and advocating for stronger and more sustainable urban forestry practices. I also understood that knowledge is not enough. People need access to the right plants and resources. This is why I am developing the Wildfire Resilient Native Plants Nursery. This for-profit venture will grow and supply fire-resistant and drought-tolerant native plants to homeowners, landscapers, and restoration projects.

This mission is also personal. I spent more than thirty years in the beauty industry before a series of serious health challenges, including multiple spine surgeries and ongoing mobility issues, forced me to begin again. Instead of stopping, I chose a new direction. I returned to school, earning a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UCLA and a Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge. I graduated with distinction and completed nonprofit management training. My academic journey gave me the tools to understand policy, leadership, and environmental resilience. My personal experiences gave me the determination to turn vision into action.

Wildfire Resilient Landscapes and the Wildfire Resilient Native Plants Nursery share one goal. We want to help communities become safer through fire-resistant landscaping, expand green spaces with new tree canopies, and restore biodiversity by reintroducing native plants. What began with noticing a few stumps on daily walks has become a mission to help replant and reimagine the future of Los Angeles.

We can rebuild shade.
We can restore habitats.
We can create safer neighborhoods, one tree at a time.

Thank you for being part of this mission.

Debbie Hanson
Founder, Wildfire Resilient Landscapes