Why Wildfire Resilience Matters: A Founder’s Story

 I have always loved walking through the neighborhoods of Los Angeles with my dogs. Over the years, I began to notice something troubling. Trees were disappearing and leaving behind stumps. The shade that once lined the sidewalks was vanishing, and in the brutal summer heat, it didn't feel kind to walk the dogs on pavement that burned beneath their paws.

In January 2025, devastating wildfires swept across California. Watching homes, communities, and wild spaces burn was heartbreaking. What struck me most was how preventable some of the destruction could have been. The landscapes around us, our yards, parks, and public spaces, could be designed to slow the spread of fire rather than fuel it.

I realized that planting the right trees and fire-adapted native plants could do more than restore lost shade. They could build resilience, protect our homes, and even save lives.

That realization inspired me to found Wildfire Resilient Landscapes, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring fire-affected areas, educating communities about fire-resistant landscaping, and advocating for more innovative and sustainable urban forestry practices. But I also knew that knowledge alone was not enough. People needed access to the right plants. That is why I plan to launch the Wildfire Resilient Native Plants Nursery, a for-profit venture that grows and supplies fire-resistant and drought-tolerant native plants to homeowners, landscapers, and restoration projects.

This mission is also profoundly personal. For more than thirty years, I worked in the beauty industry until serious health challenges, including multiple spine surgeries and ongoing mobility issues, forced me to start over. Instead of giving up, I went back to school. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from UCLA and my Master of Public Administration from California State University, Northridge, graduating with distinction. I also completed a certification in nonprofit management. My academic journey gave me the tools to understand policy, nonprofit leadership, and environmental resilience. My personal journey gave me the determination to turn vision into action.

Together, Wildfire Resilient Landscapes and the nursery share a common goal: to make communities safer through fire-resistant landscaping, expand green spaces with new tree canopies, and restore biodiversity by reintroducing native plants.

This journey started with a few stumps and a simple idea. We can plant the future we want to live in. Both Wildfire Resilient Landscapes and the Wildfire Resilient Native Plants Nursery are fully compliant with California regulations, providing a strong foundation for us to grow our mission with transparency and integrity.

Thank you for being part of this mission.

Debbie Hanson