NFPA Firewise USA® Regional Community Leader Workshop
The Calabasas Firewise Regional Community Leader Workshop is an invitation-only educational event.
This event is free to attend.
This important training event is for Regional Firewise Community Leaders and Wildfire Mitigation Stakeholders.
The event is not open to the public.
The event promotes wildfire mitigation education and equips Firewise Leaders with the knowledge and tools to be more effective in their communities.
- Firewise Leaders need recognition, education, and motivation.
- Stakeholders need connections and collaboration.
- By educating and training Stakeholders and Firewise Leaders, the event becomes a force-multiplier.
We are all part of a larger team with a common mission. We need to stay up to date on new technology, get questions answered, and build relationships. This forum will serve as a platform for complex questions, the presentation of science and research, and the offering of opposing opinions.
EDUCATION = ACTION
DATE: May 9, 2026
TIME: 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
COST: Free
LOCATION: Calabasas Community Center,
27040 Malibu Hills Rd, Calabasas, CA 91301
Snacks, lunch, and drinks will be provided thanks to Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath.
Supervisor Lindsey P. Horvath is the first millennial and only renter serving on the all-women Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. In 2024, she made history as the youngest-ever woman to serve as Chair. Representing the Third District, she is focused on ensuring County government delivers for its diverse communities.
She is leading recovery efforts following the devastating Palisades Fire, advancing reforms to the homeless services system, and implementing sweeping ethics and governance changes through Measure G.
Since joining the Board, Supervisor Horvath has prioritized protecting LGBTQ+ residents, safeguarding reproductive healthcare access, and defending immigrant families.
Michele Steinberg is the Wildfire Division Director at the National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®). Since 2002, she has guided the development and growth of the Firewise USA® recognition program, the Wildfire Community Preparedness Day campaign, and Outthink Wildfire™, a policy initiative to end the destruction of communities by wildfire. She authors the wildfire column for NFPA Journal. Michele served on the presidential Wildland Fire Mitigation and Management Commission (2022-2024), developing comprehensive policy recommendations to Congress on wildfire management, mitigation, and recovery. She has worked for government and non-profit organizations in the disaster risk reduction arena since 1989.
Michele is a past officer of the International Association of Wildland Fire and a co-founder of the Hazard Mitigation & Disaster Recovery Membership Division of the American Planning Association. She holds a Master of Urban Affairs degree from Boston University, served as an adjunct professor of emergency management, and guest lecturer at numerous universities.
Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone has been a member of the County of Los Angeles Fire Department for 39 years and a chief officer for the past 27 years. Prior to his appointment by the County of Los Angeles Board of Supervisors as the tenth Fire Chief and Forester and Fire Warden, Chief Marrone served as the Interim Fire Chief.
Chief Marrone leads one of the largest metropolitan emergency services agencies in the United States, providing traditional fire and life safety services to more than 4.1 million residents and commercial business customers in 60 cities served by the Department, in addition to 120 unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County within its 2,311 square-mile jurisdiction. The Department operates out of 176 fire stations, with more than 5,200 emergency responders and business professionals operating with an annual budget of just over $1.8 billion.
Assistant Fire Chief Drew Smith is a 37-year veteran of the fire service and currently serves as the Assistant Fire Chief for Division VII of the Los Angeles County Fire Department. He provides strategic command and oversight for a large and complex geographic area on the west side of Los Angeles County, including the Santa Monica Mountains, Universal Studios, West Hollywood, and Marina Del Rey, encompassing both city jurisdictions and unincorporated communities.
Drew’s leadership spans across diverse operational areas, with collateral duties in hand crew operations, prescribed fire, and fuels management, and risk assessment. He actively collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies on fire behavior training, research, risk analysis, and firefighter safety initiatives. With extensive experience in both initial and extended attack operations, Drew served on an Interagency Incident Management Team from 2000 to 2022 as a Fire Behavior Analyst and Operations Section Chief.
Captain Dustin Carr was hired by the Sheriff’s Department in 2007 and was initially assigned to the Pitchess Detention Center East Facility. Since then, he has worked at the Lancaster Station and the Custody Training and Standards Bureau. In 2016, Captain Carr was promoted to sergeant and then to lieutenant in 2021. As a lieutenant, he took on various roles, including patrol lieutenant, liaison to the unincorporated areas and Malibu, and for the past three years, he has served as the operations lieutenant. In August 2025, Captain Carr was promoted to captain and continued his service at the Malibu/Lost Hills Station.
Captain Carr holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from the University of La Verne. He is a proud husband and father of four daughters. During his off time, Captain Carr enjoys traveling with his family, movies, and local theme parks.
Amy Bach has been a professional insurance consumer advocate since1985. She co-founded United Policyholders in 1991 and serves as the organization’s Executive Director and primary spokesperson; shaping and overseeing the Roadmap to Recovery™, Roadmap to Preparedness, and Advocacy and Action programs.
A nationally recognized advocate for policyholders and an expert on insurance trends, claims, coverage, law and public policy matters; Bach is in her second term as an appointed member of the Federal Advisory Committee on Insurance and has been a official Consumer Representative with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners since 2009. She is also a member of the Fire Victim Trust Oversight Committee and a Redwood Credit Union Associate Board Member. Bach is frequently interviewed in print and broadcast media, and is the author of numerous publications.
Tentative Panel Discussions:
All panel discussions will be moderated by well-known industry experts and will feature experienced, knowledgeable panelists.
- Keynote Speaker
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath – Los Angeles County 3rd District - Firewise USA® Program Updates
Wildfire Division Director Michele Steinberg – NFPA - Firefighting, Wildfire Behavior, and Evacuation
Assistant Chief Drew Smith – LA County Fire Dept., and Captain Dustin Carr – Malibu/Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station - Home Insurance & FAIR Plan
Exec. Director Amy Bach – United Policyholders; CA Dept. of Insurance; Underwriters; Brokers - Firewise Leaders’ Challenges
Resident Engagement & Motivation, Public Meetings, HOAs, Open Space - Latest in Firetech, Prevention and Suppression Materials & Applications
- GIS Mapping & Wildfire Forecasting Models
- Fire-Safe & Erosion-Control Planting
- Firewise Planning & Reporting
- Update on Zone Zero
- Vendor Booths
Attendees will leave the workshop with the information and tools they need to better educate their communities on wildfire mitigation.
The Calabasas Firewise Regional Community Leader Workshop is an invitation-only educational event.
This event is free to attend.
This important training event is for Regional Firewise Community Leaders and Wildfire Mitigation Stakeholders.
The event is not open to the public.
Our Partners and Invited Representatives:
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
Michael Dyer, CWMS – Director of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, City of Calabasas
Brian Cameron – President, Emergency Preparedness in Calabasas (EPIC) Fire Safe Council
Peter Fehler, CWMS – NFPA Certified Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Pauline Allen – Executive Director, Santa Monica Mountains Fire Safe Council
Jodi Regan – Event Coordinator
