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LA millionaires shell out for $2,000/hour private firefighters as overwhelmed city abandons neighborhoods to the flames
NY Post ^ | 1/12/25 | Jared Downing

Posted on 01/12/2025 6:24:51 PM PST by Libloather

Desperate one-percenters are dropping small fortunes on private professional fire crews to protect their mansions as California’s most expensive wildfires continue to devour some of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Private fire protection companies often contract with state and local governments to help battle wildfires, but in recent years California’s fire firms have begun offering “on call” services, ready to to show up with their own water supplies, trucks, hoses, fire-quenching chemicals, and other industrial-grade equipment.

But these heroes-for-hire come with a hefty price tag, with some outfits charging $2,000 an hour for their services, the Daily Mail reported.

Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, told that outlet his phone has been “ringing off the hook” as the Hollywood elite jockey for his bespoke services.

A reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle observed one home outfitted with water sprayers continually drenching the roof as specialists stood by all night, watching for flare-ups.

Other firms spray the landscape with fire retardant and cocoon trees and bushes in thick fireproof materials, according to the LA Times.

But as these companies rack up cash, the ones who hire them are taking heat from ordinary folk — more than 100,000 of whom have been forced to flee, leaving their houses under the protection of the overwhelmed public fire department.

Millionaire real estate investor Keith Wasserman ignited a blaze of outrage when he put out a call for someone to connect him with private firefighters to save his house in the Pacific Palisades.

“Does anyone have access to private firefighters to protect our home in Pacific Palisades? Need to act fast here. All neighbors’ houses burning. Will pay any amount. Thank you,” he posted to his X account, which he later deleted.

(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: bespoke; bespokefirefighters; bespokefirefighting; bespokeservices; california; disaster; firefighters; flames; lafires; millionaires; private; wildfires
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If I had that kinda moolah, I would probably do the same thing.
1 posted on 01/12/2025 6:24:51 PM PST by Libloather
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To: Libloather

Honestly, it would probably be cheaper than having to rebuild a home.

I’m guessing it would be for about 2 days maybe 3, so 100-150K.


2 posted on 01/12/2025 6:28:05 PM PST by luckystarmom
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To: Libloather
People always hate the rich. Envy is not a pretty thing.

I hope the hired guys are better than this bunch...


3 posted on 01/12/2025 6:29:05 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (They were the FA-est of times, they were the FO-est of times.)
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To: luckystarmom; Libloather
Honestly, it would probably be cheaper than having to rebuild a home.

And trying to get permits from the greasy tax-ticks who caused their houses to burn in the first place...

4 posted on 01/12/2025 6:30:21 PM PST by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
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To: Libloather

Think rent-a-cops.
Private schools.
Canadian medical tourists.

When government doesn’t work...


5 posted on 01/12/2025 6:31:19 PM PST by DIRTYSECRET
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To: Libloather

In Colonial Philadelphia, at least one fire insurance company gave monetary rewards to the fire company that arrived at a fire first, stoking the rivalry between the firefighters.

Maybe it’s time to resurrect that old business model.


6 posted on 01/12/2025 6:31:28 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (They were the FA-est of times, they were the FO-est of times.)
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To: kiryandil

Thou shall not covet, can’t remember where I read that.


7 posted on 01/12/2025 6:32:45 PM PST by Fungi
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To: Libloather

Its every mansion for itself.


8 posted on 01/12/2025 6:33:30 PM PST by plain talk
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To: plain talk

9 posted on 01/12/2025 6:36:26 PM PST by simpson96
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To: Libloather
Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, told that outlet his phone has been “ringing off the hook” as the Hollywood elite jockey for his bespoke services.

Someone looked at the state of readiness of the LAFD and said, "A private fire department could make a lot of money here."

And they were right.

10 posted on 01/12/2025 6:37:21 PM PST by Drew68
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Went to Vegas a few moons ago. Saw a fire truck parked outside a casino with the lights flashing. Oh, nice. Community involvement.
Nope. It’s the law - if any aspect of the fire suppression system goes out, pump, pump controller, fuel levels or alarm devices is defective, a fire truck is required to sit there until the problem is resolved. $5,000 a day.


11 posted on 01/12/2025 6:40:21 PM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: Fungi


12 posted on 01/12/2025 6:46:00 PM PST by kiryandil (No one in AZ that voted for Trump voted for Gallego )
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To: Libloather

Palisades Fire: 80% of media time
Kenneth Fire: 2% of press time
Eaton Fire: 15% of press time


13 posted on 01/12/2025 6:48:33 PM PST by linMcHlp
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To: Libloather

He’s a Trump supporter.

Smart guy, too. He predicted a Trump landslide, on Twitter (X).


14 posted on 01/12/2025 6:55:29 PM PST by simpson96
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

That sounds like a good idea. I grew up near a small town that handled it a different way. As explained to me, all the men living there were required by law to be firefighters. We could hear the fire alarm from that small town. At the sound of that alarm, all the men there would put on their fire hats and rush out to the fire.


15 posted on 01/12/2025 7:00:05 PM PST by Tired of Taxes
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Here’s how an Afghanistan veteran used his previous wildfire season experiences to save his home from the LA fire

https://nypost.com/2025/01/12/us-news/heres-how-an-afghanistan-veteran-used-his-previous-wildfire-season-experiences-to-save-his-home-from-the-la-fire/


16 posted on 01/12/2025 7:03:22 PM PST by Libloather (Why do climate change hoax deniers live in mansions on the beach?)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Not just Philadelphia, but most big US cities operated that way into the 19th century. A brawl between two fire companies is depicted in the movie, “Gangs of New York?”


17 posted on 01/12/2025 7:05:57 PM PST by Joe 6-pack
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To: Libloather
Probably just hired the 100 + L.A. firefighters that got fired for refusing the vax.

So Win Win.

18 posted on 01/12/2025 7:08:15 PM PST by Newbomb Turk
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To: Libloather

Liberals are weird with their 1% crap.

If these people earned their money they can spend it to save their homes if they want to - - sounds like a good use of money. Hopefully they’re hiring people from fire departments OUTSIDE of the LA area - that would be my only concern.


19 posted on 01/12/2025 7:25:16 PM PST by GOPJ (AMERICA FOR AMERICANS if anyone wants to live in an overpopulated hellhole they can MOVE there..)
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To: Joe 6-pack

The “firemen” were the original “gangs of New York”. They were something of a neighborhood club. They didn’t like other clubs trespassing on their territory. The firefighting clubs eventually branched out into other “activities”.


20 posted on 01/12/2025 8:02:14 PM PST by AceMineral (One day men will beg for chains.)
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