The man who started the local fire department has a powerful message for Newsom as wildfires rage

A member of the Malibu area fire department that helped save about a dozen homes during the Palisades Fire said that, while communities can come together to save property during natural disasters, there is more California officials can do to prevent wildfires.

Matt Diamond, a local diver, formed a militia in his area following the 2018 Woolsey Fire – which burned nearly 100,000 acres, claimed three lives and forced nearly 300,000 people to evacuate – out of what he described as a need to “be yourself. -progressive firefighting.”

“We didn’t have fire support for that person, and it was kind of like all the citizens of Malibu had to come together,” Dayimane told Fox News Digital. “We stayed and the city manager wouldn’t let the supplies in, so we had to vote for food. We had axes, shovels, fire extinguishers and food and water at Paradise Cove, we set up camp. It was fully operational and started patrolling the area, doing checks and saving neighbors’ homes.”

Now, he said, the Los Angeles Fire Department sees the brigade as an important resource in saving homes and controlling fires, because firefighters sent from other areas do not know the area.

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As the fire raged Tuesday, Diamond followed fire trucks toward Sunset and Pacific Coast Highway, and noticed the fire moving toward the Palisades. He went back to Malibu, and met the flames in Tuna Canyon, he said.

“It was dark, too [the wildfire] He was walking about a quarter mile every 30 minutes,” he said.

A beach house is engulfed in flames as the Palisades Fire burns along the Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California, on January 8, 2025. (AGUSTIN PAULLIER/AFP via Getty Images)

He went home and collected his belongings, which included his surfboards.

“I’ve been surfing big waves at some advanced level, and I have a big tournament coming up, so I needed these boards,” said Diamond. “I was working hard and these are some of the best shaped boards in the world. I took them all to the beach, along with my drum sets and music equipment, and then I went home and the fire came to me. The house, all around it, was an amazing sight – talk about something profound.”

Diamond began helping to protect his home and neighborhood, alongside Santa Barbara firefighters. He said he helped them by “convincing” them to save his land.

The next morning, everything was still burning. He said many of his friends in Palisades lost their homes that night.

“All my friends who are big artists, in some of the biggest groups in the world, have lost all the Grammys,” he said. “The biggest producers in the world who have done the biggest projects, from music to TV and films, have the most amazing memorabilia you’ve ever seen. It just went by. I was just looking at it. The great stuff from The Beatles, the worst memorabilia from the Woodstock era – they’re all gone.”

While the troop saved about 10 homes, Diamond said the domino effect is the most important part – saving one house can save the four surrounding ones.

The Palisades Fire is burning the beach area on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025 in Malibu, Calif. (AP Photo/Etienne Laurent)

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The City of Malibu confirmed in a statement Thursday that a resident died in the Palisades fire.

“This is a painful reminder of the huge impact this fire has had on our community,” officials wrote. “Malibu is more than a city – we are neighbors, friends, and family. Even if we don’t know a person’s name, his loss is felt by all of us. In times like these, we must come together, support each other. and show the resilience that defines our community.” …

Diamond encouraged the entire community to contact local first responders and establish communication with officials.

Matt Diamond took pictures of the damage in Malibu, California during the wildfires. (Matt Diamond)

Building a public communication line with walkie-talkies and satellite radio phones can also be of great benefit in times of crisis, he said.

“You get the right clothes and training, you’re prepared, and you’re ready to save your community,” Diamond said. “We’re going to have more natural disasters. They’re going to happen more and more. It’s climate change, and it’s only going to last and grow. You can educate yourself and equip yourself to help your community. It’s very empowering, and it’s necessary.”

Growing up, he remembered seeing many brush fires. He remembered foresters and fire marshals creating fire lines.

Charred buildings lie in ruins, as strong winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, in Malibu, California, January 8, 2025. (Daniel Cole/Reuters)

While he admits that sometimes prescribed fires can be controlled, Diamond said they are necessary to protect everything.

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“[The government is] kind of shy, in a sense, to do what’s needed the right way,” he said. “Name the two homes that burned down again [the government] you are sued by two people, compared to 1,000 households [gone] because you didn’t do this controlled burn. The ruler [Gavin Newsom] need to attack this, because everyone is pretty much at their mercy. Cut through its bureaucracy and do what needs to be done.”