LOS ANGELES — In response to the devastating January fires, Los Angeles County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath on Thursday, Feb. 13, unveiled a committee aimed at better preparing the region for climate change and guiding recovery efforts.

The Blue Ribbon Commission on Climate Action and Fire Safe Recovery, in partnership with UCLA, will develop a set of recommendations to serve as a roadmap for the county. The recommendations are expected to guide the region for future extreme weather such as heat, drought and flooding, which are becoming more frequent and severe.

“Los Angeles County cannot afford to simply rebuild what was lost —we must build for the future,” Horvath said in a statement. “This is our opportunity to rethink how we design communities, fortify infrastructure and protect lives from the growing threats of the climate crisis.”

UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk described the commission as a “terrific example” of the university and the county working together. He added, “UCLA is not just a university in Los Angeles. It is a university of Los Angeles.”

According to the county, the January wildfires destroyed more than 18,000 structures, caused $250 billion in economic losses and displaced more than 100,000 residents.

Matt Petersen, president and CEO of the Los Angeles CleanTech Incubator, will lead the blue ribbon commission. A full list of commission members can be found at https://lindseyhorvath.lacounty.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Blue-Ribbon-Commission-Meet-the-Commissioners.pdf.

Petersen had a hand in the rebuilding of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy and the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion. Petersen also worked with the L.A. Mayor’s Office in responding to the Aliso Canyon gas leak.

“I know firsthand how important it is to help devastated communities get the resources and tools they need to rebuild better with lower energy costs and safer neighborhoods,” Petersen said in a statement.

The commission will focus on the following, among other issues:

Fire-safe reconstruction such as implementing fire-resistant materials, defensible space strategies and climate-start building standards;

Resilient infrastructure such as undergrounding utilities, expanding water storage and conveyance and hardening power grids;

Faster rebuilding such as identifying resilient home designs and systems that could be pre-approved to expedite reconstruction and financial incentives to bolster rebuilding; and

Equitable recovery such as reducing the risk of displacement, ensuring affordable insurance and supporting the most vulnerable residents impacted by the fires

According to Horvath’s office, the commission is expected to release its first set of recommendations within three months.