By Carlos Javelera
President, WPRA
In the 1970s movie “Jaws”, a seaside community is terrorized by a massive great white shark. When the local chief of police finally sees the size of the shark and recognizes the scale of the threat, he delivers the now-famous line: “We’re going to need a bigger boat.”
That moment captures the realization that the challenge to that community was more, much more than they’d prepared for. Our neighborhoods are facing their own version of that moment.
Wildfire risk is not theoretical — it’s real, growing, and increasingly complex. The good news is that we’ve already made meaningful progress to mitigate much of that risk.
- We’ve formed Firewise communities and taken steps to more effectively manage living and dead plants and trees in the Arroyo Seco.
- We’ve run a pilot program to determine if goats can consume wildfire fuel in the Arroyo Seco.
- And the City is exploring thermal monitoring technology to identify hot spots before they erupt into fire
That is all to say, we’re not at zero. These are real steps that are making a difference.
But like the sheriff in “Jaws”, we recognize that more is needed.
Looking ahead, the focus must be on ensuring proper budgeting, advancing the most effective implementation of Zone Zero, and continuing to strengthen coordination between residents, organizations, and the City. But preparation at the household and neighborhood levels — where defensible space and smart design meet — is critical.
This is where the power of neighborhoods comes in. When communities organize, share responsibility, and act together, they become far more resilient than individuals. Protection and prevention are not just policies. They are collective commitments.
The WPRA remains deeply engaged in this priority, while also continuing our work on traffic concerns, the future of the 710 ditch, and land-use planning. These issues are all connected by a common goal: protecting and strengthening our community for the long term.
We’ve seen the risks. We’ve made progress. Now it’s time to make sure we get the “bigger boat” we need — together.
Let us know your thoughts on these (and other) topics in an email to president@wpra.net.
