The rich and famous are reportedly forking over a significant amount of money to private firefighters in an effort to protect their multi-million dollar homes.
Los Angeles millionaires are allegedly spending upwards of $2,000 an hour to secure for-hire firefighters to protect their properties while parts of the city are consumed by the raging wildfires, according to the Daily Mail. Strong opinions are being formed about those taking extra measures to ensure their assets are protected amid the devastating flames and the companies that are being hired. Chris Dunn, owner of Covered 6, a private company that offers its services to the elite, said business is booming.
“My phone has been ringing off the hook. Demand has never been higher,” he told the Daily Mail.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 8: Flames from the Palisades Fire burn a building on Sunset Boulevard amid a powerful windstorm on January 8, 2025 in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. Fueled by intense Santa Ana Winds, the Palisades Fire has grown to over 15,000 acres and 30,000 people have been ordered to evacuate while a second major fire continues to burn near Eaton Canyon in Altadena. (Photo by Apu Gomes/Getty Images)
A wealthy source told the Daily Mail he was using such a service.
“This week’s events have shown you can’t trust the city to protect your property,” the individual said.
“I have the money, so why not?”
Private firefighting firms are reportedly offering “on call” services to the elite in need. David Torgerson’s Wildfire Defense Systems offers privately secured water supplies, hoses and fire-blocking gels and chemicals designed to deter the raging flames, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Wildfire Defense Systems is one of many private organizations hired to battle the blaze for properties protected by insurance companies, as well as the wealthy elite. These firms have also been contracted by the government to bolter their numbers and resources.
There are several other private firefighting companies based in California, including Mt. Adams Wildfire and UrbnTek. They are providing customers — including the government — fire retardant that is applied on trees and brush to stop an advancing fire, which offers “a double layer of protection by wrapping a structure with our fire blanket system.”
TOPSHOT – A Bank of America is fully engulfed in flames along Lake Ave. during the Eaton fire in the Altadena area of Los Angeles county, California on January 8, 2025. At least five people are now known to have died in wildfires raging around Los Angeles, with more deaths feared, law enforcement said January 8, as terrifying blazes leveled whole streets, torching cars and houses in minutes. Photo by JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images
San Francisco Chronicle investigative reporter Matthias Gafni reported that he observed a home outfitted with water sprayers on the roof continually spraying under observation from specialists. Members of the fire crew told the outlet they were hired directly.
Private firefighters guard this Hollywood Hills house from #SunsetFire. They’ve set up sprinklers to cascade water from the second story eaves. They will guard all night. pic.twitter.com/Wj9fIocM1y
— Matthias Gafni (@mgafni) January 9, 2025
Millionaire real estate investor Keith Wasserman put out a call for help on X that ignited backlash and has since been deleted.
“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 wrote, according to a screenshot posted online.
Incredible nerve… His family is evacuated and he’s trying to hire private firefighters to risk their lives to save a home he most certainly has insured.
Incredibly tone deaf. pic.twitter.com/uNvOYbk4RN
— Sam Vance (@samvance) January 8, 2025
Kim Kardashian is believed to have been one of the stars to use private fire-fighting services, and has publicly thanked private teams for assisting in keeping her home safe in the past.
This comes as other residents in the area are forced to flee to safety, and in many cases, have watched their homes get torched by the fires. (RELATED: Celebrities Share Crazy Footage, Frantic Updates As Wildfires Consume Their Homes)
Thousands of residents have been evacuated and remain displaced at this time.
