“When your house catches on fire, the first thing you do is call a lawyer,” Camille Meyer famously said on “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.”
The opulent home of Kelsey Grammer’s ex-wife was destroyed in 2018, the last time Los Angeles was ravaged by wildfires, and the aftermath aired on Bravo. Meyer was dryly referring to legal battles with her insurance companies, but there’s another step many in her position take before calling in the attorneys: dispatching private firefighters.
Firefighters “for hire” are par for the course when it comes to multimillion-dollar spreads erected in and around L.A., and in at least six surrounding states, according to expert Don Holter. These services surely have been engaged during the unprecedented and devastating wildfires currently burning in Southern California.
Communities like Malibu and the Pacific Palisades — virtually wiped off the map this week, in the case of the latter — are especially inclined to bring in crews, trucks, chemical retardants and even bespoke water supplies when priceless properties are on the line. Ryan Kavanaugh, the founder of the notorious film studio Relativity Media, told me in 2019 that he’d started a private firefighting service as a side hustle. He could not immediately be reached for comment on this story.
Yet in the case of a reported 130,000 residents and over 6,000 structures in the path of the current fire’s destruction, issues of taste and tone deafness have emerged around these nonpublic crews.
“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,” LA-based real estate executive Keith Wasserman posted to X on Tuesday, sparking the very debate. The post came as the Palisades fire moved aggressively and terrified residents.
Social media users were stunned at the display of wealth as citizens of all backgrounds struggled to escape, noting Wasserman’s “incredible nerve.” Backlash to the backlash emerged on Thursday, as many users pointed out that fire resources had been exhausted in the Palisades.
Multiple sources Variety spoke with this week understand the need to “eat the rich,” as one top media executive with beachfront property noted, when people’s property and lives are on the line.
“The reality here is that you’ve got to protect your investment, and a large investment needs unusual protection,” the exec said.
And it’s not just the structures that need this kind of vigilance, according to sources. Many of the rich and powerful people who occupy these spaces have uncommon valuables.
“Do you know the kind of artwork most of these people have? The houses are like museums,” said one talent agent, speaking on the condition of anonymity. Indeed, locals like former NBCUniversal executive Ron Meyer and Oscar winner Leonardo DiCaprio have extensive and irreplaceable collections. Pieces by Murakami, Salvador Dali and Basquiat are in Leo’s possession.
Holter, based in Central California, cautioned against judgment for homeowners with abundant resources.
“Our service is cost-effective compared to public entities,” Holter said, noting that Los Angeles uses union firefighters. While his company might charge between $4,000-$5,000 per day for a small fleet for a client, a municipality will run closer to $20,000 for workers, trucks, overtime and backfill workers.
When asked if his prices change based on scale and value of property, Holter asked, “Why would we gouge somebody because they have money? Right is right and wrong is wrong. At the end of the day, we do the job because we want to help.”
For a list of resources and the latest news on the Los Angeles fires, follow Variety’s coverage here.
