TreePeople is issuing this statement to clarify the nature of its past interactions with Southern California Wildfire Response (SCWR) and correct inaccurate public claims regarding SCWR’s relationship with TreePeople and its activities at Coldwater Canyon Park.

TreePeople has no partnership, operational agreement, or formal affiliation with SCWR and has never authorized or endorsed the organization to conduct firefighting or emergency response operations on land managed by TreePeople.

SCWR’s past involvement with TreePeople was limited to volunteer participation in brush clearance and land stewardship activities at Coldwater Canyon Park. This volunteer involvement did not establish a partnership, confer operational authority, or authorize SCWR to represent the park as a training ground or base for firefighting activities. Upon learning of SCWR’s inaccurate public representations, TreePeople discontinued its volunteer involvement with the organization.

TreePeople and TreePeople Land Trust are separate, affiliated nonprofit organizations. TreePeople Land Trust has independently addressed SCWR’s inaccurate claims regarding an agreement to provide fire prevention and suppression services on lands managed by the Land Trust. No such agreement exists.

TreePeople is not a firefighting agency and does not have the authority to designate organizations as fire departments or grant firefighting jurisdiction. These responsibilities rest with the appropriate public authorities. Accurate information about firefighting authority and emergency response responsibilities is essential to public safety, particularly for communities facing significant wildfire risk.

TreePeople deeply values the contributions of volunteers and community partners who support wildfire resilience, land stewardship, and environmental restoration. However, volunteer participation must not be misrepresented as an official partnership, organizational endorsement, or authorization to conduct activities beyond those expressly permitted.

TreePeople remains committed to responsible land stewardship, wildfire resilience, and the safety of the communities we serve. We will continue working collaboratively with public agencies, community partners, and qualified professionals to support healthy, resilient landscapes and communities.