VERTEX and Habitat LA Host Wildfire Resilience Webinar on May 9

VERTEX is partnering with Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles as part of its ReBUILD LA initiative to present a free, virtual webinar—Protect What Matters Most: Fire Risk Prevention for Rebuilds and New Construction—taking place on Friday, May 9, 2025, at 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET.

As wildfire threats escalate across California and beyond, this educational session will equip professionals in the design and construction industries with practical strategies to enhance fire resilience in both new developments and rebuilding efforts.

The webinar will be led by Steve Kowkabany, PE, Senior Managing Director – Specialty Design Services, Compliance & Regulatory Services at VERTEX, who brings decades of experience in structural engineering and disaster recovery consulting. He will explore common fire hazards found in residential and commercial buildings, design elements that can improve resistance to fire, and best practices for implementing prevention and protection systems.

Key topics will include:

• Identifying and mitigating fire hazards in residential and commercial properties
• Integrating fire-resilient design principles in new construction and retrofits
• Best practices for rebuilding in wildfire-prone communities, with a focus on long-term risk reduction

This session is especially relevant for architects, developers, property owners, engineers, and consultants, though all stakeholders committed to safer, more resilient communities are encouraged to attend.

This webinar supports Habitat for Humanity of Greater Los Angeles’ ReBUILD LA initiative, which focuses on helping communities recover and rebuild after wildfires through education, partnerships, and sustainable construction practices.

At VERTEX, we are proud to support this mission by sharing technical expertise that strengthens disaster resilience and advances meaningful recovery in vulnerable regions.

This effort is being led by our Los Angeles office as part of a broader commitment to supporting communities at the local level. For partnership inquiries or to learn more about how VERTEX can assist with post-disaster recovery and fire-safe building practices in Southern California, please contact:

Sandra Burga, MBA, M.Arch
Managing Director
E: sburga@vertexeng.com | C: 310.486.2242

Sandra Burga, MBA, M.Arch, is a seasoned Managing Director with expertise in public and private sectors, including k-12, libraries, multifamily, residential, healthcare and senior housing projects.

To learn more about VERTEX’s Fire Protection and Engineering services or speak with an Expert, call 888.298.5162 or submit an inquiry here.