All Sizzle but No Steak

"Save Your Fire Department" or Save the Status Quo?

The phrase "Save Your Fire Department" is being used to emotionally charge a community divided by misinformation. But what exactly are we being asked to save?

Let's be clear: the Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD) is not a department of your HOA, nor is it a government-recognized emergency response agency. It is a private, self-governed 501(c)(3) nonprofit formed without input, vote, or control from the residents of Bell Canyon.

BCVWFD was founded and is still controlled by individuals who previously presided over a decade of HOA mismanagement—individuals like Eric Wolf, Richard Levy, and Garrett Clancy. They now present themselves as community saviors while backing a recall campaign targeting the very HOA Board that held them accountable and restored financial stability.

They refer to BCVWFD as "your department," but:

• You didn't elect them.• You can't remove them.• They don't answer to you.

BCVWFD operates with no oversight, no term limits, and no transparency. It is accountable to no residents, yet it uses HOA facilities and presents itself as a public asset. Meanwhile, its leadership has aggressively politicized the organization, funneling volunteers into a recall campaign while claiming independence.

They have blurred every line on purpose:

• Three of the five candidates are on the BCVWFD.• Their campaign literature uses the department logo.• Their recall signs and community messages are indistinguishable from those of BCVWFD.

It is essential to note that HOA leadership is dedicated to community safety and volunteer initiatives. The concern lies with leadership that misleads residents, compromises HOA insurance, and weaponizes a firebrand for political gain.

The same group who previously racked up $11 million in legal expenses for the HOA is now attempting to stage a return—this time, draped in the image of heroism.

But this is not about saving a fire department.

It's about saving a power structure.

Don’t be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall

Up Next: THE WOLF IN THE FIREHOUSE

Meet the Architects of the Misleading Narrative

In every story where appearances lull the sheep, there’s always a wolf beneath the fleece. In Bell Canyon, the wolf has a familiar name: Eric Wolf.

A founding Board Member of the Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD), Eric Wolf presents himself as a protector of the community. But his record tells another story—one that includes past HOA mismanagement, aggressive litigation, and a pattern of blurring personal ambitions with public trust.

Under Wolf’s influence, BCVWFD has become less about fire preparedness and more about political power. His leadership is marked by secrecy, selective transparency, deception, and public posturing —qualities that have helped build a brand but not trust.

The Pattern:

• Control without Accountability: As Assistant Chief, Wolf has never stood for election in the traditional sense. He holds his position within BCVWFD without term limits, without oversight, and without community consent.• Conflation of Roles: While presenting himself as a public servant, he has been the chief political agitator behind the HOA recall. The same volunteers who train under BCVWFD are used as campaign tools.• Retaliation Over Resolution: Rather than collaborate with the current HOA board, Wolf and his circle have refused meetings, rejected compromise, and escalated community tensions—all while publicly claiming the HOA is “attacking” them.

The Consequences:

• Liability Exposure: When the HOA raised questions about insurance coverage, Wolf’s group failed to produce documentation or engage in problem-solving.• False Narratives:o After repeated claims that it had a five-year agreement with the County of Ventura, the County insisted that BCVWFD hydrant use was illegal.o Wolf has worked tirelessly to frame the HOA as “anti-safety” when the record shows the Board took steps to verify legal compliance and resident protection.o When those efforts were rebuffed, the Board sought alternative safety solutions, only to be met with a propaganda campaign disguised as a recall. 

The BCVWFD leadership is as credible as the man who built it.

If BCVWFD were simply a civic-minded group of neighbors protecting Bell Canyon, there would be no controversy. But under Wolf’s leadership, the department has been politicized, weaponized, and mythologized.

The community deserves a fire safety solution rooted in professionalism, not personal vendettas. Until then, we must ask: Is this really about public safety—or is it about protecting the legacy of a man who once ran the HOA into the ground and now seeks redemption through a red helmet?

Don't be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall​​​​​ Up Next: HYDRANTS, HYPE, AND HYDRAULICS

All Sizzle but No Steak by Ronald B. Ziman, MD, former Chief of Staff at Northridge Hospital

An Unauthorized Operation Masquerading as Emergency Services

When it comes to firefighting, access to water is not optional—it's essential. Yet in Bell Canyon, the self-styled fire department led by Eric Wolf finds itself without access to the single most basic element of fire protection: water.

The County of Ventura has explicitly prohibited the Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD) from using county-maintained hydrants. This isn't speculation. It's in writing.

The Timeline of Denial:

• April 23, 2025: The County first issued a notice: BCVWFD is not a recognized agency and may not access county water infrastructure.• May 23, 2025: A second warning reaffirmed the stance. BCVWFD remains unrecognized and unauthorized.• June 6, 2025 - Final Prohibition: A formal letter rejecting their appeal was issued, underscoring that BCVWFD is not entitled to draw water from public hydrants. This was the culmination of months of concerns raised by the HOA regarding insurance gaps, unregulated operations, and liability exposure.

Despite the spin, this wasn't the HOA's doing—it was the County's determination based on legal and operational standards. Yet, BCVWFD and its leadership have tried to craft a new narrative: that they are being persecuted, not regulated.

Let's get real:

• Not Recognized by the County.• Not Recognized by Ventura County Fire.• Not Authorized to Access Public Hydrants.• Not Able to Demonstrate Insurance.• Not willing to meet with the HOA to devise positive solutions.

And yet, they market themselves as an emergency response team.

The Public Illusion: While they wear uniforms and stage photo ops near fire engines, the operational reality is hollow. Without access to water, they are reduced to a social club in turnout gear. Without County recognition, they are just a logo with liability. And without accountability, they are a danger dressed as a solution.

The HOA did its due diligence. It asked for meetings. It requested proof of insurance. It pursued clarity. Every effort was met with refusal. And when the County finally acted, the HOA was blamed for enforcing what was, in truth, a long-overdue reality check.

Don't be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall

Up Next: The Cult of the Canyon: How a Helmet Replaced a Halo

An Unauthorized Operation Masquerading as Emergency Services

The anatomy of a personality cult is familiar: symbols over substance, charisma over competence, and naive loyalty over transparency. In Bell Canyon, this pattern has been quietly taking root under the guise of emergency readiness.

The Firefighter as Savior

Eric Wolf, the self-appointed assistant fire chief of the BCVWFD, has curated a following—not through certifications or demonstrated ability, but through optics. The uniform, the badge, the truck, the staged photo ops—they all serve to build an image of indispensability.

To question leadership is to invite scorn. To demand accountability is labeled as anti-safety. This isn’t emergency preparedness—it’s emotional manipulation. And it works. Until it doesn’t.

Hallmarks of a Local Cult of Personality:

• Iconography over Infrastructure: Logos, gear, and merchandise abound, but water access and interagency training remain absent.• Followers, Not Members: Dissent is discouraged, and inquiry is rebuffed. HOA Board members asking legitimate questions have been vilified.• Myths over Metrics: Claims of 24/7 readiness and incident responses go unverified. There are no audits, no public logs, and no oversight.• Martyrdom Messaging: Any regulatory challenge—such as the County’s denial of hydrant access—is spun as persecution by jealous outsiders or vindictive boards.

The Echo Chamber

Wolf’s narrative thrives in closed groups, filtered email lists, and private message boards where criticism is scrubbed and praise is amplified. It is not a fire department; it is a brand. And brand loyalty, in this context, has replaced civic engagement.

The Danger of Devotion

This would all be curious if it were harmless. But it’s not. When residents are emotionally manipulated into trusting an unrecognized, unverified insurance group with emergency response, they aren’t just being misled—they’re being placed at risk. Safety becomes a story instead of a standard.

The Real Work of Readiness

Proper safety is boring: it’s paperwork, regulation, training, coordination, and oversight. It’s attending meetings, submitting to audits, and proving capacity—not just claiming it. It doesn’t lend itself to theatrics. But it works.

Don’t be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall

Up Next: Dangerous Illusions - When Good Intentions Become Bad Governance 

How Your HOA Was Put at Risk Without Your Knowledge

Bell Canyon is not unique in having passionate people step forward to serve. What makes this community vulnerable is when passion is confused for qualification, and when "doing something" replaces doing something right.

The Slippery Slope of Good Intentions

The Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD) grew from the volunteers' genuine desire to enhance safety. But somewhere between aspiration and execution, guardrails were abandoned—No recognition by the County. No oversight. No mutual aid agreements. No verifiable insurance.

Yet somehow, BCVWFD continues to portray itself as operational.

Why? Because in the vacuum left by complex regulation and real public safety infrastructure, simplicity sells.

Who wouldn't prefer a homegrown savior to red tape and response times? But fire doesn't care about feelings. And when a fire breaks out, there's no room for branding, posturing, or mythologizing. Only readiness matters.

Governance Means Saying "No" Sometimes

The HOA Board is not a fan club. It's a fiduciary body. It exists to protect the entire community, not just to appease the loudest factions. When the BCVWFD:

• Refuses to meet with the Board in good faith,• Fails to provide proof of insurance,• Continues to defy County directives (like the denial of water access),• Undisclosed construction permit denial for a BCVWFD garage while knowingly conducting a capital campaign to raise money for its construction,• Driving an unregistered vehicle, illegal for street driving, and uninsurable,

And even goes so far as to fraudulently procure and use government-issued license plates, as confirmed by the California DMV:

"…regarding the exempt plates used by Mr. Clancy for his vehicles, I did speak with him several months ago and requested that he surrender those plates to the DMV and apply for regular commercial plates, given that his vehicles do not qualify for exempt status. I will request cancellation of those plates and inform Mr. Clancy so that he is aware those plates are no longer valid."

— Armando Rodriguez, California DMV Investigations Division 

The Board not only has the right but also the obligation to intervene.

A Conflict of Interest Hidden in Plain Sight

Written in his hand, the Chief of BCVWFD, while also serving as President of the HOA-controlled entity that owns HOA real estate, signed a lease on behalf of the HOA, granting the BCVWFD, where he was Chief, a 20-year rent-free lease of HOA office space.

 Additionally, as the President of the Bell Canyon Community Center, he made an undocumented loan of $30,000 to the Bell Canyon Equestrian Center, where his wife served as a Board Director and also as Co-President of the Homeowners Association. No oversight. No loan documents, No HOA Board Vote, and No public disclosure.

He also signed a 10-year lease for the unfettered use of Bell Canyon's 'Common Areas,' against CC&Rs regulations, with his wife, the BCA  Co-President. That's not just bad optics—it's a textbook conflict of interest. No oversight, No market rate, No HOA Board Vote, and No public disclosure.

As an observer, this does not appear to be public service but rather self-dealing.

Safety Theater vs. Safety Systems

You can't govern based on optics. Fundamental public safety means aligning with county protocols, accessing verified resources, and being willing to submit to accountability. None of that is possible when a rogue department refuses collaboration, insists on unilateral control, and attacks oversight bodies for asking questions.

 This isn't about personalities. It's about systems. Systems that protect lives, mitigate liability and preserve the credibility of emergency response. In Bell Canyon, those systems are being actively undermined by people who think wearing a uniform is the same as being a department.

The Hidden Costs of Magical Thinking

The illusion of readiness can be more dangerous than no readiness at all. Residents lulled into a false sense of security may delay evacuations, misplace trust, or dismiss official directives. Governance based on myths is not just poor leadership—it's reckless.

Don't be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall

Up Next: The Liability Time Bomb - Who Gets Sued When the Mirage Fades 

When Accusers Are the Real Offenders

 Bell Canyon may be nestled in beauty, but behind the gates lies another slow-moving legal disaster in the making—one that could cost the HOA, you and me, not just liability costs but potentially loss of life.

A Department That Isn't Really a Department

Let's start with the obvious: By definition, a 'department' is part of something larger, in the case of any California fire department, a city, County, or municipality. LA City, LA County, and County of Ventura Fire Departments do not recognize the Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD). It is not authorized to use public fire hydrants. It has no mutual aid agreement, no dispatch authority, no publicly verifiable insurance, and no operational license. 

 This has been made abundantly clear by Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner:

"All fire and rescue needs of Bell Canyon are the sole jurisdictional responsibility of the Ventura County Fire Protection District (VCFD). To provide the fastest service possible to the residents of Bell Canyon, VCFD has a subcontract with the Los Angeles City Fire Department (LAFD)... Bell Canyon Volunteer Wildland Fire Department (BCVWFD) is not a public entity. VCFD is not affiliated with and does not operationally support, oversee, or sponsor BCVWFD."

And further underscored by the Ventura County Department of Water Works, which denied the BCVWFD access to hydrants and clarified they are not considered a legitimate fire department.

But that hasn't stopped BCVWFD from responding to calls, sending volunteers into dangerous situations, and advertising itself as "your" fire department.

Now imagine this scenario:
A resident calls 911 during a wildfire. County Fire is delayed. BCVWFD shows up first. A volunteer enters a burning home to perform a rescue. They're injured. Or worse—someone else is.

Who gets sued?

You do. The community does. The HOA does.

When volunteers associated with an entity bearing the Bell Canyon name act without formal recognition, oversight, or proper insurance coverage, their actions are not protected under state or county liability shields. And if the HOA is seen as having enabled—or failed to prevent—those actions, that liability could flow uphill.

The Absence of Insurance Isn't a Technicality—It's a Loaded Gun

BCVWFD has repeatedly refused to provide its insurance, permitting the most basic verification. If an injury occurs and there's no actual coverage or uncovered 'gaps,' a plaintiff's attorneys won't be guessing—they'll be aiming. And they'll aim at the HOA, the directors, and possibly every homeowner in the community.

Don't Think It Can Happen? It Already Has.

Other communities have been brought to their knees by liability claims stemming from ill-defined risks. Legal fees and insurance premiums could skyrocket. Directors resign. Homeowners face special assessments to cover damages, as seen in the Reingold case in Bell, brought to you by many of the same leaders. The dream of a well-meaning fire department turns into a nightmare of litigation.

Why the Risk Persists

What's astonishing is that this risk is not hidden from view. It has been repeatedly raised by management companies, documented in legal correspondence, and confirmed by our insurance broker. Still, some community members romanticize BCVWFD and vilify the HOA for refusing to give its blind support.

 That is not courage. It's negligence disguised as nostalgia.

Governance = Risk Management

The job of a Board isn't to be popular. It's to protect the community's legal and financial future. If someone dies or is hurt, and the entity involved can be linked - directly or indirectly - to the HOA, the exposure could be catastrophic.

Volunteers

Why can't the dedicated volunteers remove the name 'Bell Canyon' from their trucks, uniforms, and website, continue to serve a grateful community, and also take steps to protect us all from liability?

This situation is not a "what if." It's a ticking time bomb.

Don't be fooled by the sizzle.

Vote NO on the Recall

Up Next: The Mirage of Readiness: How False Confidence Undermines Real Emergency Response