Project Respond: Fire Safety & Resilience for Chino Hills

Our Story

We are Jonathan and Amanda Shu, students at Harvard-Westlake School and co-founders of Project Respond. Our journey began as Climate Leader Fellows with Rustic Pathways and Stanford University’s Deliberative Democracy Lab, where we saw firsthand the urgent need for both immediate fire safety and long-term climate resilience. After witnessing the devastation of the 2025 LA Fires, we knew that recovery required a two-front approach. Our first initiative, Project Releaf, focused on restoring native plants to heal our hillsides and prevent future mega-fires. Now, with Project Respond, we are taking the next step: equipping at-risk communities with the education and tools they need to prevent fire devastation before it starts. 

Why Chino Hills?

Our climate resilience and fire prevention campaign is focused on Chino Hills, California, where over 80% of the land is classified as a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.

Our first fire safety and education event site is Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, a Thai Buddhist temple that serves as a vital cultural, spiritual, and community hub. This temple sits directly in a high-risk wildfire zone, making its protection a top priority. Recent fire regulations have required large amounts of vegetation to be cleared nearby, leaving the area more vulnerable to extreme heat, erosion, and poor air quality. Through community education and the donation of life-saving equipment, we aim to turn this vulnerability into resilience.

100% of your donations go directly toward fire equipment and educational materials for the community:

$15 – Provides a fire blanket to quickly smother small flames.

$50 – Provides a fire extinguisher, creating a critical first line of defense.

By supporting this fundraiser, you are helping us plan before disaster strikes, protecting a beloved community space and taking measurable local action against climate change. Your support will go directly toward fire blankets, extinguishers, and educational materials that empower residents to protect themselves and their community. We hope you’ll join us in making Chino Hills safer as every donation helps! Together, we can take local action against climate change and protect a beloved community space before the next disaster strikes.