From Wildfire to Community: The Story of Topanga Reach
EPISODE GUESTS:
Emily Bachman, Candice Belton & Ashley DeLuis
Hosted by Dr. Allen Lycka
EPISODE SUMMARY:
In this moving episode, Dr. Allen Lycka speaks with three remarkable women—Emily Bachman, Candice Belton, and Ashley DeLuis—who emerged as grassroots leaders during one of California’s most devastating wildfire events. Centered in the Topanga Canyon area, where geography, isolation, and limited infrastructure heightened the fire's impact, this episode explores how the trio turned trauma into action, forming Topanga Reach in a Starbucks parking lot to bring aid, hope, and healing to a displaced community.
INSIDE THE WILDFIRE EXPERIENCE:
Candice shares her harrowing story of receiving alerts, facing 70+ mph winds, and evacuating with her pets. With prior trauma from Malibu fires, her “go bags” were still unpacked. Emily and Ashley reflect on feeling helpless—until realizing they were in a position to help. Fueled by gratitude and a shared background in events, they took action. What began with watching the fires via trail cams and doorbell footage soon became a shared mission of service and resilience.
CHALLENGES OF TOPOGRAPHY & RESPONSE:
Topanga’s rural setting made evacuations and firefighting efforts uniquely difficult. With only one road in and out, limited cell service, and a community filled with large animals, evacuations were complex and stressful. Simultaneous fires in Palisades and Pasadena diverted resources. Yet, luck, wind shifts, and international firefighter support prevented an even greater tragedy.
CREATING A COMMUNITY HUB:
What started as supplies in a U-Haul became a full-scale relief center thanks to Teamsters Local 399. In a Monty’s Steakhouse lot, they built a secure, stocked hub offering food, clothing, hygiene items, PPE, showers, and mental health support. Community members donated brand-new clothes, while organizations like GEM provided essential goods like air purifiers. Operating 16–20 hour days, their efforts served both residents and first responders alike.
BEYOND EMERGENCY RELIEF:
Topanga Reach’s mission now includes community rebuilding and future disaster preparedness. From pet food to smoke remediation kits, they maintain two donation-based storage units. With tourism and business down due to mudslides and road closures, their message is clear: “Visit Topanga, shop, stay, support.”
HOW TO SUPPORT:
Topanga Reach welcomes donations, volunteers, and partners. Help by following them on Instagram: @TopangaReach, visiting their website, or emailing love@TopangaReach.org.
BIO:
Born out of the chaos of the January 2025 wildfires, Topanga REACH is a woman-led organization focused on disaster relief and long-term community resilience. Co-founders Ashley, Candice, and Emily weren’t the only ones who showed up — but they were the ones who stayed and legitimized the efforts, bringing together decades of experience in marketing, logistics, brand strategy, and community building. With a shared passion for service and sustainability, they’ve turned a grassroots effort into dynamic, long-term support for Topanga. What began as neighbors helping to meet immediate needs to support first responders has grown into a mission to ensure the community is stronger, safer, and better prepared for whatever comes next. Today, Topanga REACH continues to provide essential resources, strengthen local connections, and plan for future disasters by staying rooted in local needs, applying lessons learned, and building adaptable systems designed to meet real-world challenges.
Social Media:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/topangareach/
- Threads: https://www.threads.net/@topangareach
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/topangareach
- X: https://x.com/topangareach
- Website: https://www.topangareach.org
