The Woolsey Fire Story: How Ace Fire Defense Was Born

November 8, 2018 — The day everything changed.

At approximately 2:24 PM on November 8, 2018, the Woolsey Fire ignited near the Santa Susana Field Laboratory in Woolsey Canyon. Fueled by extreme Santa Ana winds, the fire exploded with terrifying speed.

Fire departments and emergency responders were already stretched thin due to multiple fires burning at the same time. As a result, there was virtually no fire department response for thousands of homes in the canyons from Woolsey Canyon though Malibu that night and into the next day. Kanan Dume Road was destroyed, Calabasa and Thousand Oaks lost homes.

By the time the fire was contained, it had destroyed over 1,600 homes and burned nearly 97,000 acres.

A Few People Stayed and Fought

While many families were forced to evacuate, Sherwin Ross and his family made the decision to stay and defend their home in Woolsey Canyon for two full days with limited resources.

That experience taught a hard lesson:

“When fire comes, hope is not a strategy. Preparation is everything.”

From Tragedy Came Purpose

The Woolsey Fire became the founding moment of Ace Fire Defense.

Sherwin realized that thousands of families in the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) had no real way to defend their homes. Professional-grade equipment was either too expensive or simply unavailable to homeowners.

So he built Ace Fire Defense — to give everyday families access to the same high-quality fire hoses, hydrant valves, nozzles, and systems trusted by firefighters, at prices homeowners can actually afford.

Our Mission Today

Never again should a family feel helpless when wildfire approaches.

With the right mindset, proper training, and professional equipment — You’ve Got This.

Ready to Protect Your Home?

Don’t wait for the next fire. Start preparing today.

Shop Professional Wildfire Defense Gear →

Questions? Call Sherwin directly at 213-884-8448

Ace Fire Defense

info@acefiredefense.com