Malibu residents push for safety as 5G installations expand across the city
By Opinion Column · Fri Jul 31 2026
By Lonnie Gordon, Opinion Column
Malibu residents were encouraged on July 13 when the City Council approved the first portion of what many are calling the “Residential Fix” — a set of protections designed to keep wireless facilities out of Malibu’s residential neighborhoods. The community now looks forward to the process and conduct of the final portion of the ordinance, expected in late August or early September, according to city staff.
But while residents wait, wireless installations continue to appear across Malibu. Each one, according to electrical engineers and local advocates, represents a potential ignition source in a Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone.
Engineering‑documented code violations and fire risk
Electrical engineers have documented serious electrical‑code violations in many small‑cell installations across Malibu — violations that may date back as far as 2017. These are not cosmetic issues. They involve the breaker inside the installation, the component responsible for stopping electrical faults. They also involve the metal equipment enclosures. Safety codes require fire‑resistant materials that keep critical components below 125°F and prevent fire breach, but most enclosures in Malibu do not comply.
Under the California Electrical Code, the breaker must be properly rated to interrupt the maximum fault current that Southern California Edison (SCE) can deliver to that pole. But SCE’s fault current varies dramatically from pole to pole and can reach levels far higher than the breaker ratings used in many installations. When a breaker is too weak for the electrical conditions at its location, it can fail to interrupt a fault, arc over, or eject burning material — the “Roman candle” effect residents fear.
These violations occur because telecom companies presently submit generic designs that do not account for the electrical conditions at each pole. The code requires a Short‑Circuit and Coordination Study and a Voltage Drop/Load Flow Study using site‑specific utility data to determine conductor size and the real fault current for that site. Without both studies and the required site‑specific data, the city cannot make a valid finding that the installation complies with electrical code.
PSPS surges: A major ignition trigger
Malibu experiences frequent Public Safety Power Shut‑offs (PSPS). When power is restored, the surge can ignite electrical components inside the enclosure — especially if the breaker is underrated or the wiring is old.
I know this firsthand. My own community experienced a surge‑induced electrical fire across the street from me. The surge was so intense it destroyed an entire SCE electrical vault, melted wiring down the street and across the intersection, and required five days and nights of SCE repairs. The cleanup is still not finished.
A utility‑marking contractor — the company that identifies underground lines before SCE digs or drills — told us this type of surge‑induced fire happens all the time across Los Angeles County because:
SCE’s wiring is old,
much of the infrastructure is decades past its intended lifespan,
and the current flowing across SCE’s lines today is significantly higher than what the system was originally designed for.
These fires cannot be extinguished with water. Firefighters must wait until SCE shuts off the circuit — a delay that can be catastrophic in Malibu’s fire conditions.
When you combine:
aging SCE infrastructure,
higher current,
surge‑induced ignition,
improperly rated breakers inside telecom installations,
enclosures that are not fire‑proof,
and installations placed close to homes, you have a compound fire risk that Malibu cannot afford to ignore.
Health concerns and the FCC’s unfinished work
In 2021, a federal court ruled that the FCC had failed to reasonably explain why its existing guidelines — which prohibit local governments from considering health effects — adequately protect people and the environment. The court found the FCC’s position “capricious and arbitrary” and ordered the commission to further explain why those guidelines should be maintained in light of significant evidence of harm. Five years later, the FCC has not complied with the court order.
During this time, more residents have reported becoming electrically sensitive, experiencing symptoms they believe are linked to increasing levels of radiofrequency and microwave emissions in their environment. These individuals are especially concerned about new towers placed close to homes.
Twelve Malibu residents are appealing current installations
Twelve residents have filed appeals against recently approved wireless sites. Their hearings will take place July 29-31 at City Hall before a hearing officer. Most appellants will be represented by attorneys Scott McCullough and Ariel Strauss.
The hearing format has raised concerns. The telecom applicant receives 15 minutes, city staff receives 15 minutes, and residents — who paid $750 each to file their appeals — receive only 15 minutes total. Residents hope the hearing officer will use the additional time to ask questions and fully understand the issues.
During the period when the first hearings were originally scheduled, telecom companies upgraded and activated several sites without proper authorization. Independent testing showed high emissions at these locations, alarming nearby residents who fear both fire danger and potential health impacts.
A growing network, not isolated poles
Each wireless installation is not a standalone pole. They function as nodes in a network, spaced close enough that their emissions — which can extend 1,000 feet or more — overlap. This creates a mesh of radiofrequency exposure across neighborhoods such as Point Dume and areas north of PCH. Residents living within these overlapping zones worry about cumulative exposure.
Most of these sites will not measurably improve basic cellphone coverage. There are also serious concerns that these expanded networks will increase government and corporate surveillance and control. The cellphone is now the primary device for data collection, and the dense small‑cell network enables that data to be transmitted, sold, and stored in large data centers. This infrastructure supports AI development, digital profiling, and expanded surveillance capabilities — a reality most residents are not aware of.
A community asking for safety and transparency
Malibu residents are not asking to eliminate wireless service. They are asking for:
fire‑safe equipment,
code‑compliant installations,
proper oversight,
and a completed ordinance that protects residential neighborhoods.
With appeals underway and the final portion of the ordinance expected soon, the community hopes Malibu will take the steps needed to ensure that wireless infrastructure is deployed safely, responsibly, and with respect for the people who live here.