Safer from Wildfires was created by an interagency partnership between Insurance C
ommissioner Ricardo Lara and the emergency response and readiness agencies in Governor Gavin Newsom's administration. Learn more at insurance.ca.gov Safer from Wildfires is a ground-up approach to wildfire resilience with three layers of protection — for the structure, the immediate surroundings, and the community. Following these achievable steps can help you save money on your insurance.
Protect your home
or business
Protect the
whole community
Protect the
immediate surroundings
Safer from Wildfires
Being
Can Help With Your Insurance
Do more, save more
Every action under Safer from Wildfires will qualify you for an insurance discount.
By doing more, you can save more.
• Class A fire-rated roof
• 5-foot ember-resistant zone around the structure
• Noncombustible 6 inches at the bottom of walls
• Ember- and fire-resistant vents
• Double pane windows or added shutters
• Enclosed eaves
• Cleared vegetation and debris from under decks
• Move sheds and outbuildings at least 30 feet away
• Trim trees and remove brush in compliance with state and local defensible space laws • Neighborhoods can form a Firewise USA community
• Cities, counties, and local districts can become certified as a Fire Risk Reduction Community 3 Ways to Get Started with Safer from Wildfires
Don’t know where to start? Here are 3 low-cost steps you can take today.
Be safer together
With Firewise USA, communities as
small as 8 dwelling units or as big as
2,500 can create an action plan and
start being safer together. Firewise USA
is a nationally recognized program
with proven results, sponsored by the
National Fire Prevention Association.
Clear the first 5 feet
Removing greenery and replacing wood
chips with stone or decomposed granite
5 feet around your home prevents fire
from getting a foot in the door.
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Keep embers out
Installing 1/16 to 1/8 inch
noncombustible, corrosion-resistant metal
mesh screens over attic vents can keep
wind-blown embers out of your house.