Whether it’s time for you to install ember-resistant vents, replace a wood gate attached to your home or tackle other projects in your Wildfire Home Risk Report, it can be helpful to work with a knowledgeable contractor. They can help you turn wildfire safety recommendations into practical improvements around your property. But finding the right person starts with knowing where to look, what professional experience to ask about and how to compare your options.
The California Fire Safe Council’s newly updated Fire Safe Business Directory can help. This free, searchable online resource connects residents with businesses that offer wildfire safety products and services. Together with Fire Safe Marin’s guidance and contractor resources, it can help you turn risk reduction recommendations into real world safety improvements.
Search for businesses and request quotes
The statewide directory includes businesses offering home hardening products and services, such as vents, fencing, roofing and siding, as well as brush removal, tree work and other vegetation management. Use the search filters to look for providers serving your area.
If you’re unsure which businesses to contact, the free “Request a Quote” feature lets you share your project request with multiple businesses at once.
Look for the “CFSC Reviewed” badge, which identifies businesses that have met the Council’s review requirements, including checks of licensing, insurance and references or reviews. Businesses listed in the directory’s “Other” section have not undergone those checks.
Understand your options before requesting bids
Start with the required fixes and highest priority recommendations in your Wildfire Home Risk Report. Fire Safe Marin’s guide to starting your upgrades explains options for vents, fences, gutters and other areas where a home may be vulnerable. Use our resources to prepare questions and discuss possible improvements with contractors. Bring your report to those conversations. Ask which projects would address your property’s greatest vulnerabilities, how that work could fit your budget, and whether the work can be completed in stages.
Find contractors with wildfire retrofit training
Take advantage of our helpful contractor resource page, which includes a list of licensed contractors who have completed Fire Safe Academy’s Retrofitting for Wildfire course, along with guidance on what questions to ask before hiring.
Developed with wildfire scientist Dr. Steve Quarles, Fire Safe Academy offers free, online training specifically for licensed contractors. The approximately five-hour course covers how embers, heat and flames threaten homes, and practical ways to reduce those risks through science-backed home hardening upgrades.
Consider the benefits over time
Many wildfire-resistant improvements can also reduce upkeep, last longer or improve energy efficiency. Different improvements provide different long term benefits, so it is important to ask contractors about maintenance needs and the expected lifespan of various upgrades.
Before hiring, use the California Contractors State License Board’s Check a License tool to confirm a contractor’s license status and review any publicly disclosed complaint information. Also be sure to confirm their insurance, check references and compare a couple written estimates for the same work.
The directory and Fire Safe Marin’s contractor list are starting points for your search. Neither organization endorses individual businesses through these listings. Explore the Fire Safe Council’s Business Directory and use Fire Safe Marin’s resources to prepare for your conversations with contractors.
