One of the most important initiatives for the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority (MWPA) is to expand and enhance defensible space home evaluations to ensure homes meet fire and building codes, as well as education to reduce the vulnerability of a home. These home evaluations are a valuable tool to help homeowners understand what needs to be done to protect their property. It is very important to open your report by going to www.marinwildfire.org/dspace and entering the unique code provided on the door hanger left on your property. If you do not remember your code, you can submit a request when you visit the website. Note, this unique code is permanently associated with your home so that at any time you can access your report.
Home Evaluation Program
About the Program
What to Expect
With the homeowners or tenants permission, in about 10 or 15 minutes the uniformed defensible space inspectors will evaluate a home’s defensible space and building construction. They will outline steps to mitigate vegetation hazards and structures to resist embers. Residents are encouraged to accompany the inspectors and ask questions. Watch this video for more information.
The Home Evaluation Report
The report gives a detailed explanation of defensible space and home hardening issues that should be addressed by the homeowner. The report distinguishes between safety improvements which must be made because they are required by code and recommended improvements that are not required, but will make your home safer. The report includes a detailed map of your property which identifies where problems were observed and a photo of each problem identified.
Local Home Evaluation Programs
Local fire department home evaluation programs differ slightly, but in all cases, the goal is to assess risks around each property, recognize the wildfire dangers, and implement a fuel reduction and home hardening plan. The evaluation programs take an educational approach to working with homeowners.
- The Novato Fire Department
- The San Rafael Fire Department
- South, Central, and West Marin Fire Departments
The Novato Fire Department mitigation team offers appointments for free personalized assessments, recommendations for improvements, and information on financial assistance programs (415-878-2622).
The San Rafael Fire Department Wildfire Mitigation Team conducts wildfire mitigation projects and home assessments throughout the San Rafael year around. If you’d like to schedule a visit to your property, call 415-721-2875 or email srfd.dspace@cityofsanrafael.org. Some assistance may be available to directly help low-income, elderly, and disabled homeowners reduce the wildfire risk around their homes as well as other wildfire mitigation work. Assistance request form
South, Central, and West Marin Fire Departments, including the Ross Valley, Corte Madera, Larkspur, Mill Valley, Southern Marin, and all of West Marin, hire seasonal inspectors to conduct home evaluations. Thousands of evaluations are conducted between May and September. Areas are rotated each year with the goal of visiting every residence at least once every three years. Homeowners are provided with a detailed, online evaluation form that describes each area on the property that may be in need of attention. The evaluation form has links to the Fire Safe Marin website for detailed information on how to make the improvements needed for defensible space and home hardening. For further information: 415 275-1185 or dspace@marinwildfire.org
Home Evaluation Tips
The following links provide guidance to fix some of the most common issues cited in-home evaluations:
- Stop fire ladders
- Cut annual grasses and weeds
- Remove leaf litter
- Remove dead or dying trees
- Remove tree limbs within 10′ of chimney
- Remove tree limbs overhanging structure
- Clear trees or limbs encroaching on roadway or driveway
- Clear shrubs encroaching on roadway or driveway
- Clear combustible vegetation or debris near roadway or driveway
- Remove or replace combustible mulch
- Relocate firewood at least 30’ away from structures
- Relocate recycling and garbage cans vulnerable to embers
- Install high-visibility address numbers to meet standards
- Install high-contrast and reflective address numbers to meet standards
