Frequently Asked Questions

The following are answers to popular questions.
Please contact us if you have other questions.

In an actual fire emergency, please contact your local fire department by dialing 911.

Most homes that burn during a wildfire are ignited by embers or firebrands landing on the roof, in gutters, on or under decks and porches, or in vents or other openings in the home.

Other homes burn from small flames (surface fire) that can touch the house – such as dry grass that can allow a fire to run right up to the siding. In general, substantially clearing or trimming the area closest to the home (Immediate Zone O), is most beneficial, along with some home hardening improvements such as screening vents and clearing and protecting gutters of debris. (See the Firewise page of this website for a more complete list.)

Your regional or local fire department websites are great places to start and find resources and action steps you can use around your home and out into the landscape.

A wildfire safety tips sheet is available on NFPA’s safety information page. You can also find additional information about how to create defensible space around your home on the Firewise website. Protection starts with an assessment of your home and yard (defensible space). We recommend getting your home assessed as soon as possible to help identify your risks.
The California Fire Safe Council (CFSC), a California non-profit corporation, was first formed as a project of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) in 1993.

The CFSC facilitates efficient ways to get federal fire prevention and mitigation funding to local communities. They are tasked with developing and maintaining an online, “one-stop shop,” Grant Clearinghouse mainly for the four primary federal agencies: the US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service and the Department of the Interior agencies the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, and Fish & Wildlife Service.

Since 2004,  the CFSC has provided more than 1,200 grants totaling more than $118M in grant funding to help build a fire-resilient California.

In addition to their primary Grants Clearinghouse program, CFSC over the years has provided varying levels of technical assistance and support to Fire Safe Councils and other community wildfire preparedness groups—they refer to them as community wildfire practitioners—assisting them in both education in wildfire issues and in organizational issues related to capacity building and sustainability.

At the same time, CFSC has forged a strong network of partnerships with local, regional, state, and national organizations and works continuously to build and maintain effective linkages with government officials in California and Washington DC.

With the threat of wildfire looming ever-larger for many California communities, CFSC is redoubling its efforts to build strong local and countywide Fire Safe Councils, and lead efforts in community wildfire preparedness, education, and mitigation to build fire-adapted communities throughout California.

Please visit the California Fire Safe Council website form more information:
https://cafiresafecouncil.org/

The Firewise USA program is administered by NFPA® and is co-sponsored by the USDA Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters. While the NFPA administers this program, individuals and communities participate on a voluntary basis.

The program encourages local solutions for safety by involving homeowners in taking individual responsibility for preparing their homes to face the risk of wildfire. The program also provides resources to help homeowners learn how to adapt to living with wildfire and encourages neighbors to work together to take action now to prevent losses.

Initiated in 2002 with 12 pilot neighborhoods, the national Firewise USA® Recognition Program has grown to nearly 2,000 active member-communities in 40 states, as well as a participation retention rate of 80% over the past decade. The program, aimed at homeowners, provides specific criteria for communities regarding wildfire preparedness, and based on these criteria, offers national recognition for their work.

Please visit the NFPA® website for more information:
https://www.nfpa.org/Education-and-Research/Wildfire/Firewise-USA

Firewise communities are those that have taken appropriate measures to become more resistant to wildfire structural damage.

An online Firewise Toolkit, including a Firewise tips checklist for homeowners, is available on the Firewise website. Firewise techniques include minimizing the risk of home ignition by carefully landscaping around residential structures such as thinning trees and brush and choosing fire-resistant plants, selecting ignition-resistant building materials and positioning structures away from slopes.

Communities that have earned the special distinction of being recognized under the Firewise USA® Program have followed a systematic approach to organizing and implementing a Firewise mitigation plan in their neighborhood.
Firewise communities are those that have taken appropriate measures to become more resistant to wildfire structural damage.

An online Firewise Toolkit, including a Firewise tips checklist for homeowners, is available on the Firewise website. Firewise techniques include minimizing the risk of home ignition by carefully landscaping around residential structures such as thinning trees and brush and choosing fire-resistant plants, selecting ignition-resistant building materials and positioning structures away from slopes.

Communities that have earned the special distinction of being recognized under the Firewise USA® Program have followed a systematic approach to organizing and implementing a Firewise mitigation plan in their neighborhood.
Home assessor recommendations are only recommendations.

Although we certainly hope you implement them, as of this date you can implement all, some or none of them. Firewise landscaping techniques can actually improve the aesthetic quality of your home by clearing out dry and dead vegetation, and allowing space between trees and plants. More information about landscaping can be found on the “Home and Landscape” page of the Firewise website.
The quick answer is what is your budget?

PACKAGE C
This package is our full-service package. We assist you with setting up all of our startup services. You will receive a new well-tested functional Website that is fully integrated with our Resident Marketing System (RMS). It includes proven successful marketing campaigns that engage with your residents. Your community’s board/committee will have the ability to track each resident’s campaign engagements, actions, and volunteer hours or dollars reported. Firewise USA® required annual volunteer hours and dollar reports are automatically compiled on a monthly and annual basis for each Community/HOA, and for each recognized volunteer activity. This package also includes social media setup and integration.

PACKAGE B
This package is designed for those communities who have a smaller budget and an existing functional website. A new page/section will be added to your existing website. Basic content that explains Firewise USA® will be added to the new page, along with all the required FirewiseUSA® forms. The forms will be integrated with our Resident Marketing System (RMS) which is included with this package. Package B also includes proven successful marketing campaigns that engage with your residents. Your community’s board/committee will have the ability to track each resident’s campaign engagements, actions, and volunteer hours or dollars reported. Firewise USA® required annual volunteer hours and dollar reports will be automatically compiled on a monthly and annual basis for each Community/HOA, and for each recognized volunteer activity. This package also includes social media setup and integration.

PACKAGE A
This package is a very basic solution to collect Firewise USA® required annual volunteer hours and dollar reporting. Volunteers will complete required Firewise USA® forms that will sit on a single Landing Page. Reports will be automatically compiled on a monthly and annual basis for each Community/HOA, and for each recognized volunteer activity.

The more features in the option the longer it takes to implement:

Package C: Approximately 2 months*

Package B: Approximately 1 month*

Package A: Approximately 2 weeks*

*After all content is provided

NO. You only purchase the right to use our proprietary Resident Marketing System (RMS).

The packages and modules are licensed to you. You have the right to use the Resident Marketing System in perpetuity, however, unless a maintenance agreement is purchased, you will not be entitled to upgrades and will need to maintain all hosting, websites, and all backend automation yourself. You do not have any rights to share or copy our Resident Marketing System (RMS).

Basically, all you need to do is supply us with all the requested relevant content. Please be sure that you have permission to use all the supplied content.

Package A:
You will need to supply us with the questions you wish to have on the forms and the data and frequency of the reports.

Package B:
Resident Management System – You will also need to supply and have the rights to all existing contact information including email addresses and cell phone numbers if you have them.

Package C:
Resident Management System – You will also need to supply and have the rights to all existing contact information including email addresses and cell phone numbers if you have them.
Website – You will need to supply all requested content text, images etc. 

After the delivery of Package A, B, and C, we offer 3 months of online support. Extended support is available by purchasing a maintenance agreement.

Generally, all sales are final unless there is evidence of extreme circumstances.

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